I spent my first day back on the boat getting the galley sanded and then a fresh coat of paint. I pulled the pots, pans and other cooking tools out of storage, put them in their respective cupboards and drawers.
Next comes the big moment, firing up the galley stove, 700lbs of cast iron that has been sitting cold and unused for more than half the year. The beast of a stove was cast at the Lunenburg foundry. It is a double oven model with a center firebox. Origianly built to burn coal, as were most of the ships stoves used in the Canadian fishing schooners and trawlers, it was converted to burn diesel sometime around the middle of the last century.
The process of lighting the the stove is rather simple. The center stove lid is lifted, the fuel valve is opened for about ten seconds, creating a puddle of fuel in the bottom of the firebox. Then a ball of waxed paper is set down in the pool of diesel, this acts as a wick, diesel fuel, especially when it is cold, is very difficult to ignite. A match is lit and touched to a corner of the waxed paper. The stove lid is put part way on, leaving just a small opening that I can view the flame with. The paper burns and heats up the diesel, the flame is thick and yellow, and needs more air. On the front face of the stove is a small squirrel cage blower, this provides the extra air needed for a clean burn, much like a small home furnace.
The flame goes from a oily yellow to a bright yellow/white. As it heats up I can now turn the fuel valve open and increase the size of the flame. This is a gradual process as turning on the fuel full bore will cause a sooty mess, not so much in the galley but up on deck.
When I feel that the flame has been well established I slide the lid off and put the water on to boil for coffee. It will take about 45 minutes before the water is boiling the first time, remember that it is 700lbs of cast iron that needs to be heated also.
I will pour myself a cup of last nights coffee, kept hot in a thermos, It will be an hour or so before the ovens are hot enough for baking. I will use this time to write in my journal, read a bit or just get back in my bunk and sip my cup of coffee.
For the next few months this will be my morning routine. Simple, peaceful, fulfilling.
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