Gas bottle rusting

MAURICE

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 Jul 2001
Messages
336
Location
England
Visit site
So i have 2 small gas bottles both in a small outboard locker cant remember the size of the bottles. The problem is they both get rusty and stain the hull with rust. Given that the bottles are changed every so often how do you stop them from rusting. At home i have a b@q gas bottle which I think is made from glass fibre, well thats what it looks like. Any ideas i have tried several diffrent solutions but nothing works so far. Do they do small glass fibre bottles now for the marine enviroment? if not some one is missing a trick.
 
Had the same problem, you can't stop it other than putting a mat under them to allow water to drain away so the bottles don't sit in water - they will still rust, just not as fast. The paint coatings are rubbish for marine use.

I had the same problem, you can remove the rust stains with an oxalic acid solution but the permanent solution is to swap them out for aluminium bottles.

That's what solved my problem.
 
So i have 2 small gas bottles both in a small outboard locker cant remember the size of the bottles. The problem is they both get rusty and stain the hull with rust. Given that the bottles are changed every so often how do you stop them from rusting. At home i have a b@q gas bottle which I think is made from glass fibre, well thats what it looks like. Any ideas i have tried several diffrent solutions but nothing works so far. Do they do small glass fibre bottles now for the marine enviroment? if not some one is missing a trick.
Homebase to 5Kg grp propane bottles, & 10Kg. Haven't seen any smaller.
Gaslight Propane Cylinder Refillable 5kg
 
I put mine in a plastic carrier bag (one for each) before dropping them down into position.. This means they still rust but that isn't my probem any more, it's the problem of the company that refills them and has to persuade a customer to take rusty bottles because they or the manufactuers can't be bothered to use decent paint.
 
Cover with water-resistant grease (remove before trading them in) or spray with lacquer hairspray. As mentioned above, stand them on something that drains away water; I use green plastic garden trellis.
 
I used to stand the gas bottle in a shallow dish, normally used for plant pots to stand in. Didnt stop the rusting but did keep it in one place. Given up now as it was a pain to deal with when changing the bottle, which alway happens half way through cooking something and trying to deal with half an inch of rusty water tried my patience once too often.
 
When we bought our boat the two gas bottles in the gas locker were each in a little blue bottle sized fabric shopping bag, (Ikea) keeps them tidy and when you need to change the bag makes them very easy to carry. Not saying they do not get rusty but if they do I never see it..
But Moody went to a lot of trouble in their moulding process to ensure that you are forced to use those high priced camping gaz rip offs, not so happy about that, you can buy 7kgs. from Calor for about the same price.
 
A smear of Petroluem Jelly is perhaps whet you need
Its a product I keep in the boat and use on battery terminals jubilee clips etc. .. .......anything that looks like it might be prone to corroding .
Petroleum Jelly 375g
 
I find that there are endless things to worry about on a boat, so I made a decision years ago that rusting gas bottles was not to be one of them. My pair sit in an outside locker which is cleaned about once every decade and the stains dealt with with an oxalic acid product. My embarrassment at taking my manky old bottles to be changed was mollified long ago when I was told that returns were always rusty and my wrecks were almost pristine compared to some. If the stain were likely to become visible, I would find a plastic receptacle to put them in, with a small drain hole.
 
The problem often arises because the drain in the locker isn't at the bottom, allowing water to collect. Put a small length of cord in the outlet hose with its end in the bottom of the locker to wick it dry.
 
On my previous boat the gas bottle was in a quarter locker that drained out through the transom. The bottom of the locker used to get wet and the bottom rusted, so I made a grid out of plastic pipe to raise the bottle above the water line. All ok then.
 
Hi Done all the above except use vasoline. Looks like ill have to continue looking around for an answer. However the small gas bottles made from g.f. would be the best solution
 
I used to stand the gas bottle in a shallow dish, normally used for plant pots to stand in. Didnt stop the rusting but did keep it in one place. Given up now as it was a pain to deal with when changing the bottle, which alway happens half way through cooking something and trying to deal with half an inch of rusty water tried my patience once too often.

Similar for me (a cut-down small bucket base) but it has a small cut-out aligned with the drain. That keeps the locker base largely free of rust, and oxalic acid deals with the drain.
 
BP Gaslight 5kg to large for the gas locker fitted on my Moody. The original bottles i had were two 4.5kg calor gas approx 36cm height by 26cm. Boat currently in Spain with 2 smaller bottles
 
Last edited:
Top