Everyone:
First off, I really want to thank everyone who put so much time and really good information into their suggestions and replies. I feel very confident that many of us could make a very good case to support either brand that I have mentioned but it's time to make a final choice.
There is a few iteams that I want to mention that just "stick-out" which determined our final descision.
To start, I can't help but remember a comment made by Brother Bart in which he sais "think long, think wrong". His poker playing rules to live by and I could'nt agree more. From the very begining, both my wife and I absolutely fell in love with the VC Defiant stove. It's only after reading numerous negative reviews that got us very concerned.
On the principal that you never really hear about the plane that landed safely, I would tend to agree that many of the VC complaints are generated by a very small percentage of the overall users and owners. If the VC product was really that bad, it simply would not exist anymore.
Secondly, if I were replying to this thread as somebody else (besides myself), I would probably say something like "that home was made for a Defiant", the looks and setting is ideal. If that stove could not work in your house, then where could it work??!.
As far as performance goes, it was Seakens reply that really made me wake up and realize that by burning primarily pine, I would want a stove that is designed to burn off as much gases as possible, thereby minimizing the amount of creosote buildup that pine is famous for. It seems that the "cat" Defiant was made exactly to fit this bill.
As far as the stoves "specs" go, many members have said to throw the performance specs out the window as they are just fudged anyway. Instead, simply buy the largest firebox you can find to generate the most heat and longest burn times. To honor those suggestions, I will be doing so as the Defiant has the largest firebox with approx 3.3 cubic feet.
As far as maintainence goes, what I really want is the best "performing" stove (of the ones on the approved list!). Periodic maintainence does not scare me at the least and I am very willing to re-seal gaskets, cement and replace the cat as needed. I would rather have a good performing stove that requires more maintainence than a lesser performing stove that requires no maintainence.
As far as "cuting edge" technology goes, the thermostatically controlled temp setting (air control) is only found of the Defiant and several members have said that this is a really nice feature.
As far as convienience goes, the Defiant has both double front doors AND the much desired top loading feature. While I am still somewhat young (early 40's) and in very good physical shape (former competitive athlete), and of course, extremely handsome to boot!!, I do have a mild-to severe problem with my joints on a fairly regular basis (chronic Lyme disease), and as a result, bending down on my knees can sometimes be very agravating to say the least. The top loading feature may be a blessing in disguise!.
As far as aesthetics as well as the "nookey factor"!, the Defiant suits this bill easily the best as it is not only the best looking stove IMO, but Mrs Hunky and I can also cuddle in front of the open double doors using a factory sparkscreen and listen to the crackling wood being burned. this can only lead to even better things
!
As far as dealer support goes, we do (or will) have a new VC dealer locally. Although the line is brand new to them and they have never installed one yet, I can only hope that it is better to have a local dealerthan none at all. Besides, one thing I forgot to mention before, I MUST have a certified stove installer install our new stove for our home insurance to insure the home. They will NOT allow a self install and that would void our insurance policy should we ever have a claim.
In essence, after an almost ridiculous amount of research, I truly believe that the VC Defiant stove is the right choice for us. It has a very user friendly ash pan with covered lid removal system. It has the largest sized "cat" firebox out there, it has the handy top loading feature many have come to love. It has the state of the art thermostatically controlled air setting, and is technically the best designed stove to more thoroughly burn more of the gases (the cat version) to help minimize the creosote buildup in the pipe.
All in all, this was a very informative learning experience for me and possibly others as well. It may be a while before we actually have the stove installed as I first need to build an approved hearth for it, but as soon as its in, I'll be sure to post up plenty of pics as well as give in depth ongoing performance reviews.
Again, thanks to everyone for their honest and sometimes "spirited" comments and replies. The information I have received on this forum is absolutely invaluable and the members that comprise it all deserve a very sincere "thank you".
The VC Defiant "cat" is what we chose and deep down, I feel very relieved!. I don't know why (I mean its not like were buying a house or an expensive luxory car or something!), its just that I really became very interested in wood burning stoves and my curiosity may have run amuck a little!. Oh well, I guess thats a good thing but who knows!. at least I now know where to go should I have any more questions about operating my new stove properly. I think I may owe many people a favour and hopefully I can one day return it in someway.
Thanks again everyone.
S-H
