Can't get a Progress Hybrid--what's my next choice?

[Debbie]

Hello folks,

I wonder if you can help me decide on a compromise. We’ve decided to replace our beloved (probably just because it’s all we’ve ever known) 1977 VC Vigilant, taking advantage of the $1000 from the Massachusetts rebate program.

We heat about 1600 square feet, with 16' ceilings, open floor plan, well-insulated, lots of southern light. With the Vigilant we burn about 2-3 cords a season, and keep toasty. We also love to cook on (and in) it whenever we can.

So of course, the answer is a Woodstock Progress Hybrid, right? We were very excited about ordering one, when I read the paperwork more carefully on the voucher, and discovered that the stove has to be installed by the retailer. I checked with Jamie at Woodstock, and he told me “I have spoken with a rep from the changeout program and our stoves and company would qualify, but at this point we have not decided if we will register to participate.”

So what’s my second-best choice? Efficiency and long burns are high priority, must be EPA-certified, and a cook top would be bonus. Oh, and we have a lot of long wood in storage, so it needs to take at least 18” logs.

Thank you all!
Debbie

 

[NE WOOD BURNER]

The rebates and incentives and warranties and tax breaks don't work for me as I am a DIY person.
read the fine print as you maybe able to buy your stove and have it installed by a licensed installer and submit both bills for your rebate. The goal is to get people to change out their stoves and the caveats are always added to the programs.

 

[jeff_t]

How long do you have with the MA program? Maybe keep what you have until Woodstock can give you an answer.

What do you have in mind? Stone, cast iron, steel? Cat or non, or hybrid? Budget? A T5 or T6 would fit your requirements with the swinging trivets and cooktop, and I think they'll take an 18" split.

 

[Debbie]

How long do you have with the MA program? Maybe keep what you have until Woodstock can give you an answer.

What do you have in mind? Stone, cast iron, steel? Cat or non, or hybrid? Budget? A T5 or T6 would fit your requirements with the swinging trivets and cooktop, and I think they'll take an 18" split.

Everything needs to be completed by April 15. Jamie said he'd keep me posted, so there's hope. In terms of the other variables, I'm open--this is the first stove I've bought. I prefer a classic look, and budget tops out around $3k. Pardon my ignorance, but T5 and T6 are what company? Thanks!

 

[jeff_t]

Pardon my ignorance, but T5 and T6 are what company? Thanks!

Sorry. Pacific Energy (broken link removed to http://www.pacificenergy.net/alderlea/index.php)

Welcome, by the way.

 

[Highbeam]

You say you want long burns. How long?

 

[Debbie]

You say you want long burns. How long?

Well, if I'm careful, I can get 10 hours or so from my Vigilant. So the 14-16 hours people were talking about for the Progress Hybrid sure sounded nice...

 

[trguitar]

The Lopi Cape Cod might be a stove to look at. It's a hybrid as well. I know there are at least two people on this forum that have one. It's on my short list along with the Progress for my next stove.

 

[ciccio]

Hi Debbie,

I had the same stove and I do not think I ever got 10 hours of useable heat anyway....I would wait and see what Woodstock says, the progress is really a great stove lots of soft heat very easy to control, looks nice and has a great cook top..but that is just my opinion.

Good luck

 

[rijim]

Definitly check out the Lopi Cape Cod.

 

[BrowningBAR]

Buck up, Debbie! That grand isn't mana from heaven, but money extracted from your friends and neighbors; just because it's offered doesn't mean you have to take it.

So, you don't take part in any tax incentives or rebate programs and you do not have any tax right offs for anything? Let's not make your first post a condescending preachy first post.

So it costs you $1000 more? So what, it's worth it!

$1000 is the cost of some stoves alone. It's not a "so what." There are dozens of stoves that will give the OP 12-14 hours of heat if the Vigilant was giving them 10 hours.

 

[charly]

Don't forget,,Woodstock is coming out with a new stove that is going to be the size of the PH but less money,,,that might be an option as well.

 

[BrowningBAR]

Don't forget,,Woodstock is coming out with a new stove that is going to be the size of the PH but less money,,,that might be an option as well.

They have not mentioned anything about the size of the stove anywhere. Nor have they mentioned cost.

 

[NE WOOD BURNER]

D

Don't forget,,Woodstock is coming out with a new stove that is going to be the size of the PH but less money,,,that might be an option as well.


really?

 

[BrowningBAR]

Also, you can't even count on the new stove being available this year as it is only going to be entered in the design challenge in November of 2013.

 

[Highbeam]

10 hours is easy, you can choose from just about any manufacturer to match that. The burn time requirement of 14-16 is only medium, and if you think that that sounds nice then how would you like 30 hours? Anybody that burns full time and desires long burn times must put the BK line on their list to at least consider. The reason that I bought my BK is for its long burn times.

I would also be considering that Lopi hybrid, it sounds like they figured out how to make it burn for awhile too without any crazy materials inside the stove to shatter like the VC line has/had.

 

[charly]

They have not mentioned anything about the size of the stove anywhere. Nor have they mentioned cost.

Placed a call to Woodstock yesterday,, that's what I was told,,, about the size of the PH, less money and even some stainless steel on the outside with the stone...I was told it's going to be very different looking stove .. Think about it,,,why would they make a stove the size of the Fireview's firebox when you can just turn a bigger cat stove down? They already know the Hybrid can just be fed smaller loads and not drive people out of their homes.

 

[thewoodlands]

Hello folks,

I wonder if you can help me decide on a compromise. We’ve decided to replace our beloved (probably just because it’s all we’ve ever known) 1977 VC Vigilant, taking advantage of the $1000 from the Massachusetts rebate program.

We heat about 1600 square feet, with 16' ceilings, open floor plan, well-insulated, lots of southern light. With the Vigilant we burn about 2-3 cords a season, and keep toasty. We also love to cook on (and in) it whenever we can.

So of course, the answer is a Woodstock Progress Hybrid, right? We were very excited about ordering one, when I read the paperwork more carefully on the voucher, and discovered that the stove has to be installed by the retailer. I checked with Jamie at Woodstock, and he told me “I have spoken with a rep from the changeout program and our stoves and company would qualify, but at this point we have not decided if we will register to participate.”

So what’s my second-best choice? Efficiency and long burns are high priority, must be EPA-certified, and a cook top would be bonus. Oh, and we have a lot of long wood in storage, so it needs to take at least 18” logs.

Thank you all!
Debbie

Like a poster mentioned, look at the Lopi Cape Cod. Our local dealer has one in stock, looks like it's a very well built stove.

Debbie if you want the email to Travis Industries, conversation me.

Zap

 

[BrowningBAR]

10 hours is easy, you can choose from just about any manufacturer to match that. The burn time requirement of 14-16 is only medium, and if you think that that sounds nice then how would you like 30 hours? Anybody that burns full time and desires long burn times must put the BK line on their list to at least consider. The reason that I bought my BK is for its long burn times.

I would also be considering that Lopi hybrid, it sounds like they figured out how to make it burn for awhile too without any crazy materials inside the stove to shatter like the VC line has/had.

As a former Vigilant owner, if they were able to get 10 hours of heat from the Vigilant, they can literally choose from any 3 cu ft stove on the market to achieve 10-14 hours of heat. Any 3 cu ft steel stove will give them that.

 

[Eaglecraft]

Hello folks,

I wonder if you can help me decide on a compromise. We’ve decided to replace our beloved (probably just because it’s all we’ve ever known) 1977 VC Vigilant, taking advantage of the $1000 from the Massachusetts rebate program.

We heat about 1600 square feet, with 16' ceilings, open floor plan, well-insulated, lots of southern light. With the Vigilant we burn about 2-3 cords a season, and keep toasty. We also love to cook on (and in) it whenever we can.

So of course, the answer is a Woodstock Progress Hybrid, right? We were very excited about ordering one, when I read the paperwork more carefully on the voucher, and discovered that the stove has to be installed by the retailer. I checked with Jamie at Woodstock, and he told me “I have spoken with a rep from the changeout program and our stoves and company would qualify, but at this point we have not decided if we will register to participate.”

So what’s my second-best choice? Efficiency and long burns are high priority, must be EPA-certified, and a cook top would be bonus. Oh, and we have a lot of long wood in storage, so it needs to take at least 18” logs.

Thank you all!
Debbie

Debbie:

Your situation is another case of one-size does not fit all. This is your individual decision - whether to take the rebate and go with another stove - or skip the rebate and go with Progress Hybrid.

From your post it looks like you've had your VC Vigilant for many years. If you forgo the rebate and buy the Progress Hybrid, you are writing off $1,000 divided by the number of years that you will keep/use the stove - maybe $1,000/10 years or $100 bucks a year. Is it worth it financially to skip that, or not? That's something you've got to decide.

From reading the State of MA woodstove rebate program, it looks like the retailer does not have to "install" the stove. They need only "be responsible for removing the existing non-EPA certified stove and install the Qualified Equipment. The retailer may appoint an installer, with the understanding that the Retailer is responsible for certifying the installation of the Eligible Equipment was done to code and submitting a building permit for the project."

Woodstock and you would have to agree upon an installer, who would have to obtain a building permit for the project.

From an outsiders (westerner's) point of view, I can see why Woodstock would be reluctant to get involved in this program. Maybe it's too much possible downside for them. That's too bad. The State of MA has made this replacement program much more complicated than it needs to be. The State of Idaho has a similar woodstove rebate program written into it's income tax code. But it is much more straightforward - and one can do his own install. Here it is:
Conditions to Receive a Tax Deduction

You can deduct the cost of a new natural gas or propane heating unit, pellet stove, or EPA-certified wood stove if:

• it is in your residence,
• it replaces an old wood stove that does not meet EPA requirements,
• the purchase and replacement occurs within the same year, and
• the old wood stove is dropped off at a DEQ-approved site within 30 days.

How Much is the Tax Deduction?

You can deduct 40% of the cost of purchase and professional installation in the year the wood stove is replaced. Thereafter, you may deduct 20% of the cost of purchase and professional installation per year for the next three years. The total annual deduction cannot exceed $5,000.
Good luck in selecting a woodstove that works best for you.

 

[Debbie]

Thank you all, you're as helpful as I thought you'd be! I'll watch the thread for a few more days to see if any other ideas come through, but otherwise, there seems to be strong support for the Lopi Cape Cod, which, fortunately, is available nearby. Anyone know anything about cooking on it? I also asked on this thread--hope that's okay!
Debbie

 

[fox9988]

Debbie, welcome to the forum. I wonder if you could get a local dealer to act as a middleman. Give them the cash + fee. If you had the install ready to go, they could set the stove on the hearth, slide the pipe in the collar and be out the door in a few min.

 

[Highbeam]

Cooking daily or cooking in an emergency? I can cook on the engine block of my truck if I need to and using any flat topped woodstove to cook is significantly easier. Is your oven broken? I would sooner upgrade to a gas oven than try and base a woodstove purchase decision on cooking during a power outage. Don't you have a BBQ?

 

[Debbie]

Cooking daily or cooking in an emergency? I can cook on the engine block of my truck if I need to and using any flat topped woodstove to cook is significantly easier. Is your oven broken? I would sooner upgrade to a gas oven than try and base a woodstove purchase decision on cooking during a power outage. Don't you have a BBQ?

We like to cook on it whenever we can--as long as there's a 500 degree surface available, why not boil the pasta on it? It also allows us to all hang out in the living room, rather than banish one parent to the kitchen. And it sure saw us through a week's power outage in October 2011! So not daily, but often, and stoves that make that easier win points with me!

 

[Waulie]

Debbie wrote in her first post that she enjoys ("loves" actually) cooking on her stove. I'm not sure the Cape Cod is a very good stove for cooking. It is a convective stove with an air chamber beneath the stovetop. The top may not get hot enough for most cooking, but I don't know for sure.