Looking at a Quadrafire Isle Royale Today....

After many hours of research, talking to folks on here, contacting installers and stove dealers we are one step closer to getting a replacement stove for our tired VC Vigilant.

I was really hoping to get away with a top venting steel stove, from previous posts I was looking at the Pacific Energy Super 27, Regency F2400, and lastly the Englander NC-30.

Our current step up has left all those options out of the mix. We had our fireplace measured the other day and to match up to our current stove pipe to liner layout we had to find something that would fit our 29" to center of pipe measurement. None of the top venting stoves we looked at would accommodate that layout with out significant redesign of our basement fireplace, so we have to find a rear venting stove.

I contacted the dealer recommended by our installer, as one would assume he does all the installs for this company. He stated he has had great luck with Quadrafire. To no one surprise this is not the first time I have spoke with an installer that swears by the brand they work with consistently. Although I realize that most of these high end stove manufactures make quality products that people have great luck with.

Now to the dollars and sense. When I called the store yesterday they said they have a Isle Royale floor model, porcelain mahogany, last years design (double doors, next year going to single). He quoted me $1899. From what I have seen that is a great price and from the real world testimony I have read on this site, that stove is a dream.

I'm looking to hear what people have to say about this stove. I can read about things for days on older posts but I like to read some fresh words about what I am potentially going to be living with and using for many years to come! I have attached pictures of our current setup. Thanks!

We looked at the stove today. It's perfect and we went for it. The original tag listed it at $2999, sale price $1999, final price $1899. We have looked at many different stoves and we knew with confidence that this was our stove. It should be getting it delivered and installed early next week. Bye bye Vigilant. The porcelain finish is not something we really wanted but it does give that stove a great elegant look and it didn't add to the price at all. We our very excited to get this stove up and running. It's going to be a huge upgrade for us.

FYI, great time to buy a stove. Dealers are hurting because of cheap oil prices, late in the season and at least out here in Southern New England a relatively mild winter. Every stove we looked at has some sort or rebate offering between $100-$300 off.

The dealer corrected himself, saying that the IR was replaced by the stove linked above. He showed me the Explorer III and it looks pretty similar from a distance but there definitely are some differences. He did mention that parts shouldn't be an issue for awhile. He cited some pellet stoves that were discontinued in the mid 90's that are just starting to see parts dry up.

We would have gone for a lesser expensive stove if we didn't have a rear vent only situation. It actually worked out well the way it did. We are really happy we got this stove and all the positive responses reinforces our purchase!