Camp Chef LP Stove/Oven

[CapnK]

Katie's new stove/oven arrived!



My first impression was very favorable. The thing is heavier (38lb's), and seems to be built better than I expected. The size is also a bit larger than I anticipated, but once aboard and in use, seems to be just about perfect for a small vessel with limited space. The oven area is the reason for the size difference - the muffin pan in the pic above is obviously a large size, and I was expecting them to be using a smaller version in order to make the stove/oven look larger. That coffee pot in the picture is "CJ sized" - it must make a gallon of coffee or more...

Of the three knobs, the middle one controls the oven, and the two outer knobs correspond to the burners above them. It has piezo electric ignition for both the stove and oven, and that works well (something which is not always the case, in my experience). The gas supply comes in through a tube in the upper back right corner of the unit. While the tube is sized and threaded to fit a normal LP gas line, it is placed so that it is impossible to attach a line there without some work; there is a hole in the sheet metal for tube access which is too small to allow the nut on the gas line through. However, the unit comes with a regulator designed to be used with the 1lb propane bottles that does fit through this hole. This attaches to the tube easily by hand, and then you can use an adapter hose (available from the manufacturer, but also at WalMart camping section) to hook up a supply line to that regulator. The folding top would be easily removable with a drill; it is held on to the hinges by aluminum rivets. I am not sure if I will leave it on or remove it, since it does provide a clean, flat area when closed, and will serve as a splash guard when up..

So I've used it now, though only in a very limited manner; last night, I baked a *whole* pizza (for 4 years, I have been cooking only 1/2 pizza at a time ), and am now sipping my second cuppa joe, made on the stovetop. Country-fried steak biscuits are on the menu for brekky.

Baking, it did a good job. Oven temp got up to between 350-375 and held there well in the amount of time I used it. Cooking longer than 20-25 minutes it might go higher, and I did throttle the gas flow back a bit once it got to 350 (small ovens seem to reduce cooking temps...). Looking at the burner flame (down in the bottom of the oven, under what I am guessing is a sort of heat-diffusing plate), there is not a lot of difference in the amount of flame visible between the Low and High settings.

The stove eyes are pretty big around - perhaps 4.5" diameter. I'm used to a smaller flame diameter from my previous stove eye, on this stove it is almost as big around as the base of my small utility saucepan. This is just an observation, the size did not seem to affect how long it took to boil water this AM. Because of the larger diameter, I thought that maybe most of the heat would go up past the sides of the pan, but apparently that is not the case.

We'll see how it works out over the long haul, but right now I am optimistic that this is a great - and very affordable, comparatively - solution for cooking and baking aboard a small vessel.

Note that this stove/oven is not vented directly to the outside, so make sure you have plenty of ventilation while baking.


I gotta say that UPS did a bang-up job getting it here. Literally "bang up". There is a pretty large dent on the stoves port side, the box was open when it arrived, and whatever the impact was it was strong enough to break the styrofoam packing material inside. The dent is not too noticeable with the oven in place, and it doesn't seem to affect functioning, so I can live with it. Still, you would think a company in the business of moving things wold know how to do so...

[jotruk]

Keep us posted on how well the new stove is working, It looks like it might be a very doable alternative to what I have aboard now.

[AdriftAtSea]

Just make sure you used teflon tape on any connections you made... don't want to hear that you and the Katie Marie went boom one night.

[Tim]

Although they make a teflon tape for gas connections I believe (heavier and yellow) I suggest using a spreadable sealant (Rectorseal makes one for gas) as it won't be likely for any pieces of tape to get in the line and clog the system.

[Doc Bob]

Capn K;
I've been using that same stove for two seasons on my Chrysler 26 and it has performed great (I luv baking fresh corn muffins in it). The burners heat water for making coffee fairly quickly. And I have experinced no problems what so ever in the past two seasons. Mine is mounted in the middle of my companion way so when it's warm I open the hatch and let the heat vent when it's cold I keep the hatch closed and let it warm the boat up. My gas is piped in from my propane locker with two 3lb tanks with electronic valves and meters. I bought mine at a Bass Pro shop here in Michigan. I think you will really get to like yours. (for the price)
"Doc" Bob

[skylark]

How much space do you need around it?  Can you set it down on wood or does it have to be raised up?  How big is it?

[Doc Bob]

Just from memory it's about 26" wide, 24" high and 12' Deep. Mine is surrounded by a wood cabnet with wood spacers and is about 12" off the sole. I took the cover off of mine because the back of the cook top is about 2" underneath the bridge deck. I surrounded the burner area with brass sheeting to act as a flame barrier for the cabnets.
"Doc" Bob

[jotruk]

how about some photos of installation

[Shipscarver]

I think this is the same unit:

Matchless Igniter burners
Stainless steel construction
Nonstick enamel cooking surface
Oven thermometer
2 oven racks.
Powered by a disposable 1 lb propane tank - Can be adapted to use a 20lb tank
Specs: Range 5,300 BTU's per burner, Oven 3,5000 BTU's
Top burner dimensions 12 x 21
Inside Oven Dimensions 16" W x 10"L x 10" H
Outside Dimensions 13" W x 21" L x 18" H (with windscreen up).

[Doc Bob]

That's it Capnk - I'd love to post pictures of the install but don't have a clue on how to go about doing it. If someone would like I could email some pics and they could post them for me.
"Doc" Bob

[AdriftAtSea]

Good point..   Rectorseal makes good stuff.

Although they make a teflon tape for gas connections I believe (heavier and yellow) I suggest using a spreadable sealant (Rectorseal makes one for gas) as it won't be likely for any pieces of tape to get in the line and clog the system.

[Shipscarver]

What did you do to insulate the unit from the boat - heat- fire problem?

[CapnK]

Right now, my 'installation' is that the stove sits on the "Thing Formerly Known As A Port Settee",  and as such is not worthy of a photo... Eventually it will be mounted in that general area much like any boat stove, likely somewhat insulated from surrounding ignition sources, and metal-lined surfaces next to it...

2 weeks of use, and I really like this piece of equipment. The oven gets hotter than I reported previously - I had placed the included thermometer down low before, at the bottom of the oven. Moving it up to the middle has given higher readings. Cooking last night it got up in the 450* range. Plenty hot.

Because I've found that 1 lb of fuel lasts so much longer than I thought it would, I am thinking I might not plumb it into a large tank of fuel, and instead use a refill adapter on the large tank, and 1 lb bottles on the stove. It would be a much simpler setup, and allow things like setting the stove out in the cockpit for cooking during hot months, if desired. There are +'s and -'s to doing it either way, I am still thinkin' on it, but at the current time not plumbing it in seems like it might be a better method for me...

2 thumbs up for this thing.

[AdriftAtSea]

The 1 lb. tanks are probably more prone to leaking than the big tank though... so out of safety, it might make more sense to plumb it to the big tank.

[CapnK]

Quikee update:

So now it's seen 8-9 months of use, not daily, but at the least, several times per week, stovetop and baking... In this time, I have used about 1 20# tank of propane.

This little stove/oven continues to work just fine. I did have a problem with the oven gas control knob/regulator. After about 6 months, I noticed it getting difficult to ignite and turn; a couple or three weeks later it failed outright, and I then demolished it trying to fix it. I also managed to damage one of the stove control knob/regulators... while attempting my 'fix'.

So I called the US distributor (using the ph # at the Camp Chef website), and the lady I spoke with was absolutely great. Under the 1 Year Warranty, she sent me new control/regulators (1 each of stove and oven, since they are different in design and function), for no charge at all, not even for shipping, and fast - less than 5 days from the west coast to the east. GREAT service!

A few screws later, I was back in happy stove/oven land... I do think I would get a couple spares of these knobs to have on hand for a long distance journey. They are not easily repairable, but neither are they too expensive, I don't think (I am not sure what the standalone price is).

Anyway, after much use, I am still giving Camp Chef and their $200 Stove/Oven - .

Some additional further consideration after all these months, that are specific to my boat and situation, and are not to be considered a drawback or to take away from the functionality of the camp Chef Stove/Oven:

Even with the relatively small size of the unit, the fact that there is a stove on top of an oven makes fitting this into a small boat interior difficult, at least when you are demanding as much from the interior as I am (looking for the best of all possible cabin worlds, so to speak ). The height of the stove makes it a bit close to the underside of the sidedecks on Katie to push it flush against the hull, while keeping it out away from the hull leaves a large waste-space behind the unit. If I were to gimbal it, then that space would be needed, but I have a small 1 burner gimballed stove for that purpose.

So I am considering a separate stove and oven, making my own oven. Doing that, I could tuck the oven part up under the side deck, and have the stove top out in the open where it needs to be. I have an old toaster oven that I may cannibalize for a try at this...

[Greenman]

CapnK,

I am within a few weeks of purchasing one of these (they are on at Costco for $169) and was wondering how yours is holding up?

[Capt. Tony]

Kurt, et al, are you still using the 1lb. bottle to operate the stove off of or did you eventually plumb her to a 20 pounder?  I kind of like the idea of having a stove and oven on board.  Like it will somehow make me a better cook or my attempts taste better.

If you did switch to a 20 pound bottle where the heck did you find room for one?  Deck box?  Push pit?  Sink a holder in the bow like the HR 29s have???

[Tim]

Capt. Tony, what I am doing (unfortunately I am about 1000 miles away from the boat now so this web pic will have to suffice) is putting this kind of locker in my motor well lazz. along with a solenoid back to the galley. It all fits snugly.

[Capt. Tony]

De we actually have that much room in our lazarette?  Wait a minute, are you leaving the motor out?

Do you have that locker 'in hand' (when you're not 1000 miles away) allready?  Where did you come across that beauty?  Might have to get some dimensions...

[CapnK]

Greenman - It held up fine for over a years worth of regular use, and is still working. As of now, I've stopped using it, though ONLY because of space considerations. I just couldn't allocate even that (little) much room to a stove/oven, what with my interior...

Capt Tony - I ran it mostly off of a 20# tank with a long hose, left the tank sitting out in the cockpit. I haven't jumped the propane stowage shark just yet, but am leaning towards 2 smaller bottles (10# Lite Cylinders) - the narrow & tallish ones - likely stowed standing against the (eventual) stern rail. 20#'s of propane lasts me the better part of, if not a whole year.

I should probably clean up my stove/oven and put it on sellFar so someone else can try it out at a steep discount.