David Tyler wrote:
Darren, there isn't a high thrust prop for this motor. I don't suppose they envisaged anyone putting it on a one ton boat! A large header tank is certainly a possibility to extend the range. I could get a custom made polypropylene one made, with a quarter-turn on/off valve at the bottom, perhaps.
It was a tough call between the Origo and the Maxie. They both cost about the same, and while the Maxie burns hotter and more efficiently, it would cost me a lot to get it sent from Australia; whereas the Origo is offered with free carriage by a UK online chandler.
I now have a standard 12 litre outboard tank, but will be a while before I get to try it.
Well, I decided to buy an Origo Two, and now I'm pretty well convinced that it was a Wrong Decision. The gimbals are hopelessly badly designed, and the stove itself is not really suitable for gimballing, with the way it has to be hinged open to fill the tanks, resulting in a backwards capsize. That's on top of its slowness and incomplete combustion. It may suit camping, caravans and multihulls, but I don't think it's right for seagoing monohulls. My present thought is to use a Maxie alcohol burner (now in transit to me) to make a DIY "Sea Swing", with a remote tank on the other side of the bulkhead and a fuel hose connecting them.
I've ripped out all the substandard electrics, and am working on doing things to a better level of quality. As there were some rough cutouts in the companionway bulkhead to cover, I've bought two plastic enclosures for mounting the new switch/circuitbreaker panel, my patent watchkeeper's alarm based on a runback timer , a new NASA AIS, and more. In the cockpit, there will only be a NASA depth sounder.
I've also made a start on the mast partners, but the weather is not conducive to outside work at the moment.
I got a call from ALC yesterday to tell me that the mast tube will be delivered next Tuesday, 10 days ahead of schedule. I've sold the old rig on eBay, but it hasn't been collected yet, so there will be two masts to find room for.
I have a plan worked out for the composting heads.