Boat Briefing: Lighting the Stove and Grill
It might not be top of mind for all sailors, but when you plan a week-long liveaboard sailing trip, everybody needs to eat! When you take ASA sailing courses with Go Sail VI, we take care of many of the meals on board. If you charter a bareboat and sail on your own, you will want to know how to operate the stove and grill for all your meals.
When sailing with Go Sail VI, all students will meet with a charter checkout attendant and go over any questions that arise. One of the things you’ll go over during your in-person boat briefing is the kitchen equipment. This article and video can help you prepare for the nuances of lighting the stove and grill before you sail out on your own. Here’s a boat safety briefing on how to light the stove and grill!
The Basics of Lighting a Stove and Grill on a Sailboat
The stove and grill on most sailboats use a gas grill controlled by a propane solenoid. A solenoid is a small valve on the gas line and is usually located close to the propane tank. It’s an efficient mechanism for controlling the amount of gas by using electromagnetic forces to open and close the valve.
It might sound complicated, but it’s actually one of the easiest ways to operate a gas grill! Here are some basics about operating the solenoid.
Opening the Solenoid Valve
Also known as a solenoid switch, this valve turns on and off the gas to the stove or BBQ. Once the valve is opened, the gas will be released to the unit. You will need to turn off the solenoid to stop the gas from leaving the propane tank. If you let the flame burn out you are essentially burning all the propane remaining in the line. Then turn off the knob on the stove when you are done. It is essentially the electronic version of opening a propane tank, making it a safe tool for most amateur chefs and sailors.
Solenoid Valve Safety
Most solenoid valves nowadays are “normally closed,” meaning that they remain off between uses. If you want to be extra careful, you can close the valve on the propane tank itself to guarantee no gas is accidentally released.
Igniting the Flame
When you’re ready to start the gas grill, you may need to leave the gas on for a few seconds. Turn on the gas flow on your propane tank and press the igniter button, which you will usually find in front of or on either side of the stove.
Safety Tips for Using a Stove and Grill
Knowing a few common boat problems related to gas grills can keep you safer when chartering a bareboat or taking ASA sailing courses in the Virgin Islands. The goal of this article and the Boat Briefing Series is to help you avoid common sailboat problems people have when operating a stove or grill. Here are a few helpful tips:
- Never Use a Stove and Grill While Actively Sailing: Whenever you plan to light a stove or grill, you should be moored, anchored, or docked. The movement from sailing, combined with the unpredictable nature of winds and waves, makes it very dangerous to cook while sailing.
- Check That You Have Safety Supplies On Board: If you charter a bareboat, make sure the boat has fire extinguishers or fire blankets, and a gas detector for potential leaks. The necessary safety equipment will be aboard every Go Sail sailboat, however, you will want to ask the charter checkout attendant to point out their locations to you during your sailboat briefing.
- Clean the Grill After Each Use: This can prevent cross-contamination, but also reduces the risk of a possible grease fire.
- Only Cook in Well-Ventilated Spaces: You can reduce the risk of fires or carbon monoxide poisoning by cooking in open-air spaces or ensuring you have adequate ventilation.
Sail Safely and Enjoy the Flavors of the Sea!
Part of the fun of going on a week-long liveaboard cruise in the beautiful Virgin Islands is cooking amazing meals on a sailboat! This article and video are part of our Boat Briefing Series, and are meant to help prepare you for sailing (and cooking) safely on your own. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask a charter checkout attendant during your in-person boat briefing.