Gas cans in anchor locker

[TiggerToo]

Would there be anything wrong with storing a gas bottle in the (bow) anchor locker? I mean for a short (3 month) stretch of time.

 

[simonfraser]

does it have a drain and no access to any other part of the boat ?

 

[RogerJolly]

Hope not. I do it on the grounds the anchor locker has a drain hole.

 

[Poignard]

Undesirable weight in the bow?

 

[Quandary]

Loads of stuff these days comes in airtight plastic buckets, bird food, garden fertilizer etc. so I have a plethora of different sizes. For a while I used a small C'gas cylinder as backup and put it in the locker protected from impact by such a bucket.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

They make rubbish anchors. Ask me how I know.

 

[Aeolus]

I'd make sure that in case of any slamming, the tap/valve mechanism can't hit / be hit by anything.

 

[TiggerToo]

They make rubbish anchors. Ask me how I know.

this is NOT an anchor thread...
Please don't sink it.

 

[TiggerToo]

I'd make sure that in case of any slamming, the tap/valve mechanism can't hit / be hit by anything.

good point. But an old-fashioned Calor Gas cylinder, does not have an exposed mechanism

 

[billyfish]

Mine is in one . I think its a rubbish idea. Going to change it. Takes up room and it's heavy

 

[Slowtack]

Mine... Campinggaz.. Was in the anchor locker when I bought the boat.... I replaced the regulator unit with a new aluminium unit. In first season the regulator corroded below the valve and leaked the entire contents. Luckily it mostly escaped via the locker overboard drain. I replaced with a stainless steel stern mounted calor gas size locker draining overboard and a marine quality stainless steel regulator and new piping throughout.

 

[pandos]

Mine I'd in one as per HR original 1980 layout. It's grand, It well secured with some ratchet straps and a modified bucket dropped over it.. new regulator and hose about every 5 years...

 

[srm]

No problem provided that, as noted above, locker has an above waterline drain and is gas tight to the rest of the boat. Note that LPG is capable of penetrating where water might not and that there may be undetected leaks into the boat above the normal water level in the locker, especially if you have any electric cables running in to the locker. However, a new sealed cylinder should not leak so risks are less than for an in use locker. The concern about leakage in to the boat is that the lower drains can become blocked.

Additional weight in the bows may be a consideration offshore. Perhaps lashing the bottle securely to the stern rail or making up a bracket there may be a well ventilated alternative.

 

[dunedin]

Many Scandinavian boats have the main gas cylinders in the bow compartment (perhaps because they often don’t have anchors on the bow!)
A bow compartment separated from the cabin and with drain holes at bottom should make safe. And when going to Norway where have no Camping Gaz we kept an extra spare cylinder in there for 3 months with no issues.
However, it is a rubbish location for the primary cylinder in use, as long pipe run and subject to salt water corrosion (not a material issue for a spare cylinder, if use and trade in !)

 

[stuartwineberg]

Had one there for years on my Bav 32 because it only had space in the gas locker for 1 bottle. No problems

 

[MikeBz]

Had one there for years on my Bav 32 because it only had space in the gas locker for 1 bottle. No problems

Snap, on our SO32. I wrap it thoroughly in a couple of sturdy plastic bags to stop it from getting too rusty.

 

[TiggerToo]

Many Scandinavian boats have the main gas cylinders in the bow compartment (perhaps because they often don’t have anchors on the bow!)
A bow compartment separated from the cabin and with drain holes at bottom should make safe. And when going to Norway where have no Camping Gaz we kept an extra spare cylinder in there for 3 months with no issues.
However, it is a rubbish location for the primary cylinder in use, as long pipe run and subject to salt water corrosion (not a material issue for a spare cylinder, if use and trade in !)

I was thinking for storage, not for the "in use" one

 

[Baddox]

We store a spare campinggaz cylinder wrapped in a zip-lock bag in the anchor locker. It seems safe there as the locker has a drain hole to the outside and no route for gas to get back into the boat.

 

[Neeves]

As mentioned weight in the bow. Anchor and/or chain lockers tends to be wet, damp - so you need to manage corrosion. Most lockers tend to be small, too small even for their intended use - for many yachts you simply would not have room for a cylinder. The drain hole is easily blocked and the drain hole is designed quite small, for water, not gas, our cylinder drain hole is 1".

A better solution is a dedicated cage built from stainless tubing located at or near the transom with a padlock, if that is deemed necessary. Its then in the open so leaks are not an issue and its in close proximity to the gas pipe work. If necessary add a cover. Corrosion is still an issue as is weight in the ends - better a dedicated enclosed locker, with drain hole and one that is dry - cockpit locker.

We actually duct air, as it is cool and fresh (specifically when at anchor and/or on a swing mooring), from the bow locker over the fridge compressors to make them more efficient. So not for us (we have a dedicated cockpit locker for the cylinder in use and a cage on the transom for the spare (which also connects to the BBQ, also on transom).

Jonathan

 

[SteveA]

Would there be anything wrong with storing a gas bottle in the (bow) anchor locker? I mean for a short (3 month) stretch of time.

It's standard fit on the Maxi 1000