Way back I worked for a canal boat hire company in England. Things were different then, and our safety practices would probably be considered horrendously dangerous now. Some of the boats used gasoline engines and some were diesel, but all used propane for cooking or for portable heaters that connected to a valve in the cabin. But even then it seemed a tad happy-go-lucky when the owner would check propane connections with a lighted match. We never, ever, had an accident or injury in the seven years I worked for him (the best job I ever had - http://www.angelfire.com/art/2by4/Boats/index.html , Working for the boat hire company ).

Nobody has mentioned one of the advantages of alcohol. A friend has an Origo, two burners and oven, on his boat and while the fumes from a propane flame are middling-unpleasant I positively _enjoy_ the smell of the burning alcohol from his Origo.

FWIW: Much as I like the Origo, I shan't be changing the propane stove aboard Dolphin, although I'm very aware of the potential problems.