Origo 1500 Spirit Stove

Installation: The spirit stove is mounted on the gimballs sold as (rather expensive) accessories and these are mounted in a wooden frame which is normally slotted into teak holders (similar to those used for the chart plotter) at the side of the sink. It can be slid out as a unit in order to cook in the cockpit. For fuel I’m using low-odour bio-ethanol (from Contemporary Elements). This is pricey at £3 per litre delivered (if you buy 20l) but I think well worth it for the lack of smell. Like all carbon fuels burning it produces water vapour and carbon monoxide gas – I’ve written a separate comment on gas alarms.

Use: I’ve been generally disappointed with the speed of the stove (e.g. for boiling water). It is fiddly to light – you need long tapers or a special stove lighter – and if not used the canister tends to dry out even though capped with the neoprene pad supplied.

Note (added 2017): I have now swapped to using a flat butane camping stove mounted in the Origo gimballs. This stove was a fraction of the price of the Origo and I much prefer it.

N.B. : The opinions expressed are my own after a relatively short period of use; there may be ways around any problems identified. Other users will have different priorities!