Annie,
The problem with my suggestion was that I looked at both stoves and heaters.
On the heaters I have seen, in particular the Taylor pot burner, there is a potentially dangerous regulator problem (run-away). A calibrated dose-pump, adjustable for setting of the heaters output, would solve that.
Alcohol stoves of the hot blue-flame type only need a low pressure from the overhead tank (much, much lower than in a Primus-style kerosene stove), but this low pressure must be constant. This constant pressure can more easily be achieved by a manual or electric pump. The setting of the burner’s output would still be done with a valve close to the burner, as described by David.
I admit; Jim Creighton’s link to stoves had me purchase a little stand-alone alcohol burner (it will arrive in some weeks). My thought is to try it and then modify it to feed it from an external tank. If the output of the burner is good, and it doesn’t crumble after a few months of use, then that could be an alternative to the Maxie.
Cheers, Arne
PS: Don’t talk yourself down, Annie. When I read your books and when I see the fine work you are doing on building SibLim, I bow to the dust. There is no way I could equal your standard, whether it be writing or boatbuilding. It is just that we focus on different things, and in the end, we tend to get quite good on what we have focused on for a while. Talent is 90% interest. These days, I am struggling with fitting a WC in a cramped compartment of my little Ingeborg. I wish I had your brains, right now!