Butane or Propane Calor Gas?

[JumbleDuck]

I presume it's the LHV then that's relevant to boats as the combustion products aren't condensed when cooking (apart from a bit at the start with cold water in a pan), or in Propex type heaters.

Yes, on the whole LHV will be what matters.

 

[ffiill]

Make no mistake butane freezes.
Many years ago I took our caravan on butane to the Loch Morlich camping site near Aviemore and spent a very uncomfortable new year with intermittent heating.
In the end we filled our spare water containers with boiling water from the washroom and wrapped it and bottle in spare blankets and sleeping bags!

 

[Sgeir]

Make no mistake butane freezes.
Many years ago I took our caravan on butane to the Loch Morlich camping site near Aviemore and spent a very uncomfortable new year with intermittent heating.
In the end we filled our spare water containers with boiling water from the washroom and wrapped it and bottle in spare blankets and sleeping bags!

Indeed. I know from my climbing days that Camping Gaz butane in sub-zero temperatures in the hills was just about useless, which is why I seem to remember that, on their Himalayan climbs, Joe Brown and Don Whillans (I think it was them) used French canisters that I believe mixed propane and butane. Personally I preferred a petrol stove if it and the fuel had to be carried;

Having said that, we haven't done any winter sailing with snow or ice on the decks for several years. The boat's butane Calor gas was always usable, but very slow in cold conditions. I used to have to give the bottle an occasional shake when it was like that. Anyway, I guess that propane is the best option. Thanks for all the good advice.

 

[JumbleDuck]

... I seem to remember that, on their Himalayan climbs, Joe Brown and Don Whillans (I think it was them) used French canisters that I believe mixed propane and butane.

Camping Gaz is a propane/butane mix. As is Autogas (LPG), in which the mixture changes with the time of year - it contains less butane in the winter.

 

[earlybird]

Camping Gaz is a propane/butane mix.

Only the sealed cartridges AFAIK. The refillable cylinders are butane.