List of Flicka Blogs

May 11

Written by:
5/11/2010 4:03 PM 

Caraway’s old Origo was getting a bit tatty after 18 years abuse.  If she’d only be used lightly it might have been in better shape but I lived on board for a few years and our cruising trips were usually 2-3 months or more. The stove did it’s just well but was starting to show it’s age. The mesh on the burners was corroded away. The top hinge was broken and the slider buttons had melted and the slider mechanisms become very stiff. The inner base was looking very corroded and dirty.

Origo discontinued the 4000 some time ago and replaced it with an electric combi. I didn’t much fancy paying £400 for one of these so I looked around for an alternative. There was nothing that could be fitted easily without a lot of work so I managed with what I had.

Finally Contoure starting making what is clearly a direct replacement for the Origo 4000, so I bought one. And a very nice stove it is too.  I was able to remove the old stove and drop the new one into the aperture with no modifications at all which was a relief.

Contoure Cookmate Stove

Finally I have a new stove. The differences I can see are:  1) Stove comes with a bamboo chopping board. 2) Pot holder must be slightly different since the attachment holes are in a slightly different place.  I was hoping the old pot holders would just go on but I will have to drill a new hole or buy a new pot holder. 3) The plastic sliders have been replaced by a wheel which seems to work really well.

I haven’t tested the stove yet but I’m confident it will work just as well as the old one. The only thing I really wish they’d changed in this version is the fuel canisters. To fill these up one has to tilt them on edge and pour the fuel into the edge of the guaze when there is a slight dip. If you want to fill the canister right up it takes ages. Also try doing this at sea when it’s rough!  The fuel (denatured alcohol) you can buy in Europe easily at the supermarket always stinks; this is to discourage people from drinking it. Apparently it’s possible to buy odour free fuel but I’ve never come across it and you can’t ship it.  I wish that the cannisters could have been designed with a filling lid that could be unscrewed and the fuel poured in quickly with a small funnel.  If you have someone (most of my crew) who instantly feels queezy at the smell of methylated spirits or one of the Spanish or French versions which are truely hideous you can see where I’m coming from.  Even if you don’t spill it it stinks. But when you spill it..   I often used to take the cannister down the end of the pontoon to fill it up when Nina was on board!

 

The old Origo. Note the far plastic sider melted some time ago and one had to insert a finger into the recess to control the flame.

The new Contoure Cookmate.

The new stove with bamboo chopping board. I’m not sure about the board but I think it should wear well and bamboo is supposed to be a fairly eco friendly material.