Calor Gas in France

Dockhead

Dockhead

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For a change, I have some really good cooks on board this year for our summer cruise in South Brittany, and we have unexpectedly gone through our cooking gas supply much faster than usual. One bottle usually last me for months; now I'm down to probably a quarter of a bottle with two weeks left to go. Naturally, they don't sell Calor gas here. They do sell butane as Camping Gaz, but I don't think the fittings work. What to do? Anyone encounter this problem? Are adapters available? In France? Or do I have to order them from the UK? Anyone been through this problem so can offer some words of wisdom?
 
Dockhead said:
For a change, I have some really good cooks on board this year for our summer cruise in South Brittany, and we have unexpectedly gone through our cooking gas supply much faster than usual. One bottle usually last me for months; now I'm down to probably a quarter of a bottle with two weeks left to go. Naturally, they don't sell Calor gas here. They do sell butane as Camping Gaz, but I don't think the fittings work. What to do? Anyone encounter this problem? Are adapters available? In France? Or do I have to order them from the UK? Anyone been through this problem so can offer some words of wisdom?
Click to expand...

There is an adapter valve which screws into a Camping gas bottle to convert to the same fitting as a small Calor butane cylinder.

No idea if/where you'd get one in France but available from all the usual sources in the UK

Expensive one on this page http://www.whayward.com/Results.cfm?category=29&secondary=25
4010.jpg

or here http://www.socal.co.uk/toolbox/regulators-adaptors/gasboat-4010-camping-gaz-cylinder-adapter.html

Another here http://www.socal.co.uk/toolbox/regulators-adaptors/cylinder-adaptors/gaslow.html?p=2
1665.jpg


Part 16643 from BES http://www.bes.co.uk/ somewhat cheaper
16641.gif



Vyv's solution below applicable if you have a bottle mounted regulator. Above is the solution if uou have a bulkhead mounted regulator
 
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Most hypermarkets sell the regulator for Camping Gaz and the bottles are widely available. You only need to remove the Calor regulator from your rubber hose and substitute the Gaz one. You will need to buy the bottle + gas, not cheap in France, but it will keep you going.
 
Thanks for all the excellent replies.

If the hose fits,then surely the simplest approach is to buy a regulator together with the cylinder. On the other hand, I have started to think, with a certain horror, about what I'm going to do with the extra cylinder. Can't store it on board, so it would have to clutter up the space behind my transom, perhaps never to be used again -- bleh.

Maybe an electric hot plate and an electric kettle are in order, and hope the remaining gas holds out. Hmmmm. D*mned shame these bottles aren't standardized -- where is the EU when it actually has a chance to do something actually useful, for a change? :)
 
Dockhead said:
Thanks for all the excellent replies.

D*mned shame these bottles aren't standardized -- where is the EU when it actually has a chance to do something actually useful, for a change? :)
Click to expand...

What? You want everyone to have to change to Camping gas?
 
Dockhead said:
If the hose fits,then surely the simplest approach is to buy a regulator together with the cylinder. On the other hand, I have started to think, with a certain horror, about what I'm going to do with the extra cylinder. Can't store it on board, so it would have to clutter up the space behind my transom, perhaps never to be used again -- bleh.

... Hmmmm. D*mned shame these bottles aren't standardized -- where is the EU when it actually has a chance to do something actually useful, for a change? :)
Click to expand...

The Camping Gaz 907 bottle is pretty much standard across the EU. When camping in Europe I've never had a problem getting a replacement.
You could always re-sell the bottle and regulator when you return to UK. On a previous boat we always changed from Calor to Camping Gaz for the duration of any trip outside the UK. A 907 bottle will fit easily into the space of a Calor bottle. The Gaz is very expensive though which is why we don't use it in UK.
 
alahol2 said:
The Gaz is very expensive though which is why we don't use it in UK.
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The gas is pretty much exactly the same price as any other, there isn't anything special about it. It's the markup that is expensive. In France and UK it is ridiculous, about £20 per refill. In Spain and Greece, maybe elsewhere, it is much more reasonable, €10 or less.
 
vyv_cox said:
The gas is pretty much exactly the same price as any other, there isn't anything special about it. It's the markup that is expensive. In France and UK it is ridiculous, about £20 per refill. In Spain and Greece, maybe elsewhere, it is much more reasonable, €10 or less.
Click to expand...

Precisely, 907 Gaz costs approx. £7.30/Kg in UK; 4.5Kg Calor Butane about £3.30/Kg.
 
The most expensive place for Camping Gaz is The Netherlands. A few years ago it was €30 for a 907 refill.
 
This will be of no help to you, but may warn others. If you're travelling to France buy an old 907 bottle on ebay and the adaptor so that you can buy gaz should you need it... Quite simply it's too late once you're there.

Rob.
 
rob2 said:
This will be of no help to you, but may warn others. If you're travelling to France buy an old 907 bottle on ebay and the adaptor so that you can buy gaz should you need it... Quite simply it's too late once you're there.

Rob.
Click to expand...

Well, they have the adapter at the Comptoire du Mer for 15 euro-rubles. Seems reasonable. Do I dare hope that it will fit my hose? It seems to have the left-hand threads.
 
Dockhead said:
Well, they have the adapter at the Comptoire du Mer for 15 euro-rubles. Seems reasonable. Do I dare hope that it will fit my hose? It seems to have the left-hand threads.
Click to expand...

An adapter valve like those i pictured in my post ?


Take the plastic cap that was on the Calor cylinder when you bought it with you. Check that it will screw onto the adapter.


(BTW did you know that the plastic caps come with a brand new washer in them that you can remove and use to replace the manky old one in your hose end fitting?)
 
Take the plastic cap that was on the Calor cylinder when you bought it with you. Check that it will screw onto the adapter.


(BTW did you know that the plastic caps come with a brand new washer in them that you can remove and use to replace the manky old one in your hose end fitting?)[/QUOTE]


Now that's what you call a true Practical Boat Owner Tip - Thanks Vic
 
xeitosaphil said:
Take the plastic cap that was on the Calor cylinder when you bought it with you. Check that it will screw onto the adapter.


(BTW did you know that the plastic caps come with a brand new washer in them that you can remove and use to replace the manky old one in your hose end fitting?)
Click to expand...


Now that's what you call a true Practical Boat Owner Tip - Thanks Vic[/QUOTE]

Amen! Thanks Vic!
 
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