Thinking a bit more about this it think it's possible to cobble up a prototype pretty easily and mess around with the idea a bit. What I'm thinking is to start with a soldering gun (not iron). Like this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00002N7S0?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage
These guys get to soldering temperatures (ironically in the range we want) in a second or two by applying LOTS of power the poor little copper wire that makes the loop for the tip. Lots of current (Amps) at not many Volts. I'm thinking of replacing the factory loop with a Copper ring or even cone shape spiral to match the VM pan bottom.
I'm not sure if my original idea, put it on the loop, turn on the heat (heat the pan), shutdown and pull it off to hit normally (more or less like the VM Heating Station does). Perhaps the extra copper won't upset the heat transfer within the pan so the heating loop can remain in contact full time (which makes a lot of other things easier to deal with perhaps? Like heat sensing. Perhaps make shoes to make electrical contact with t he pan and run the current directly though it......
After experimenting to figure out workable configuration(s), making it compact and able to run on 12 VDC would follow in due time. But for prototyping the ease of getting lots of power is attractive.
Fun idea, but in a way it goes against the soul of the VM.......a flameless, corded VM just seems wrong somehow. Even if it's a natural in your boat or RV?
OF