Sometimes there appears a piece of kit that is so simple and ingenius you wonder why no one else thought of it before. This is such a piece of kit.
Kelly Kettles were invented by Irish fishermen so they could have a cuppa tea, using just a few
tufts of grass and a few pieces of driftwood. It’s basically small firepan (that stores in the bottom of the kettle) with a chimney up the center of a small teapot. The water is in a jacket surrounding the chimney. Once you start a little fire, you toss a few more sticks in the top of the volcano top. This is an efficient little system. I wanted to find out how efficient it really is.
I wanted to use a fuel that would be readily available in a boreal environment where this kettle might be used, so I gathered this small pile of pinecones. The test was to see how long it would take 2 cups exactly of cold tap water to come to a rolling boil.
From match to rolling boil was exactly 3 minutes, 15 seconds. Not bad. Here’s proof.
So basically, this is a Jetboil that runs on sticks and pinecones. Environmental impact – minimal. Fossil fuels burned – zero. Convenience – pretty good, actually. Am I replacing my stoves? Nope, but this is a great addition if you want the convenience of hot water for a cup of tea at lunch without dragging out and setting up a stove.
Now to get a wholesale account so I can spread these far and wide in the canoeing community.
Respectfully submitted,
Canoelover
Brilliant!
I want one! No – two!
Ah! That is beyond cool. I need one for sure.
I bought one – Can’t wait to get into the wilds. Works like a champ in the back yard.