Hot Water in Camp

I’ve always preached the need to keep a continuous supply of hot water. Hot water is always needed in camp for hand washing, doing the dishes and taking a quick sponge bath. It’s also nice to have the water on hand to mend scraped and bumps.


The 9-quart Navy coffee boiler prompted next to a campfire. Somewhat inefficient, this method noneeless provided sufficient hot water for two.

For me the old fashion cowboy boiler works better than most containers. I favor it over the stockpot. The bail and handle (at its base) assist with pouring. The spout helps direct the stream of scalding water to the receiving container--something you can’t do with a stockpot.


At cookoffs where I'm restricted to charcoal, I set the coffee boiler over a charcoal chimney with briquettes.

In a typical camp, I set the boiler on the fire grate over the breakfast and dinner fires. My surplus Navy boiler has a capacity of 9 quarts of water (or coffee for those times where I feed a large group in camp). It usually takes about 30 to 45 minutes over the campfire to boil sufficient water for dishes and other sanitation chores.

Quist Hot Tap Outdoor Water Heater

For those who like “low-tech” technology, I recently saw a new product from Quist Camping Company, 246 East 650 West, Kaysville, Utah, 84037. Their Hot Tap outdoor water heater “provides a continuous supply of hot water, no matter where you go. It may be the idea product for campers, especially those who depend on the gasoline or propane camp stove.


The owner of Quist Camping Company demonstrates the Hot Tap.

The Hot Tap heater relies on the simple premise that hot water rises to the top of the pot. Once water in the pot boils, you pour cold water into the funnel and hot water will flow out the spout. The intake pipe carries the cold water to the bottom of the pot, forcing hot water through the outflow pipe.


An interior shot of the Hot Tap.