Building a gas bottle locker

[seanfoster]

Hi All,

I'm coming towards the end of my complete refurbishment on my Dufour 1800 and I'm turning my attention to the onboard gas system.
Unbelievably, the original Dufour setup consisted of a two burner hob positioned over a cabinet which contained the gas bottle!

I've since installed a cooker, but unfortunately there isn't a gas locker in the cockpit, Therefore I'm going to build one in towards the rear of the cockpit seating.
My plan is to cut a hole into the seat area and install an inspection hatch, this is the one I'm intending to use: http://www.force4.co.uk/department/...-cutout-265mm-opening-240mm.html#.VTYE8JP4J8E

It has a 240mm opening which it the exact size of a 4.5kg Calor bottle.
I will then build a suitable box from 18mm marine ply and seal it to the underside of the cockpit seat area (supporting with some timber supports), and drain it with flexible hose to an above water through hull fitting.

Can anyone suggest how to line the ply to make it lpg tight? I'm thinking of coating each side with epoxy.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

 

[sailorman]

are you adverse to a gas bottle lashed to the stern rail

 

[seanfoster]

are you adverse to a gas bottle lashed to the stern rail

Well it's a simple solution I know, but don't want to clutter up the cockpit.

 

[Tranona]

Fillet the corners of your box with eopxy/woodfibres/microballoons to give a smooth surface and sheath with epoxy/cloth.

 

[ghostlymoron]

Paint it with flow coat inside and out.

 

[stevd]

I need to do something similar. Once you have created the box, what sort of fittings will you be using to get the pipe through the bottle box to keep it gas tight? I have no idea what to use.

 

[lw395]

I would definitely sheath the inside with some glass.
Epoxy alone will get chipped by the bottle.
I'd probably use polyester, no merit in making it extra light, and you don't want it flimsy.

Make sure the drain hose does not form a sump at the transom, due to the slope of the transom, if it holds water there, it won't drain gas. Seen a few boats like that.
Make sure the top of the box seals totally against the deck.

 

[seanfoster]

I need to do something similar. Once you have created the box, what sort of fittings will you be using to get the pipe through the bottle box to keep it gas tight? I have no idea what to use.

I was thinking of using a bulkhead compression fitting like this: http://www.gasproducts.co.uk/acatal...LQlU3dX3Fq6cNiVYLGVnzJk00nSEiOfgOkaAhHy8P8HAQ

 

[Tranona]

I need to do something similar. Once you have created the box, what sort of fittings will you be using to get the pipe through the bottle box to keep it gas tight? I have no idea what to use.

Bulkhead fitting is common way to achieve that.

 

[seanfoster]

Thanks for the replies, I'll go with glassing internally and externally and creating a fillet.

I'll post pictures when I've finished.