Calor gas system. 4.5kg bottles.

[doug748]

I have taken on a boat with a very old 4.5 Calor gas bottle and system. It's going to have to be refurbished, Given the past supply problems with these bottles what does the future hold? Would it be better to swap to Camping gaz.

What does the team think..

 

[sawduster]

I have just gone through other way, campingaz is a rip off and I want nothing to do with it. Supply for 4.5kg butane is fine in Scotland, I got mine from a local supplier cheaper than marina price and they had 10s of them in a pile out back.

 

[Goldie]

I have taken on a boat with a very old 4.5 Calor gas bottle and system. It's going to have to be refurbished, Given the past supply problems with these bottles what does the future hold? Would it be better to swap to Camping gaz.

What does the team think..

My understanding is that Calor have reverted to ‘as you were’ regarding supply of the 4.5kg Butane and 3.9kg propane cylinders so in your position, I’d stay with Calor unless the situation changes. Camping Gaz is horrendously expensive in U.K. compared with on continental Europe where last year, I paid as little as €13 for an exchange 907 (the largest size) bottle.

 

[ducked]

My understanding is that Calor have reverted to ‘as you were’ regarding supply of the 4.5kg Butane and 3.9kg propane cylinders so in your position, I’d stay with Calor unless the situation changes. Camping Gaz is horrendously expensive in U.K. compared with on continental Europe where last year, I paid as little as €13 for an exchange 907 (the largest size) bottle.

Probably Russian contraband

 

[Boathook]

I have taken on a boat with a very old 4.5 Calor gas bottle and system. It's going to have to be refurbished, Given the past supply problems with these bottles what does the future hold? Would it be better to swap to Camping gaz.

What does the team think..

Flogas do a similar sized 4.5kg cylinder to the calor one. Big problem with flogas is that they don't many 'waterside' places to purchase if you sail far and require a replacement.

 

[shanemax]

I refill my blue 4.5 calor butane from a large red/orange propane. You can get the fittings from Ebay.

 

[Stemar]

I was fortunate enough to have a large lazarette that drains over the side, which became my gas locker, when Calor were being silly, and takes a pair of 7kg bottles. Twice the gas for only £6 more - three times the gas for a fiver less compared with Camping Gaz

 

[ProDave]

"I refill my blue 4.5 calor butane from a large red/orange propane. You can get the fittings from Ebay."

Do NOT refill a BUTANE cylinder with PROPANE. The valves and regulators on the butane cylinder are not designed for the higher pressure of propane.

Only refill with the type of gas originally supplied in the bottle.

 

[[70521]]

Can swap one of my Camping Gaz 907s for that Calor bottle?

 

[Moonbeam]

I have just gone through other way, campingaz is a rip off and I want nothing to do with it. Supply for 4.5kg butane is fine in Scotland, I got mine from a local supplier cheaper than marina price and they had 10s of them in a pile out back.

I agree... our new to us boat came with a caming gaz set up and we have gone back to 4.5kg as that is what the gas locker was originally intended for and now that supply does indeed seem to be back on line, it's a no brainer considering the extortionate cost of the camping gaz.

Last time I popped into Marine Bazzar Chandlers in Plymouth, they had a pretty healthy stock of 4.5kg bottles. Mind you, I don't know what they are charging for them.

 

[Boathook]

"I refill my blue 4.5 calor butane from a large red/orange propane. You can get the fittings from Ebay."

Do NOT refill a BUTANE cylinder with PROPANE. The valves and regulators on the butane cylinder are not designed for the higher pressure of propane.

Only refill with the type of gas originally supplied in the bottle.

Can't really comment on the bottle valve, apart from they look the same. But my bulkhead regulator is for both butane and propane.

 

[Mister E]

Calor will probably in the future stop the 4.5kg bottle supplies.
So
why not use that until you are forced to swop.

 

[vyv_cox]

Can't really comment on the bottle valve, apart from they look the same. But my bulkhead regulator is for both butane and propane.

My motorhome has a bulkhead regulator that will take either butane or propane. We generally use Autogas, whose composition varies enormously, from 100% propane in UK to mostly butane with some propane in parts of Europe, 50/50 in others.

 

[KAM]

Swapped to Camping Gaz temporarily. Now back to Calor. I thought the Camping Gaz cylinders were a bit too small plus I didn't think they were as safe. Had a couple where the self sealing valve was leaking plus really awkward spinning the cylinder onto the regulator.

 

[Fimacca]

Can swap one of my Camping Gaz 907s for that Calor bottle?

scotsman !!!

 

[seumask]

You can get a kit from Gas Boat that allows you to connect to many different bottles. They are not cheap but allow a lot of different options e.g,:
Buy GasBOAT Voyager 4061 Regulator Kit from SOCAL Southampton

 

[alahol2]

I swapped from 4.5kg butane (blue) to 3.9kg propane (orange) during the shortage because I could still get propane from the local hire shop. It is used by tradesmen for gas burners. If the supply dries up again I'll start refilling my own from bigger bottles.

 

[Sneaky Pete]

Has anyone changed over to re-fillable type bottles 2.7kg or 6kg.

 

[IanCC]

My understanding is that Calor have reverted to ‘as you were’ regarding supply of the 4.5kg Butane and 3.9kg propane cylinders so in your position, I’d stay with Calor unless the situation changes. Camping Gaz is horrendously expensive in U.K. compared with on continental Europe where last year, I paid as little as €13 for an exchange 907 (the largest size) bottle.

Not sure it's 'as you were'. No where near 4.5 kg of gas in the last one i bought., if the metal tag still gives the tare weight in lbs and ounces.

 

[ProDave]

I have 2 empty unwanted 4.5Kg butane cylinders if anyone has a need for them.