Fire In The Boat, Installing the Stove - Episode 288 - Acorn to Arabella: Journey of a Wooden Boat

Check out the sale: www.acorntoarabella.com/merch... Popular sizes will go fast! Now's the time to ship your holiday gifts, too. Last day for international shipping to get to you in good time is December 6, and a package shipped this week might get to you before Hanukkah's over. Last day for continental US shipping for Christmas and other holidays around then is December 16. And of course, we can't make guarantees, but we'll ship it out quick as we can and hope for the best.
This week, Steve installs the Shipmate marine wood stove aboard his DIY wooden boat, because the days are getting colder in Maine.
Marine wood stoves keep the interiors of wooden boats (and all cruising boats for that matter) dry and warm. This Shipmate wood stove can burn pretty much any solid fuel, but it was designed to burn coal. Some people wonder about having a fire on a boat when we're under way... but that's what the diesel heater is for.
Next week we'll be doing marine electrical with Nigel Calder!
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Acorn to Arabella started as a wooden boat building project in Granby, Massachusetts. Steve began the journey as an amateur wooden boat builder crafting a 38' wooden sailboat in his backyard: designer William Atkin's Ingrid with a Stormy Petrel's gaff rig. These videos follow the journey from tree felling, to lumber milling, to lofting, to the lead keel pour and now sailing the boat-sharing details of the woodworking, carpentry, metal smithing, tool building, and tool maintenance that traditional wooden boats command. This ultimate DIY project continues beyond the boat shop, as Steve and crew travel and learn to cruise aboard the handmade wooden boat that they've built. Just kidding about all that, this channel is about a Siberian Laika named Akiva.
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[@thomasroy5833]

Good morn. 60 years burning and installing wood stoves here in Minnesota. Your stove connection also needs to be on the inside for same creosote reason you cited. It will be fine for dry wood as is but not for green . Also you should construct an additional collar around the raw wood roof exit. That is a risky hot spot. Or better yet, an insulated stove pipe if you can find one. While your stove is asthetically pleasing it does not appear to be well sealed. Oxygen control and high wood consumption might be an issue in a REALLY confined space. You might consider a better designed smaller burner in the future. They have come a long way since your stove was made. Good luck captain.

[@newbiereview6291]

You read my mind!!

[@AcornToArabella]

Not sure anything could get much smaller than that firebox. It’s about 5” wide and 4” tall just past the front face and door.

[@johna1160]

Was thinking the opposite. Small fire boxes require more frequent loading. An annoyance in the daytime, and a pita at night!

[@newbiereview6291]

@@AcornToArabella I’m not one of those well actually guys and I’ve watched you build her from the pouring of the keel. I to install fireplaces and wood stoves for a living and I was seriously concerned about your 1” clearance around that pipe. Especially since I know how much polymer based materials are in the roof of that vessel. Double wall insulated pipe requires 1” to combustibles. I don’t comment on your post much but when you know, you know.

[@newbiereview6291]

The size of the box is not the highlight of his message. The clearance to combustibles and the collar on the outside of the flange were the main concerns. Your going to start to get creosote leakage onto the top of the stove and that is going to cause a serious fire hazard as well as a nasty smell and a caustic environment. I’m not coming at this from a critical perspective, I just want the two of you to be safe while your sleeping.

[@fwinckowski]

No gloves working with metal, you are my hero...

[@grendel1960a]

to measure odd circumferences, use a piece of string, then measure it in a straight line with the tape.

[@ryan_mcme]

Camden's happy to have you, neighbor!

[@billlippincott3937]

There was never a doubt that Steve would engineer a very creative solution to the wood stove stack!! Well done Steve. Hope KP is not cringing with a big hole in the "housetop"

[@AcornToArabella]

😁 happy Friday, Bill!

[@tweed532DaveH]

Like yourself there's nothing more satisfying than enjoying some satisfying CAD work. That's 'Cardboard Assisted Design', available long before computers came along! 🤔🤭😉👍🇬🇧

[@AcornToArabella]

😁

[@ZigZagMarquis]

Love it when Steve does CAD... cardboard aided design... 👍

[@AcornToArabella]

😁

[@ianfurqueron5850]

NIck from Bad Obsession (Project Binky) would be proud.

[@MrZZeroG]

Wait. All that and no comment on warmth or performance? Absolutely love the install. Congratulations to both of you on this amazing journey!

[@buffaloj0e]

Yes this, is it warm enough?

[@MichaelOnines]

For a few seconds I thought the: "Stove's going, and you can't even tell" was his performance report.

[@Henning_S.]

You should consider changing the outside part of the chimney to an insulated one, so the smoke doesnt condense on the cold walls of the chimney producing creosote. An insulated chimney also produces more draft because the smoke doesnt cool off as much.

[@Positrack]

This - 100%. It will draw better, reduce creosote buildup, and be much less of a hazard on deck.

[@Henning_S.]

It may also be a good idea to put a fine wire mesh on the opening of the chimney to catch larger sparks which may melt tiny holes into the sail.

[@aserta]

Awesome that you got Nigel on board!!! Ain't no better eyes on the problem. :) sidenote: you should get a fire bulb and place it above the stove. Better safe than sorry, better to never need it than not have it. They're usually used in restaurants and such. Basically a glass ampoule with a fire retardant that pops open and extinguishes the fire automatically. Very effective, simple, bulletproof and it doesn't catch the eye ugly either.

[@klasdykhoff8422]

You could consider feeding air to the stove from a space that isn’t heated. I guess the bilge would do fine. Otherwise the stove will suck heated air out of the cabin, creating a cold draught. The stove in our house takes it’s air from an air duct under the house through the floor beneath the stove.

[@newfieingenuity]

Hey Steve, if you guys come into the bay of islands in Newfoundland give us a shout! We've got a little farm and a decent knowledge of the area. Would love to hook you up with some fresh produce and point you toward some hidden gems.

[@eyesurgeon728]

Might be easier and safer to use insulated stove pipe for the area where the pipe goes through the roof.

[@alshaver3742]

Don't worry about a lack of cruising videos. A2A isn't a boat building channel that morphed into a cruising channel. It's a design/build/sail/climb/adventure/lifestyle/Stephen&Robin/ whatever they wanna make it channel. You do your thing and we're grateful to be able to vicariously tag along for the ride.

[@snorresrstrnen9391]

Remember cold air is more dense. A 15m/s wind in the winter is far more powerfull than a 15m/s wind in the summer

[@Eccentrc]

This reminds me of those "good old" workshop videos :)

[@jamesdietert1998]

That notification scared the shit outta me. That's some grade-A clickbait😅

[@AcornToArabella]

Ha! Welllll it’s early in the day for a lot of folks. Gotta get ‘em up. 😁

[@rbcapn]

My Webbers Cove 34, built '67 in E. Blue Hill, ME, and finished in FL was a raised pilot house, cockpit motoryacht. A most delightful vessel had reverse cycle ac/heat plugged in! How I intended to spend the few cold months on the Carolina Coast in the winter. My last New England summer cruise was 2019. I was solo and I took my time. I made my old home port, Block Island for Labor Day Weekend, and the Tuesday began my homeward bound. South of Bayhead, NJ I had a Perkins Problem and was close enough to make it to Beaton's Boatyard. I stuck to my rule and was leaving the No. East before mid-October, but the work on the motor took six weeks! I left Upper Barnegat Bay on the 2nd of Nov. As I tied up in Cape May, NJ the drizzle turn to flurries for a few minutes! It was really cold in the pilot house that day and I had a few days to make a go of it when th wind died down. I had installed an old Shipmate "Skippy" in the corner of my salon as my rev./cycl could not make heat once the water dropped below 42°! Since I wasn't moving in open water a mellow fire of lump charcoal was sufficient. Steaming into a cold wind called for a different tack. I bought a 50lb. sack of nut size hard coal. I'd get afire started with the lump charcoal and let that get glowing red the fill the stove with coal. After some time with air open shut the stove tight and let her do her thing. I believe your range has a shaker on the bottom of your firebox with a space underneath to shovel out the ashes. Sir "Skippy" did not!" After I made the fire my coffee would be ready. I had a 12V fan above the stove blowing the heat forward. It heated the whole boat. The pilot house was 70° - 72° all day! My last 3 trips running ahead of the cold have been caught up in cold snaps that surround me all the way down the coast! All the Best, Rob⚓️

[@timothyfoster6169]

Its not a chimney, its the “Charlie Noble”. Also, i live i camden, worked on many of the schooners and a few commercial fishing boats, built award winning wooden sailboats, and lobster yachts. All started by pulling into camden harbor 15 yrs ago. There is a tremendous amount of knowledge walking around the docks here.

[@johnjones4825]

I don't need to give this advice to you, Steve, but to everybody: Watch those sharp edges and points, As much as I try to be safe when I work, I managed to stab myself pretty seriously yesterday, with my own knife. Idiot. So badly in fact, that I almost passed out from pain and shock, blurred vision, nausea and spinning head. The lady customer (bless her heart) helped me with first aid and sugar water, let me sit and recover on her kitchen floor! I was OK after 10 minutes or so, and back to working after a walk around, albeit using my injured hand really carefully. It's amazing how a shot of adrenaline gives you energy for the rest of the day!

[@nigelwalton4769]

Warm and Fuzzy. Just how i like them. Beaut video. (NZ longtime viewer)

[@kennethpole2439]

Having tracked this from tree-felling, I've come to greatly admire the dedication to historical authenticity but not this time. Best of luck..

[@AcornToArabella]

We haven’t really been aiming for historical anything, to be honest. Practicality, more like. But thanks for watching.

[@ClimateDude]

Hahaha the clickbait game is strong with this one! Love to see the channel continue to play to both my passions of climbing and sailing adventures.😊

[@AcornToArabella]

🙌glad you’re here!

[@theconfessionsof_a]

I love the stove and it's proportion to the boat, no expert on stove pipes, so will leave that to others.

[@worldexplorer75]

I can almost feel the radiant heat of the stove when seeing it lit at the end. I now have a sudden urge to make some hot chocolate. 🙂

[@AcornToArabella]

Steve made steaks hahaha texted me a video of it he was so pumped. -Anne

[@alexjband]

I would be embarrassed if I were the welder who sent you that flange. Those welds look like doo-doo :(

[@poguedil]

Nothing better than a wood stove on a boat. It will dry everything out so much better than any other kinda heat. I found that you can take some wood stove rope gasket and put it around the roof hole around the pipe and that will stop the heat from burning the house roof. It will burn it someday down the road but the rope gasket will stop it from happening.

[@AcornToArabella]

Thanks for sharing!

[@chuckoaks6756]

A furnace guy could make the perfect piece- plenum, for you.

[@leopeter9051]

I feel like you might want to get a carbon monoxide detector, just to be on the safe side with that oven.

[@lvl2cat]

He stated on instagram that there's Fire/CO detectors on the boat 👍🏼

[@AcornToArabella]

Yup! We’ve got em!

[@Bluenoser613]

WHAT?! Nigel is the GOAT! WOO!

[@AcornToArabella]

He’s great and we’re so very thankful for his help and a great visit! See ya next Friday!

[@doughudgens9275]

It’s nice to get a Steve doing and explaining episode again!

[@AcornToArabella]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jwstevens87]

i love that you launched this boat before it was finished, rather than finish it before launching

[@badcat4707]

Good morning Akiva 🐺 and Crew 😸 / I'll bet Akiva doesn't mind the cooler weather at all 😸😺

[@AcornToArabella]

He’s soooo good with it.

[@badcat4707]

@@AcornToArabella 😸😸

[@KB10GL]

To have the desire to build your own boat & live the life of Riley, sailing to exotic places is admirable. To have a family farm to harvest the correct lumber & actually build it is fortunate. To have the skills & at least some resources to start construction is desirable. To get enough Patreon members & You Tube revenue through people that will never even see the finished project, to subsidise, if not finance the whole build & idyllic lifestyle, ..... pure genius.

[@AcornToArabella]

The boat would have been built either way (probably on a slightly different timeline) and Patreon pays for videos to be produced. Just like how the boat will travel, go to Newfoundland, etc even if we, forbid, can’t make videos anymore. Sounds like there’s a misunderstanding there 👍 -Anne

[@GregHansenskills]

A pair of leather welding gloves make working the fiddly bits of a hot wood stove much safer, and they're handy for other things also.

[@Transit_Biker]

Gas tight connections are critical below the exterior collar. Carbon monoxide detector as others have mentioned also very important. Might also be a good idea to add an exhaust pipe that sits around the housetop mounted pipe collar, so it doesn’t get completely weathered and tarnished with the salt and heat. I would also recommend adding some lagging on the bit of pipe near the oven, so no one burns themselves while cooking dinner etc. I would also recommend looking into a Pizzo electric fan to push the hot air around without using up any power from the electrical system. ❤️

[@Transit_Biker]

I’m sure there are smarter people with more experience, making better recommendations that I am but of course I only comment because I care about you, Robin and Akiva. Hopefully not coming across the wrong way. 🤣

[@seancbrophy]

Whhaaaaatttt??? The shores of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia?? That’s awesome? Hello from Atlantic Canada! Happy to hear you’re coming to visit next year. Look me up!

[@russwabuda1556]

you might want to consider those fuel bricks. they are wood saw dust and wax. clean to store. long burning. and lots of heat. they burn a long time even in a small firebox.

[@AcornToArabella]

👍

[@CorwynGC]

They have the same heat content (by weight) as any wood product, and might be an issue in that small space. Might be worth the price when moving, since you only want to use LOCAL firewood.

[@Gorbyrev]

Lovely work. Stay cozy.

[@coco805]

Glad you are finally warm! Cheers on your journey!

[@Zzyzx--]

Surprised to see the chimney stack isn't double-wall pipe.

[@DisabledCapsLock]

I've never been click baited so hard... well done

[@davidc6510]

Nicely done Stephen, Thanks for sharing.

[@johnjenkins8782]

Is it me ? Or does anyone notice Steve and Robin seem very relaxed since the vacation, proposal and alone in Arrabella at anchor?

[@jimclester4754]

Love it! Good job as usual. Be safe, God bless!

[@lookronjon]

Great job.

[@Cydonius1701]

Very nice work there, Steve. Nice to see that you're also a practitioner of what Damien from Project Brupeg calls "CAD - Cardboard-Aided Design" 😁

[@weatheranddarkness]

That term is almost as old as "Computer Aided Design" actually. It would be a struggle to actually find the first person to use it I think. I remember seeing it on forums about homebuilt cars before 2010 at least.

[@claudehopper9813]

Very satisfying watching Steve assemble the flue and enjoyed hearing some of Ben's great sound track again . Reminds me of the early days of ATA just Steve working through the projects with Ben tracking .

[@KenDavies-qv3fs]

always good to watch

[@randyclyde4939]

Outstanding installation! I feel better now that I understand how it was assembled! Be well, be safe!

[@jimjensen1414]

looks good !!!

[@chairmanmike5858]

Woo Hoo ... onward!!!!

[@adamcurrey4456]

My son was born this October. And i've decided to build my own boat as well!!! when my son graduates high school we will being setting sail to see the world!! May Bellary Lerae and Arabella meet one day!!!

[@AcornToArabella]

Congrats and best of luck! Looking forward to hearing updates.

[@TrzCharlie]

As usual, intricate work done expertly.

[@mashcury]

Awesome, go,go,go!

[@howardmarshall5713]

great Job on the chimney stack. hope it keeps you nice warm and snug.👍🙂

[@stevenholton438]

I would treat that exposed endgrain in the housetop with summat! Congrats on not cutting yourself with the tinsnip operations!

[@mprobison]

Good work. Good luck with the winter. I'll probably hibernate through this winter's videos. Looking forward to the spring videos. Cheers folks.

[@johndtribuna1194]

Smoke on the Water! Sealing that stovepipe will be fun! Wishing you warmth & a comfy ride! Thanks for the merch!!!

[@schwabrichard9829]

Good to see you back onboard. The low key stove pipe install, made me think of a year ago. Then you were a lot busier!

[@tracythorn2918]

I admired that little woodstove when you showed it a year or more ago. It's nice to see it in action. I hope you have a toasty warm winter ahead!

[@bobsimon2242]

Great video. I didn't want it to end. Also great installation.

[@nolurking]

Awesome CAD - Cardboard Aided Design - skills!

[@JakobEngl]

Great video

[@mechfeeney]

Great install brother. Safe and clean.

[@R.E.HILL_]

Waking up in the morning... cold.. just reaching out for the remote and start up the diesel heater... not up and start a wood fire...

[@dangerrangerlstc]

For odd shapes like that stove adapter, check out Ron Covell. He describes a process called rolation for tracing odd shapes onto flat metal. Even round pipes into square openings.

[@emilybradford8272]

Nothing feels any better than wood heat. The round cap will work great on the diesel heater but not the wood stove. We have the round on our woodstove and have ba k draft issues. We are changing it for the H cap. Just thought I would pass along the info. Enjoy your channel. Stay warm

[@AcornToArabella]

Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@MrMichaelcurran]

Wintering on a small boat on the shores of Maine will definitely stiffen your soul. Keep hiking and stay frosty!

[@jean-marievennin8405]

Arabella has now its spirit because there is a Fireplace . Congrats ..................but do not forget Safety.🤨🤐🤔😉😊😊😊😊😊 Bon courage and stay safe. 👍👍👍👍👍

[@keg1dog]

Wonderful to see you two made it back in one piece. I think the wood stove will be fine just keep safety in mind as I know you will. Bet the wood burning gives great ambiance as well as the smell that it puts off. Looking forward to watching you winter over on board and keep as warm as possible. We are starting to get a bit of fall here in Las Cruces which I is cool enough for my old body!;)

[@davidnekola698]

Wood stove is the best heat source. Dry. Stay vigilant. Looks like a very well contained small fire. Does it heat the boat well ? Nothing beats -20c. snow storms outside and +20c. indoors 😊

[@AcornToArabella]

It works pretty good! A little tricky to start.

[@jean-marievennin8405]

Arabella your home-boat had to day a spirit because there is a fireplace . Congrats.......... but do not forget Safety.🤨🤐🤔😉😊😊😊😊 Bon courage and stay safe.👍👍👍👍👍

[@Slikx666]

Steve gets the stove sorted and I've got a duvet sorted. Warmth is underrated. 🥴👍

[@KenDay]

Glad to be able to patronise the store at last! after following since the beginning. Got me a piece of Victoria and a nail apron - Thanks guys

[@AcornToArabella]

Thank YOU!

[@denniscliff2071]

That is an impressive chimney build. A lot of the heat will radiate from the chimney into the cabin.

[@user-lk2cj2qs1d]

Glad to have you back More into the wooden boats The old style boats boats like yours Schooners, Skipjacks Cape Cod Cats (Not the yucky mulitihull cats) H-28 , New Haven Sharpies ,etcProblem I have for me with New England, it gets too cold

[@waynestokes9046]

Looking forward to seeing Steve and his future bride and of course Akita in Newfoundland and Labrador. I will keep an eye out for you guys next boating season.

[@maxbennett]

Love to see you back on the boat. Nice to see Arabella getting some upgrades, too! I have a feeling that 2024 is going to be a great year.

[@AcornToArabella]

🙌🎉

[@lenhornsey2175]

As soon as I heard "cold" I to thought about the woodburner! All to those negative people..... I am so delighted that its working....even from the tropics 🇻🇨

[@SirSloop1919]

I would have used rivets, but I the self tappers work and they are removable. The guard looks pretty cool.

[@ryan_mcme]

Good morning, 'bella fam! Happy Friday! ☕

[@AcornToArabella]

Happy Friday! 🙌

[@dennisdownes9319]

Nigel..........a true 12 DC Rock Star!! Can't wait!! DD

[@AcornToArabella]

It’s gonna be a good one!

[@colibrisurf1050]

Wood stove + oil stove + gas stove? Belt + belt + suspenders? Lumberjack ideas for a boat. Wood stoves were used a lot in the old days because there was no alternative, but the boats burned and the wood dried out a lot. This stove is also very primitive and dangerous and is not well insulated or protected.

[@AcornToArabella]

It’s quite simple… Steve really enjoys woodstoves, so he has one. 👍

[@colibrisurf1050]

@@AcornToArabellaobvius

[@Ayns.L14A]

Happy friday everyone.

[@AcornToArabella]

Happy Friday, Aynsley!

[@Chr.U.Cas1622]

😱 Oh WOW! You really shocked/got me with that! Good heavens! 🙈 Now let's watch the hot video.

[@rodneywroten2994]

that looks awesome

[@AcornToArabella]

Thanks! Happy Friday!

[@tvh300]

Great video! This reminded me of the early videos, just Steve working and explaining as he goes.

[@AcornToArabella]

Cheers! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@garylukoski5136]

Sail covers? I can hear the life being sucked out of that beautiful suit of sails that Robbie made for you.

[@AcornToArabella]

Yes it’s on the list.

[@christophermcmullen5693]

You should be able to find an adapter to go from oval on the stove to pipe. Our wood stove had one

[@jthepickle7]

Initially, I pooh poohed the wood/coal burning heater/stove, but it's gotten chilly here in East Tennessee and a fire sounds like a good idea.

[@cyclingbutterbean]

CAD work! Cardboard Aided Drafting. Works like a charm!

[@AcornToArabella]

😁

[@charlesmoore456]

A fine job, sir! Have some aluminum tape on hand just in case. I can't wait to see you blanketed with a foot of snow. It's the most wonderful time of the year...

[@a.m.v.6938]

Glad there was only a heating fire in the boat and not a damaging accidental fire like I thought when I read video title. 😅

[@OliverChisholm]

Love the wood stove! Might want to consider treating the end grain on the cabin top hole.

[@BangOlafson]

13:40 at least he did not use nail clippers :D

[@georgee6736]

Just watched the chimney install. I would encourage you to seal the exposed wood planking in the cabin top with epoxy once the weather warms up in the spring.

[@NicholasTattersfield-ry6ok]

oval to round adaptors are a real pain there are a variety on the market but they rarely fit, . the closest one i got was chinese and did not fit inside or outside I took it to a ducting shop, and they ran the big end through a crimper to form corrugations it fit well inside the collar. then I calked the joint with black stove cement.

[@jamesbrewer3020]

Nice

[@R.A.M_000]

When you make your way through to N.L think about making a stop over in yarmouth, you would probably attract a big crowd, we'd be happy to have you!