Stove purchase decision Regency 3100 or Jotul F45/55

[deguireb]

I could use some advice, dealers just seem to try and tell me what they think I want to hear. I have a 30 foot chimney, just installed a 6 inch insulated flue liner and the stove will be in the basement. Basement is all open and is 900 sq. ft., above are two finished floors (Colonial). I leave the basement door open when burning and get decent convection air circulation. I build this house 17 years, it has 2X6 walls and well insulated, and has an oil furnace. I have acrage so the wood is avalable and I enjoy burning. I retired a Penn Stove Company, Meridith, that was made in 1980. I am in Massachusetts.

I am looking at the following three options:
Regency F3100, 80K BTU, 2000 to 3500 sq ft, 1,600 dollars
Jotul F45, 55K BTU, up to 1600 sq ft, 1,935 dollars
Jotul F55, 83K BTU, up to 2500 sq ft, 2160 dollars

I am trying to get the best size stove that would provide enough confidence to leave home with it burning. If there is another stove that you think is more appropiate let me know, I have looked at many.

I read all the reviews (wish F55 owners would post some) and many threads.

 

[Fsappo]

Sold more than a few of that Regency model everyone happy. Overnight burns just fine. Sold literally hundreds of Jotuls in the past. Never those models (this was almost 10years ago) Lots of happy jotul customers. I can offer steel heats up a little quicker than cast iron

 

[jeffesonm]

I like my F55 but can't say for sure it's $500 better than the regency. If you do go Jotul, do the F55 over the F45. You can always make a smaller fire but you can only jam so much wood in there.

 

[velvetfoot]

I don't have that model Regency, but my Hampton insert is very controllable.

 

[BIGDADDY]

Have you looked at Blaze King stoves at all? I don't have one but they have stoves with extremely long burn times. Some up to 40 hour burn time.

 

[BradleyW]

I doubt the smaller Jotul would do the job. You will easily get 10+ hour burn times with the F55. We leave ours fully loaded all the time with no worries.

 

[deguireb]

Thanks for the comments, will be looking at the Blaze King and Pacific Energy stoves today. Was originally looking for a non-cat steel but am starting over. My old stove only has about a 1.2 sq ft usable fire area but I could maintain constant output when home by adding wood. It was a little undersized but it is very hard to know what it had for an output to help size this new stove. The F45 is about 1.5 sq ft (18" X 16" X 9") usable so I thought it may be a good match.