gas bottle stowage

[Oscarpop]

I am not at the boat now, so im taking a guess on my dimensions here.

anyway, we have a gas locker that is able to take 2 camping gaz 907s.

as we are hopefully going off on our travels, we will need to switch to propane either in the Caribbean or before.

so I have a series of questions, based on my estimate that while a 907 will fit in our gas locker ( at 9 inches high ), the small propane tanks will be too tall ( if this is the the case then Southerly have dropped the ball.)

1. is is ok to have a gas bottle laying down in a locker? the bottle may fit this way?

2. Is is acceptable to have either a full or an empty bottle stowed outside of a gas locker if its not in use?

cheers

 

[temptress]

I am not at the boat now, so im taking a guess on my dimensions here.

anyway, we have a gas locker that is able to take 2 camping gaz 907s.

as we are hopefully going off on our travels, we will need to switch to propane either in the Caribbean or before.

so I have a series of questions, based on my estimate that while a 907 will fit in our gas locker ( at 9 inches high ), the small propane tanks will be too tall ( if this is the the case then Southerly have dropped the ball.)

1. is is ok to have a gas bottle laying down in a locker? the bottle may fit this way?

2. Is is acceptable to have either a full or an empty bottle stowed outside of a gas locker if its not in use?

cheers

Where are you going? You can refill your 907 bottles in the carribean and even exchange them in some Islands. Get a kit from gasboat (Google) and worry about other things. Yes to both your questions you will learn how to refill your own bottles eventually. 14 years cruising on current boat, 12 years previous - with the odd year ashore to pay for it...should add if laying the bottles down it is a good idea to have a vented locker.

 

[Oscarpop]

Western med, st Lucia then just bobbing around the Caribbean.

Have been told a lot of stories about not being able to refil butane in the Caribbean and being limited to propane .

 

[johnwest]

I understand it is highly dangerous to use a gas bottle that is laying down.

j

 

[prv]

I understand it is highly dangerous to use a gas bottle that is laying down.

Ours fell over in the locker during a rough passage, without us realising. Lighting the cooker after we tied up was quite dramatic, with big jets of flame that persisted for a few seconds even after the valve was closed again. The gas alarm also went off so not everything that came out was burning. Definitely not something I would try on purpose although maybe it depends on the type of bottle?

Pete

 

[ghostlymoron]

Don't use gas bottles lying down or you will get liquid gas in the supply pipes that can be very dangerous. It is done on propane powered fork lifts I know but don't know why it is safe on them.

 

[Stork_III]

Don't use gas bottles lying down or you will get liquid gas in the supply pipes that can be very dangerous. It is done on propane powered fork lifts I know but don't know why it is safe on them.

They have special bottles designed for on side loading, with an internal pipe gas take off at the high side.

 

[ghostlymoron]

Mystery explained. Thank you

They have special bottles designed for on side loading, with an internal pipe gas take off at the high side.

 

[Kwik Decision]

1. is is ok to have a gas bottle laying down in a locker? the bottle may fit this way?

2. Is is acceptable to have either a full or an empty bottle stowed outside of a gas locker if its not in use?

cheers

1. No, as others have said this can be very dangerous. The "gas" is actually a liquid in the cylinder, and if you have the cylinder on its side, the liquid gas can flow out, and down the pipe to your cooker.

2. The official answer to this is probably no, but provided it is stored somewhere where, if it leaks, the gas will not flow into the boat / bilge, but rather will flow onto the sea, where it will be dispersed by the wind, I would consider it safe. Our spare gas cylinder lives in the anchor locker, which is sealed from the boat and self draining.

 

[sailorman]

1. No, as others have said this can be very dangerous. The "gas" is actually a liquid in the cylinder, and if you have the cylinder on its side, the liquid gas can flow out, and down the pipe to your cooker.

2. The official answer to this is probably no, but provided it is stored somewhere where, if it leaks, the gas will not flow into the boat / bilge, but rather will flow onto the sea, where it will be dispersed by the wind, I would consider it safe. Our spare gas cylinder lives in the anchor locker, which is sealed from the boat and self draining.

The liquid is not gas is it.
the liquid "gives off" gas into the space above the liquid petroleum

 

[Kwik Decision]

The liquid is not gas is it.
the liquid "gives off" gas into the space above the liquid petroleum

Yes, The liquid in Camping Gaz cylinders is mainly butane, which confusingly is generally called "gas". This remains a liquid as it is under pressure in the cylinder, with the exception of the bit at the top of the cylinder which is gas phase butane. As gas phase butane is removed, you would expect the pressure in the cylinder to reduce, but it doesn't as some of the liquid butane will boil off to maintain the pressure. This requires heat, and therefore the cylinder will tend to get cold as gas is being consumed. This continues until all the liquid butane has boiled off, at which point the pressure in the cylinder will quickly fall to nothing. If you shake a full cylinder you can hear the liquid sloshing, but you won't with an empty.
Propane behaves in the same way, but as the vapour pressure of propane is higher than butane, the pressure in a propane cylinder will be higher.

 

[TQA]

Don't worry about getting your 907 bottles filled in the Carib. However if you get to the USA you will find it virtually impossible Switch to US stuff then.

Also I would not worry unduly about burning whatever 'cooking' gas mix your bottles are filled with. Both my cheap Flavel and top of the line Force 10 burned whatever we got without a problem or any noticeable change in flame.