So what do I have here?

[Rukk]

http://rukk.stfu.ca/etc/stovepics/

Saved this cool little thing from becoming a planter today. All the castings are in good shape, there is a bit of scale but nothing serious. It's a little odd though, I think it might be intended for coal and not wood? There seems to be no good vents or damper in the front, other than a door to clean the ash area out (its not a box), and it has the coal-style grate inside it..

Ideas on operation, or intended operation? The only markings I can find on it is on that little door, which says G I F T and then maybe 75 or 72 under it.

I'd like to use it as a wood heater, hopefully theres enough room in the firebox to be able to have the fire go 6+ hours (overnight). Anyway, it's cool whatever it is.

James

[Chip-skiff]

It looks like a washhouse or laundry stove (also called a monkey stove), designed to heat coppers (washboilers) most likely using coal. Some have a double-lined firebox with a water jacket (pipe connections on the back at center).

I used one as my main source of heat in a remote cabin for years. I dislike burning coal, and having to cut the wood quite short is a drawback. Mine didn't hold a fire for long, let alone overnight.

I'd not use one on a boat. There are many other stoves more suitable for heating and cooking.

[Plover]

To me, it looks like an old sailboat cooking stove and no more! Shipmate used to make one very similar, designed for just cooking with charcoal. Not for heat at all! Charcoal's some pretty dangerous stuff left unattended in a cabin (Or while one is sleeping to never wake up again!) That's my best guess.
Paul

[Rukk]

Thanks for the replies guys. Plover, whats the problem with charcoal? I've been burning it at night in my little wood/coal cookstove for lack of coal, it seems to do a bit better than arbutus at keeping the boat warm. With lots of ventilation and a CO alarm, I don't feel too unsafe.

It definetly doesnt have any water jacket or heating coils like that, and its far from airtight, but the firebox looks about the same size as a little cod, if somewhat more rounded. If one were to drill a hole in the front of the firebox and put a copper (bronze?) slide over it for a damper/vent, I don't see why it wouldnt burn wood?

James

[Ron Williamson]

Spark it up before you modify it.
R

[Rukk]

Spark it up before you modify it.
R

Oh for sure man. The nice thing about this stove is the fact that nothing is really attached together.. Thismorning I pulled all the coal related stuff (grate, grate mounting and massive steel heat shield) out of it and just about doubled the size of the firebox. Some high temp brick in the bottom and a little stove cement and I think we may be in business! I'll post pics of it once I stuff it into the boat.

James

[Flying Orca]

Hey James, how's your boat doing? I'd love to see some pictures some time. Hi to your dad, too.

[ssor]

Cast off oak flooring scrap is a nice source of small fire wood. I cut limb wood on my table saw for small chunks. Locust is the best fuel wood, apple comes in close behind. You want hard ,heavy and low ash for a small stove.

[Rukk]

Hey James, how's your boat doing? I'd love to see some pictures some time. Hi to your dad, too.

Hey! Boat's coming along slowly now that I'm running a computer shop full time (until xmas, atleast), but the new deck is done, painted, non-skidded and all the hardware is remounted, so thats progress. Still changing out planks here and there, I've got the worst of it over with so its mostly just little soft spots to be dealt with. She's 100% re-rigged, new gearbox, diesel motors going good but I still have to hand crank it.. electrical system is in the works. Got a lovely little wood cookstove in thats keeping me warm and a joy to cook on, oil lamps for light.. I'm a happy camper (less like camping every day!)

Hows your boat coming on? And how come we never saw you last summer?!

[Flying Orca]

Hey! Boat's coming along slowly now that I'm running a computer shop full time (until xmas, atleast), but the new deck is done, painted, non-skidded and all the hardware is remounted, so thats progress. Still changing out planks here and there, I've got the worst of it over with so its mostly just little soft spots to be dealt with. She's 100% re-rigged, new gearbox, diesel motors going good but I still have to hand crank it.. electrical system is in the works. Got a lovely little wood cookstove in thats keeping me warm and a joy to cook on, oil lamps for light.. I'm a happy camper (less like camping every day!)[quote=Rukk;2013644]

Sweet! Hope to have a look next summer.

[quote=Rukk;2013644]Hows your boat coming on? And how come we never saw you last summer?!

Aw, you know. Skipper didn't wanna go to Silva Bay. I's jest a lowly peon, I don't pick the route, I jest shut up an' row.

(Or hang out and play guitar and drink, and cook a bit, really. I can't complain. But Silva Bay wasn't on the itinerary this time around.)

My boat's coming along, we'll be glassing the inside shortly and then fitting out the cockpit. Going up to work on it tomorrow night. I wish it wasn't an hour's drive to the shop, though.

[S B]

I agreewith chip-skiff, but I wouldn't modify the stove in an attempt to make it something it isn't. There is nothing dangerous about burning charcoal in a stove vented to the outside, All wood being burnt becomes charcoal after the hydrocarbons have been exhausted, usually refered to as embers.

[Thad Van Gilder]

That is a small boat stove. The guy who bought my old cutter bought one to put in it and uses it all the time. I think its a skippy but I could be wrong.

-Thad

[Rukk]

That is a small boat stove. The guy who bought my old cutter bought one to put in it and uses it all the time. I think its a skippy but I could be wrong.

-Thad

Thank you! After a few minutes of research it does appear to be a Skippy, as per this pic: http://www.westsail.org/discus/messages/4/1600.jpg

How big was your boat and do you know if it does a good job heating it? Also, are we talking real winter or florida/california winter? ;)

Thanks very much for posting something useful man.

James

[Flying Orca]

are we talking real winter or florida/california winter?

And just what do you figure you'd know about real winter, young man? ;) :D

[Rukk]

And just what do you figure you'd know about real winter, young man? ;) :D

Hah! Nothing compared to you my friend ;) You've got me there for sure.