SJ23 Tech Tip C17, (Updated 2004-07-30) Bob Schimmel

Index

Portable Butane Cooking Stove for an SJ23
Depending on the type of galley your SJ23 has will determine how much space you have for a stove. The athwart ship galley probably has the greatest amount of counter space and is therefore the easiest to use for the cook.  Some boats don't even have a galley.  Many people use this stove as a convenient, quiet alternative to a permanent stove.  It's a wonderful unit that can be used on the cockpit floor or seat to cook out of the wind.  I wish I could tell you the name of this stove but it is sold by many retailers each using their own brand name, naturally!  Given the number of oriental retailers that sell this stove, I think it is manufactured in Asia.  I have seen it sold under three different names.  Mine is called "Iwatini," shown below, and I acquired it when I bought Panache.  In fact the guy who sold Panache to me wanted to buy the stove back, he liked it so much.  There was lots of arm twisting going on but in the end I still have the stove! 

A later version sold in the local Home Hardware here in Alberta is called "Butane 9000" which is equipped with a nice wind shield around the burner to protect the flame.  This version is superior in that the protected flame spreads out across the bottom of the pot and transfers heat evenly without burning the food.  So far the wind has not blown it out.  This is not something I can say of the version without the wind shield, which must to be placed out of the wind. 

Regardless of which version you have all stoves are basically the same.  The fuel canister fits under the lid on the right and is secured to the valve with a locking lever on the front.  The valve consists of a combination fuel igniter and fuel control.  One turn of the valve ignites the fuel and sets the flame height.  Very convenient.  The burner is adjustable from 2400 BTU to 6000 BTU and operates dead quiet, which I like for heating things while the crew is asleep.  In fact I also use the stove for gourmet cooking and fondue on the kitchen table at home.  It is much safer than the liquid filled alcohol burners that come with a fondue set. 

A nice safety feature of this stove is the fuel canister locking lever located on the front right.  In the down position, as shown above, the canister is clamped and locked to the gas valve, ready for operation.  In the up position, the canister is detached from the valve, preventing gas flow.  The valve also has a spring loaded piezoelectric spark igniter that operates from the heat control knob.  It has never failed to ignite the fuel.  These features make it very safe to use on a boat.  But remember that this stove is NOT marine rated.  Due to all the interlocking features one might be tempted to rate this stove safer than propane, but then a lot of propane appliances used on boats aren't marine rated either.  I leave the choice to you.  Butane is basically the same fuel as propane.  They are both heavier than air. 

NOTE: I recently received a current version of this stove, manufactured under yet another name.  This one is called "Thunder Range, model CI-153" (aluminum burner) or model CI-154 (brass burner).  It comes in a vinyl case that automatically releases the butane canister from the valve by lifting the locking lever when you place the stove inside the storage case.  This is a very effective double safety feature for traveling, especially on a boat.  In addition, the canister cover on the stove has a hole in the front so you can see that the canister is lined up correctly to the valve.  There is also a safety shut off device (high gas pressure sensor).  The Thunder Range stove is listed by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) with an item number of 57SK.  Dimensions are L 13.7" x W 11" x H 3.5", weight is 4.4 lbs or 1.7 Kgs. 

CANISTER AVAILABILITY - Regardless of the model name or number, all stoves have the same 6K BTU burner/valve and all use the same disposable butane fuel canister.  The price shown on the box above was in 2001, Can.  The butane canisters are available at the following retailers: 

  • Canada from the following major hardware stores; Home Hardware, Home Depot, Rona, etc. 
  • In the US, the canisters are available at Wal-Mart, Fred Meyer, West Marine. 
  • Other suggestions for either country are your local hardware (not home improvement), sporting good or oriental store.  Many of them sell a version of this stove and if they do, they usually also sell the butane canisters packaged in bundles of four at quite reasonable prices. 

When you do find a supplier, I suggest you stock up.  As one sailor suggests, "I always carry four canister when I go out, this way I don't run out." 

 
SAFETY PRECAUTION - If the spark igniter fails to light the stove, use the constant flame from a match or BBQ starter. This stove lights first time every time from the internal piezoelectric spark igniter. 
 

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