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A safe and protective guard and handhold at the galley stove



1 comment

What is the issue?
Working on the stove at sea is a challenge, with or without a galley strap. It is far too easy to fall upon the stove and grab hold of it for support.

Why address this?
Grabbing the stove for balance could lead to a bad hot metal burn or a scald from a pot being overturned as a result of the gimbal being neutralised.

How to address this?
Install a safety bar, often also called a crash bar, in front of the stove as in the example photograph above. This can fend off a fall onto the stove and act as a grab point.

The bars also help to protect the stove controls from being accidentally operated and provide an additional stronghold in rough waters. Safety bars also make ideal anchor points for a galley strap so the cook has free use of both hands in food preparation.

The placement of the bar requires some careful consideration as the gimballed stove should not be restricted by the bar. The crash bar should not be placed too close to the cooker so that the inboard swing could painfully trap unwary fingers. Wide bars are also preferred as when the boat rolls to and fro the cook will constantly be pressed against the bar with a part of our anatomy that has little natural protection making it easy to become tender and bruised. The wider and smoother the area of contact the better.

With thanks to:
Michael Harpur, Yacht Obsession.
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Add your review or comment:

Lee Gunter wrote this review on Jan 6th 2018:
In especially rough conditions, food is paramount. Hot food is a HUGE morale boost because it provides strength and a sense of normalcy. A printer's apron worn (or something similar) while cooking prevents serious burns of a pot being launched off the stove. My boat, New World, had a bulkhead, fixed stove and any hot food would be tossed to away from the cook. She was a very sturdy vessel (Bristol sailing yacht) and not once did we have an issue with the hot food leaving the stove.

If one is seeking to buy, I suggest the following for stove function/location: as far aft as possible, as close to the centerline as practical, and having an opening port or vent near the stove. In warmer climates, the stove's heat must exit the vessel quickly. Last, have a fire extinquisher close, it could save your life.

Average Rating: Unrated

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