I have used cat and non cat epa stoves and cats have their up sides and down. Absolutely nothing wrong with noncatsThat's OK, I'm glad we're clearer on a few issues. Yes, I do not want a cat stove, however great they may be. Next month, I'll be hitting the market for what's out there. I want to come back in when I find a few potential gems and get some feedback. A lot will depend on the pass and what the spring weather brings. Some years, it's pretty horrible until May, and then it's smooth sailing except for rain.
There is a long and well-documented history of the basic F118 regarding baffle warpage. A guy did an entire rebuild, taking the stove apart and buying/installing new parts. Very detailed with pics, and I don't mind that a bit because at least I know I'll rebuild it correctly. Bolts breaking are part of the deal in cast anything that got hot. I really like the looks of that model, but I'm open to the many others that have been mentioned, which will be EPA stoves, just not cat.
I'll put together a list of what's been mentioned and compare it to what's for sale. Thanks for all the input so far!
Kevin