Paralyzed indecision: Jotul F55 v2 or Hearthstone Shelburne (or Manchester)

Hi Folks! Just moved into a new house and am planning on replacing the wood stove and have narrowed in to a few choices.

House is a 2 story converted barn with an open layout and open attic (so 3 stories really)... 1300-1600SQft I suppose.

There is a big 25ft or so brick chimney that comes down the side of the house and lands in the center of the living room (one big open space)... It chimney with a thimble, no fireplace, just a brick chimney and two big slabs of granite as the hearth. Thimble is 28.75" on center off the hearthstone, and the hearth is 42.5" deep and 62" wide.

We heat the house with electric mini-splits but they don't work efficiently in the deep cold of upstate NY winters, so we use the fire to take the edge off, and more importantly, we just like to look at and relax by the fire.

We might occasionally airBNB the house to guests so being easy to operate and reliable is super important, and the second requirement is probably good fire viewing.

Has to be a rear venting stove obviously. We love the way the Hearthstone stoves look the best but are a little worried by some feedback, and a few absolutely furious angry reviews, but perhaps most owners are happy its hard to tell?

We don't love the Jotul F55 look quite as much but it's non-CAT operation and reliability seem to be dead simple.

I know the Woodstock Ideal Steel would also be an option but my wife really hates the look of it. Although I'm sure she would hate struggling with a frustrating stove even more! If that's truly the best answer I might be able to sell her on an IS with matte black everything and no decorations

So... Jotul F55 v2, Hearthstone Shelburne or Manchester. Or if people truly hate those stoves, I know this forum will recommend the Woodstock IS

Thoughts? Warnings? Advice?

Thank you in advance!
best-
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I won't debate the which stove other than telling you to probably not get a cat stove. I can see major issues with the first AIR bnb gig. I don't know how exactly AIR bnb works, but will your insurance company allow you to have a wood burner in a rental? Hard to get insurance up here anymore for renters and wood burners.

 

That's a good point. Honestly the AirBNB thing is just something we have considered, and we might not do it.

In terms of the stove though, its still important that it be super reliable and straightforward... not the type of thing you need to go on a forum to research to operate Even if there are not airBNB guests I want my wife and son to be able to use it without fussing with it too much and getting frustrated.

Thanks!

 

I'm in the IS camp. Along with good dry fuel wood it should be very easy to operate. I don't think I'd let some weekend warrior party and run a wood stove in any home I owned regardless of insurance regs. Just my .02.

 

I went from a pre-cat Shelburne to a Woodstock IS. My Shelburne was obviously much different but after looking at the current specs I'm not sure it can overcome the deficit of it's smaller firebox. It looks much closer to the Woodstock AS to me. I think you're going to find it's not enough if you want it to heat the place by itself in Northern NY.
You probably are in the Ideal Steel or HS Manchester class.
If you just want to supplement heat the Shelbourne might do it, although I am very suspicious of thier "24 hours of heat" claim.

 

Any of those should work fine. Pick the one you like amd want to live with