Camp Gaz or Calor Gas in Italy

[cornish 2]

Hi, We were just about leave for Greece tomorrow. The gas has run out !. I've just been told by the Marina that you can't get gas refilled in Italy as its illegal !.
I can't believe this, what do Italian boats do?

 

[duncan99210]

In italy you can get Camping Gaz refills just about anywhere. In greece, you can get your Camping Gaz bottles exchanged for local ones (most places do a one for one swap) but you won't get a Camping Gaz bottle back - you'll get a local Greek one which is fine in Greece as they'll just carry on swaping one for one, whatever it says on the bottle.

However, when you come to leave Greece, you'll find that the rest of Europe only works on 'real' Camping Gaz bottles, so try and exchange you local Greek bottles for proper Camoing Gaz ones.

Calor Gas is a UK brand, so their bottles don't work outside UK. You'll need to buy local ones (and possibly regulators to fit). I'm not an expert in this field - no doubt someone else will be along soon with more detail.

 

[satsuma]

In italy you can get Camping Gaz refills just about anywhere. In greece, you can get your Camping Gaz bottles exchanged for local ones (most places do a one for one swap) but you won't get a Camping Gaz bottle back - you'll get a local Greek one which is fine in Greece as they'll just carry on swaping one for one, whatever it says on the bottle.

However, when you come to leave Greece, you'll find that the rest of Europe only works on 'real' Camping Gaz bottles, so try and exchange you local Greek bottles for proper Camoing Gaz ones.

Calor Gas is a UK brand, so their bottles don't work outside UK. You'll need to buy local ones (and possibly regulators to fit). I'm not an expert in this field - no doubt someone else will be along soon with more detail.

If you get to Turkey, they will fill any bottle you show up with!

 

[Tranona]

Not particularly relevant to the OPs current problem, but I had no problem exchanging my Greek bottles for Camping Gaz at my local Calor depot in Poole. The seem to have the CG type bottles as well.

As already noted Camping Gaz is the most wirely available type in Europe.

 

[Andy and Lyn]

Camping Gaz in italy - we couldn't find any alternative!!

 

[billcowan]

Greek bottles are usually dark blue and very rusty. But as many greek general stores do their own filling from 50Kg bottles out back, you have to be careful that you are getting back a bottle that is actually full, and that it is good enough looking to swap later elsewhere

English run chandler in Almerimar wouldnt swap greek for proper camping gaz unless you re-sprayed the bottle, he of course had a supply of spray cans.
Spanish chandler across the way, no problem.

Montenegro, I couldnt get any gas anywhere, but didnt try very hard.

Then once I came across a bottle that looked like camping gaz, but was a slightly greyer shade of blue, and it had a thread on that just wouldnt let me screw in my regulator.

So 'caveat butanor'

 

[charles_reed]

In italy you can get Camping Gaz refills just about anywhere. In greece, you can get your Camping Gaz bottles exchanged for local ones (most places do a one for one swap) but you won't get a Camping Gaz bottle back - you'll get a local Greek one which is fine in Greece as they'll just carry on swaping one for one, whatever it says on the bottle.

However, when you come to leave Greece, you'll find that the rest of Europe only works on 'real' Camping Gaz bottles, so try and exchange you local Greek bottles for proper Camoing Gaz ones.

Calor Gas is a UK brand, so their bottles don't work outside UK. You'll need to buy local ones (and possibly regulators to fit). I'm not an expert in this field - no doubt someone else will be along soon with more detail.

Not quite true - I exchanged my Petrogas bottle in Rethymon and was given a pristine Camping Gaz bottle in return in July, this year.
In most places, if you specify a Camping Gaz bottle they will, for a premium and if it's available, exchange a refilled one. One advantage is that you get 3kg of gas instead of the official Camping Gaz 2.6kg.
As you point out all bottles are refilled and if you're prepared to wait you can usually get your own bottle back.
As to it being illegal in Italy to refill a bottle is news to me, though the last I had refilled was in Acciarola in October 2008.
The law regarding LPG is now quite ferocious in Spain.

 

[grafozz]

available here ....

Hi, We were just about leave for Greece tomorrow. The gas has run out !. I've just been told by the Marina that you can't get gas refilled in Italy as its illegal !.
I can't believe this, what do Italian boats do?

If you choose to enter Greece at Argostoli, Kefalonia , you can buy Camping Gaz at Kontarinis , just outside Argostoli , its in stock I was there today ! If you need help , contact me .

 

[binch]

Gas

Be aware that Camping Gas is the most expensive in Europe. I checked in France for example, and a 3kg CG costs more than a 13kg Butagaz. (I'm talking about the contents)
We have cruised to most countries in Europe and carry about a quantity of different bottles and "pigtail" inter-connectors.
Generally, the more primitive the community the more ready they are to re-fill bottles.
It is really remarkable that the EU has produced a standard banana but cannot standardise gas bottles.
Britain is one of the most awakward countries.
We have just returned to UK long term. Anyone want to buy a French propane bottle and approrpriate pigtail? Cheap.

 

[charles_reed]

Be aware that Camping Gas is the most expensive in Europe. I checked in France for example, and a 3kg CG costs more than a 13kg Butagaz. (I'm talking about the contents)
We have cruised to most countries in Europe and carry about a quantity of different bottles and "pigtail" inter-connectors.
Generally, the more primitive the community the more ready they are to re-fill bottles.
It is really remarkable that the EU has produced a standard banana but cannot standardise gas bottles.
Britain is one of the most awakward countries.
We have just returned to UK long term. Anyone want to buy a French propane bottle and approrpriate pigtail? Cheap.

I'd second Bill's comments.

Sorry to hear you've been forced into stasis, Bill, - but good luck.