Supplementing with a heat stick
 

I typically do a partial mash on the stove top and boil ~3 gallons. The boil never gets going as well as I would like so I am considering adding a heat stick to the arsenal. Obviously, I would not need one that could carry the whole load of the boil, just something to help out. Any suggestions?

1500W (which is typically as low as you'll find at the big box stores) should do just fine, if you're pot is large enough you should be able to maintain a full boil (6gals or so) using the stove and heatstick. If you are doing just the ~3gals you will likely be able to get by with just the heatstick. The 1500W heating element will run on any standard 15A GFCI protected outlet with a little room to spare.

In the winter; I use a 1500W heatstick with my stove. It boils 6 gal just fine.

Thanks, I've seen heating elements in the store...is this something I will have to wire a plug on or are heat sticks sold ready to go?

A plain heating element will require some wiring and properly a fuse.

Consider something like this: http://www.amazon.com/MARSHALLTOWN-Premier-742G-Bucket-Heater/dp/B000BDB4UG

I used one to help boil 7 gallons on my stovetop for a while.

I made one using these instructions; http://www.3d0g.net/brewing/heatstick, also search heat sticks on these forums.

Does that work as is? If so, that's a fantastic find.

Yep. I've got one. It's not terribly powerful (1000W, I believe), but it's enough to bump up a burner to boil. Works out of the box.