Gas bottle fill Algarve

[PhilipH]

Today I got our 4.5kg Calor gas bottle filled at CM Pedro near Boliqueime. Some folks may know about this place but others not. Take the Boliqueime turn off from the N125 and it is almost immedlately on your right - look for the sign AutoCrew. Filled as you wait and it only cost €5 for the fill. They have the fittings.

 

[nortada]

Today I got our 4.5kg Calor gas bottle filled at CM Pedro near Boliqueime. Some folks may know about this place but others not. Take the Boliqueime turn off from the N125 and it is almost immediately on your right - look for the sign AutoCrew. Filled as you wait and it only cost €5 for the fill. They have the fittings.

You may not be aware but the unlicensed filling of gas bottles is not legal in Portugal. :ambivalence:

You are supposed to exchange them at authorized dealerships so be careful who you tell.:encouragement:

 

[PhilipH]

Interesting - this place has a dedicated filling pump in full view of the road and a couple of motor homes were there getting their bottles filled. If this is illegal it is in plain sight and they are some of the highest risk takers I have come across. Doesn't look like an iĺlegal operation to me.

 

[Heckler]

Interesting - this place has a dedicated filling pump in full view of the road and a couple of motor homes were there getting their bottles filled. If this is illegal it is in plain sight and they are some of the highest risk takers I have come across. Doesn't look like an iĺlegal operation to me.

Glad you found it, got home ok, also life jkts with bottles removed but in the same bag in the cabin baggage were ok

 

[nortada]

Interesting - this place has a dedicated filling pump in full view of the road and a couple of motor homes were there getting their bottles filled. If this is illegal it is in plain sight and they are some of the highest risk takers I have come across. Doesn't look like an iĺlegal operation to me.

Just a warning, if you are so sure, go check it out with the authorities.

A possibility, 'the place' is licensed for this but this would be the first I have heard of.

Another possibility, 'the place' belongs to the brother of the chief-of-police.

 

[Graham376]

Just a warning, if you are so sure, go check it out with the authorities.

A possibility, 'the place' is licensed for this but this would be the first I have heard of.

Another possibility, 'the place' belongs to the brother of the chief-of-police.

Not a problem anyway, guy doing the filling is the one who would be in trouble, not the customer.

 

[nortada]

Not a problem anyway, guy doing the filling is the one who would be in trouble, not the customer.

Not if the guy filling the bottles is off duty GNR.:encouragement: The customer would probably be pinged for aiding and abetting or loitering with a tent (or camper-van). All OK until the PSP pitch up

Few years back, the was a garage hereabouts that did refills but then it was closed done and a general warning given that it wasn't legal but, of course, the law may have changed to permit the filling of internal gas tanks on camper vans?

 

[maxi77]

These days many motorhomes have legally refillable bottles installed and German and Dutch caravans used Alugas or other similar refillable bottles which have an 80% cut off which stops the bottle being overfilled. There are also a fair number who just have standard bottles and an adaptor to fit the autogas filler. Most garages with gas do not mind what you fill as long as it is not a Portuguese bottle. Enforcement of the regulations does not seem to be strong, though there are signs of occasional check ups. I have been told it is illegal to carry a gas cylinder in a car. If you want to buy a bottle every town has a local retailer who will deliver for free.

 

[PhilipH]

Glad you found it, got home ok, also life jkts with bottles removed but in the same bag in the cabin baggage were ok

 

[PhilipH]

Good news.

 

[PhilipH]

Look, all I am trying to do is share useful info to assist fellow cruisers. It may not be to your liking but others might benefit. Why on earth would I waste my time asking "the authorities " ? If it works let it be.

 

[nortada]

Look, all I am trying to do is share useful info to assist fellow cruisers. It may not be to your liking but others might benefit. Why on earth would I waste my time asking "the authorities " ? If it works let it be.

http://liveinfo.lagosnavigators.net/httpdocs/technical/gas-supply/

Knew I had read it somewhere and yes we are in Lagos but before you ask, this site is nothing to do with me️

 

[dgadee]

But don't camper vans carry normal gas bottles? Will they be fined, too?

 

[nortada]

But don't camper vans carry normal gas bottles? Will they be fined, too?

As I understand it, it is perfectly legal to EXCHANGE empty bottles for full.

The problem can come if bottles are refilled rather than replaced or if gas bottles are tranported in normal private cars, rather than vehicles (camper vans) equiped with a stowage to carry bottles.

Must admit not my part of ship. So far as the boat is concerned we change empty bottles in the normal way but do not attempt to get empty bottles refilled or carry them in a car.

Over our years in Portugal, we have been privy to this discussion on a number of occasions but have no definative answer.

 

[sailaboutvic]

My god , you want to go to Greece and exchange a gas bottles , you die when you see. What you get back .
I now keep my bottles and get them refilled when ever I can .
My plain is to once I get back to some of these places like Spain where gas is at a silly price is to decanter my own , now before people start jumping up and down how dangerous this can be , when you been around Canadian, US,NZ and Ozzie sailors as long as I have and seen it done so many time , in the open air it's no more dangerous then filling your car up , unless some one smoking a ciz at the time .
Not sure about useing a mobile phone while doing it .
Here in Tunisia it super fun , you go down some alley and bang on some women door , she invited you into here court yard where there bottles hanging up all over the place , back in the after noon you pay 9 dinar (€3 ) in return for you bottle of gas .

 

[GHA]

Another refill place is up near Larenjeiro, where the m1325 goes under the n398 up hehind Olhao, been there for ages apparently and cool with the gnr so he says. Popping up again on Monday far another homebase grp bottle refill . He reckons he has adaptors for any bottle and there's often a camper van about. Normally he pops out the back to fill the bottles (propane) but I've had them filed out front. I asked about getting an adaptor off ebay for filling in any garage and he said not a good idea, gnr will hammer you if you get caught. Still need to get up there but hire cars can be had for a few quid if you time it right, just don't get pulled with a bottle in the boot but that's very unlikely in a local hire car.

www.zuluwaterways.com/map

 

[nortada]

Another refill place is up near Larenjeiro, where the m1325 goes under the n398 up hehind Olhao, been there for ages apparently and cool with the gnr so he says. Popping up again on Monday far another homebase grp bottle refill . He reckons he has adaptors for any bottle and there's often a camper van about. Normally he pops out the back to fill the bottles (propane) but I've had them filed out front. I asked about getting an adaptor off ebay for filling in any garage and he said not a good idea, gnr will hammer you if you get caught. Still need to get up there but hire cars can be had for a few quid if you time it right, just don't get pulled with a bottle in the boot but that's very unlikely in a local hire car.

www.zuluwaterways.com/map

Typical Portugal, which will make their take on Brexit (if it ever happens) interesting.

 

[GHA]

Typical Portugal, which will make their take on Brexit (if it ever happens) interesting.

I got the impression talking to the guy that refilling wasn't illegal if he did it, but it might just be they turn a blind eye as it's keeping the multitudes of motor home people happy.

 

[nortada]

If you wish to continue in this vein, try getting flares in Portugal.

Whilst it is a requirement for boats to carry flares in Portugal, it is illegal to sell them over the counter but it is legal to mail them to the marina of your choice - not too sure about this last bit but I know it regularly happens!

Additionally, they are often ferried back by folk motoring back to Portugal.

Hey ho such is Portugal, so you can see why we have a rather laid back attitude to Brexit (if it happens).

 

[Heckler]

If you wish to continue in this vein, try getting flares in Portugal.

Whilst it is a requirement for boats to carry flares in Portugal, it is illegal to sell them over the counter but it is legal to mail them to the marina of your choice - not too sure about this last bit but I know it regularly happens!

Additionally, they are often ferried back by folk motoring back to Portugal.

Hey ho such is Portugal, so you can see why we have a rather laid back attitude to Brexit (if it happens).

It was me that told Phil about the refill place, loads of peeps in our marina used it including me by proxy. As to flares, just got mine delivered from Malaga, 215 euros for the offshore pack, thats 6 paras, 6 red and two smoke. No probs. So stop being negative eh!

We all have a lot to bring to the table, including the OP so lets accept his advice for what it is, an attempt to help us all!