Posted by Steve Dashew (May 2, 2003)
Propane
Our approach to propane has been greatly affected by an experience we had many years ago crossing the South Pacific. We were enroute between Bora Bora and Suvaroff, and the compressed trades were kicking along with 30-45 knots of wind.
Our head was just forward of the saloon, to port, and propane bottles were carried on deck in a teak box, just above. A copper tube ran from the propane bottle back to the stove.
I was sitting in the head, surrounded by the usual cacophony of noise one hears in a gale, when I thought I heard a slight hiss. Thinking it might be a water leak of some sort I looked high and low, but could not find the cause, and so gave up. Later that day Linda reported she also heard a hissing sound. Further, more careful inspection led to a tiny leak in the copper propane line, right where it exited the deck. To say we were living on borrowed time is an understatement.
As a result, on all the boats we’ve built for clients we’ve run a single propane hose (NOT copper) from the electric solenoid mounted near the tank to the stove. As the tanks are always mounted in a gas locker, and any leaks in connections at that point would vent overboard, the only potential leak point is the stove connection-and that is easy to keep an eye on.
We’ve always carried two 20-lb aluminum propane bottles, usually manufactured by Worthington. This is enough gas to keep us going for 14 to 18 weeks. We’ve not found any problems getting our tanks filled, although on one or two occasions it did require some creative plumbing.
We’ve always carried a spare regulator and solenoid. However, we’ve not had to use any of these.
