Meticulously crafted with convenience in mind, the Dauntless from Vermont Castings is a timeless beauty delivers steady overnight heat despite the fiercest winter nights.
I purchased a Dauntless w/o catalyst last fall, thinking that it would meet my needs. It was sized right for my home, a 1400 s.f. ranch. I purchased it for its looks, size, efficiency, and V.C.'s reputation. It heats great, is efficient wood wise, and looks beautiful when burning. I use seasoned Douglass fir, and hardwoods. Here are the drawbacks, why I would give this stove less than a less than 1 rating: 1) It is so complicated to clean, that I curse it every time it needs cleaned. It is impossible to properly clean. All the nooks and crannies and brick parts that need removed after a simple chimney pipe brushing make it a nightmare that requires special vacuum hoses just to reach the soot. 2) Any soot buildup makes it impossible to brush or scrape due to the side walls and corners being a jumble of angles. 3) The ash pan is tiny, requiring a complete ash and stove cleaning every other day, if using for 24 or more hrs. a day. 4l I bought it for it's "self regulating" air intake. I found that I still have to damper the air intake, an mostly have to leave it wide open to keep it even lit. 5) It still dumps smoke into the room if you do everything right. 6) 18" is the absolute max length, and 16" wood will only fit one way in it. In a semi-conclusion, this is the most complicated, over and poorly designed woodstove I have ever seen. I am 73 years old, and have been around wood heat my entire life, and wish I had never bought it. I even owned a 1974 Pinto station wagon, and consider that a better product than this stove. It is not a "Dauntless" design, but a "brainless" one. Buy something else.
Thanks for your insights Phillip. Will look elsewhere as I am 76yo & hate complicated instructions & working AT things...I need SIMPLE, not complicated
I'm in the market for one, and your review has given me pause. Thanks for taking the time to write it. If you had to do it all over again, would make/model would you choose?
I purchased a Dauntless w/o catalyst last fall, thinking that it would meet my needs. It was sized right for my home, a 1400 s.f. ranch. I purchased it for its looks, size, efficiency, and V.C.'s reputation. It heats great, is efficient wood wise, and looks beautiful when burning. I use seasoned Douglass fir, and hardwoods.
Here are the drawbacks, why I would give this stove less than a less than 1 rating:
1) It is so complicated to clean, that I curse it every time it needs cleaned. It is impossible to properly clean. All the nooks and crannies and brick parts that need removed after a simple chimney pipe brushing make it a nightmare that requires special vacuum hoses just to reach the soot.
2) Any soot buildup makes it impossible to brush or scrape due to the side walls and corners being a jumble of angles.
3) The ash pan is tiny, requiring a complete ash and stove cleaning every other day, if using for 24 or more hrs. a day.
4l I bought it for it's "self regulating" air intake. I found that I still have to damper the air intake, an mostly have to leave it wide open to keep it even lit.
5) It still dumps smoke into the room if you do everything right.
6) 18" is the absolute max length, and 16" wood will only fit one way in it.
In a semi-conclusion, this is the most complicated, over and poorly designed woodstove I have ever seen. I am 73 years old, and have been around wood heat my entire life, and wish I had never bought it. I even owned a 1974 Pinto station wagon, and consider that a better product than this stove.
It is not a "Dauntless" design, but a "brainless" one.
Buy something else.
Thanks for your insights Phillip. Will look elsewhere as I am 76yo & hate complicated instructions & working AT things...I need SIMPLE, not complicated
I'm in the market for one, and your review has given me pause. Thanks for taking the time to write it. If you had to do it all over again, would make/model would you choose?
Guys, all of your stoves should have the grill accessory. It's such a neat feature!
Is there a chance it will be available in a cream or white later?