Backcountry Boiler – Long Term Review?

I have one of the BCB II models that I received back in April/May. My main thoughts are

1] Have used more with Alcohol than wood burning mode. Don't like the amount of soot when burning wood. Not a BCB issue but more of an esthetic choice on my part.

2] The base is very narrow and so isn't as stable as I would like (top heavy).

3] Efficient boiler, 6 min for 16oz boil using alcohol.

Well, It works. I love how all the soot is inside the chimney so there is little to no fuss with soot. Unlike other wood stoves (and this is a big compliant of mine with alcohol stoves excluding the CALDERA) the fire is protected from wind and the heat is captured and directed twords boiling water. I have the alcohol felt but haven't used it yet. It is a good addition since sometimes when its real wet you may feel lazy and just want to use alcohol, or maybe your inside a shelter or something and burning wood indoors is rude and dangerous. You don't need a pot just a container of some kind. Works perfectly with boil in the bag cooking. My favorite stove.

As Brian says: it works. The only thing I would add is that you can save a bit of weight by leaving the base behind and supporting the kettle on rocks. The basic chimney concept is elegant and efficient. It just plain works :)

I've been eyeing the BCB for a while and being able to boil 16 ounces works well for most of the meals I would carry on the trail, but what if you need more boiling water?

My BCB question is then this: If you've poured the boiling water out of your BCB can you refill it immediately or do you need to wait until it cools down and then go through the firestarting/burning process again?

Maybe it's as simple as putting 18 ounces in, bringing it to a boil, pouring out 16 of the 18 ounces into my meal, and then putting another 14 ounces in to bring the quantity back up to 16 ounces? Thoughts?

As soon as I pour off the boiling water, I refill the boiler and put it back on the fire. One of the joys of these things is the surplus of hot water.