Kathleen,
I bought Tony Hatcher's Corribee at the
end of last sailing season. It has the standard spirit stove. If it is at all
possible, I would very much like to be put in touch with someone who can tell
me:
a) How to get it out of the boat.
b) How to service and fuel it.
I have never seen anything quite like
it before, and don't even know which spirit it runs on.
Thank you, John A.
John,
If your spirit stove is the same as ours (which I think is the original standard
issue) it is a simple two burner stove with moveable fiddles and copper burner
which can be pulled off. There should be a filler at the back into which
methylated spirit is poured and around which the same spirit is very easily
spilled! There is very little to service and the stove is secured to the
boat by four set screws; once these are removed the stove should lift straight
out. Using the wretched thing is an art. There is an air hole on
the pipe in front of each burner control; when the burner is turned on, meths
starts to leak from the hole and is ignited with a match. Eventually one of
three things happens –
(1) It goes out. Probably out of fuel.
(2) It warms up, begins to vapourise the fuel, there is a loud pop and somewhat improbably the stove lights. Congratulate yourself and put the kettle on it quickly before it changes its mind.
(3) Much as two except louder pop and impressive flames lick up towards the deckhead. Reach for the fire extinguisher.
In spite of the above we have lived with this stove since 1982 although it would
be tempting providence to claim that I have mastered it.
Good luck!
David Bird
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