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S/V Blondie-Dog · 06-10-2011, 15:06

Can anybody suggest how to go about constructing a solar oven for use aboard the boat? Or does such a thing even exist?

perchance · 06-10-2011, 15:11

Yes Virginia there are solar ovens. My daughter who is into all things eco has one but where she got it and how to build one is beyond my ken. Not much help but they are out there.

darfirst · 06-10-2011, 15:25

Hope this helps you out. I find that (Instructales.com) is king when it comes to building/making something

Search Instructables

**atoll** · 06-10-2011, 15:35

they work great on the beach,but useless on a moving vessel

**Tellie** · 06-10-2011, 16:57

We've have one on board for a few years. To me it's a novelty but the wife loves it. She uses it for stews and such. Much like using a crock pot.

yachtvalhalla · 06-10-2011, 17:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by S/V Blondie-Dog

Can anybody suggest how to go about constructing a solar oven for use aboard the boat? Or does such a thing even exist?

Construction of a solar oven is described in Sailing the Farm by Kenneth Neumeyer.

Terry

Rakuflames · 06-10-2011, 18:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by S/V Blondie-Dog

Can anybody suggest how to go about constructing a solar oven for use aboard the boat? Or does such a thing even exist?

You can see them at any camping store.

SayGudday · 08-10-2011, 07:35

yachtvalhalla is correct, detailed plans can be found in Sailing the Farm by Kenneth Neumeyer

JanetGroene · 09-10-2011, 08:04

Mine is an SOS Sport from solarovens.org. They use profits from their sales to send solar ovens to developing countries, where one of the best uses is to sterilize water. It's light weight but frightfully bulky, ideal for a multihull where you may have a lot of storage space for lightweight items. It holds two, black enamel pots so you can be cooking stew or beans in one while baking a cake in the other. As someone said, solar is difficult underway and even at the dock you have to keep moving it. Reflectors are optional and increase efficiency.

Rakuflames · 09-10-2011, 08:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by JanetGroene

Mine is an SOS Sport from solarovens.org. They use profits from their sales to send solar ovens to developing countries, where one of the best uses is to sterilize water. It's light weight but frightfully bulky, ideal for a multihull where you may have a lot of storage space for lightweight items. It holds two, black enamel pots so you can be cooking stew or beans in one while baking a cake in the other. As someone said, solar is difficult underway and even at the dock you have to keep moving it. Reflectors are optional and increase efficiency.

I have seen folding solar ovens that don't take up a lot of space, but I can't picture using one while under sail.

laura d · 10-10-2011, 05:27

I built and used one when I was a girl scout, 100 years ago. It was made out of cookie sheets and folded flat. Our
favorite recipe was peach cobbler

w1651 · 11-10-2011, 20:46

Go to home depot and get the reflective mirror type one foot by one foot tiles you would use in your closet or bedroom and attach them to a light weight board with glue. You can hinge the sides so it will fold up and take less space when storing. You can make it as big as you want but larger means more volume and hence more time cooking. You will also need a thick clear plastic to cover the oven and seal the open sides to hold in the heat.
You will also need black pots to cook in. A skillet with a dark lid is great for ho cake or corn bread even biscuits. A black pot from your grandmas kitchen taken on the pretense it will be returned eventually is also good for soup or stews. Can even bake a chicken with vegi's as long as it is thawed out before. But keep them well oiled when not in use.
And you will have to keep an eye on the oven all day long.
I was thinking about adding a lazy susan to the bottom to follow the sun.

no_bad_days · 27-11-2011, 20:57

I have recently been doing quite a lot of experimenting with simple homemade collapsable solar ovens, the kind needed on a boat. They are so easy to make please dont buy one! here is the one I have been using http://www.allseasoncooker.com
I have been baking bread, cooking beans, rice, potatoes, just about everything you can make in any other oven. As mentioned above it needs to be pretty well aimed at the sun so you need to be on a pretty steady tack or in a very stable anchorage or mooring. going ashore assures an easy time of it. You can cook up a ton for the next several days.
the best overall resource I have found is CooKit - Solar Cooking

everything you ever wanted to know can be found there. I have not made their style of oven yet but I am going to soon. I think it will be more forgiving of moving around a bit, and looks easier to make than the All Season cooker. I think the All Season oven gets hotter with a bit of tending to make sure it is aimed well. all in all, no matter what model you use, it is a great way to save cooking fuel and have fresh bread on board! Good luck.

PS I did not have good luck with the model described in Sailing the Farm. I could never get it above about 120 degrees. OK for drying food, but to cook i think you need the reflectors. I am currently building his water distiller though, so i hope it works better than his idea for the oven....