Gas Installation

[lockwood]

I have read many posts on this in the archives but am still unsure of a few things....

Does the pipework have to be installed by a registered marine plumber?

Can the gas bottle be stored in the same locker as my fuel (petrol) tank?

WTF, is a self draining locker - does it mean that the locker should have a vent through the hull? If so, won't water flood in when heeled over?

Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[sailorman]

[ QUOTE ]
I have read many posts on this in the archives but am still unsure of a few things....

Does the pipework have to be installed by a registered marine plumber?

Can the gas bottle be stored in the same locker as my fuel (petrol) tank?

WTF, is a self draining locker - does it mean that the locker should have a vent through the hull? If so, won't water flood in when heeled over?

Any help greatly appreciated.

[/ QUOTE ]
1/ No
2/ definatly No,
Fuel Ie petrol cans should go in the anchor well/ locker that drains outboard
3/ this gas locker should be:-
a/ top opening
b/ a 20m/m drain lead out-board & not into the cockpit ( mine vents via the transom ) so if the hose has a "fall" little water should enter if it does it will drain out again

a note on 2/ an Oyster (forget the size) stowed thier seperate 20 Ltr outboard engine petroil container in a locker that drained via limber holes to the bilge, in the hot weather the contents expanded & leaked.
when they starded the engine it was an Ex Oyster /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[PembrokeshirePromise]

Hi,

I've been struggling with this myself recently - so don't take any of my answers as definitive but as I understand it:

1) My insurers said that the pipework only had to be installed my a marine corgi chap if using commercially

2) Not sure about storage in same locker as petrol - can't see anything that says not - says must be 1m from sources of ignition.

3) Self draining locker - one that drains to the outside - i.e. not into the bilges - or inside the boat. Draining into the cockpit where it will then drain out the cokpit is OK I believe.

http://www.insightmarinesurveyors.co.uk/gas.htm has some useful info

Good luck !

 

[ShipsWoofy]

If fitting a hose for self draining it must be fuel grade. I have used Eberspächer exhaust pipe which is SS so gets around that.

After talking with a surveyor on the telephone one of his main checks were not actually on the installation but on cabin ventilation. He would only issue a certificate if good ventilation was fitted with respect to appliances and people in the cabin.

I did write down the equation but I am not sure right now where it is.

He wanted to see bottom and top ventilation, i.e. ducting from the sole to the cockpit and fixed open vents in the washboards. I am struggling to conform to these due to design.

 

[TigaWave]

I've fairly recently coded a boat following all the reg's required for insurance and MCA safety.
Anybody can install the gas system, but you will need a gas safety certificate which you will get from a corgi/marine person. They will check the ionstallation, pressure check it then issue a certificate.
As far as I can tell no problem in useing the same locjker for petrol, but why not find the corgi bloke (or girl) and ask. The bottled gas engineers are more difficult to find than your house variety. But calor can help.
Yes the drains go through a hull fitting but in the boat I did were well above the water line as the lockers were at seat height and not very deep.
Hope that helps, I posted a link before to calors marine help page try and find that maybe.

 

[boatmike]

The question really relates to the rules your insurance company apply but strictly speaking any installation done recently should have been checked by a corgi person. Otherwise I agree with TigaWave. As far as drains are concerned you can deal with ingress of water if it's a problem by taking the drainpipe from the locker on one side of the boat across to the other and back again to create a horizontal waterlock. Either the intake or loop of piping will be above WL on whatever tack you are on but the gas will always drain when you come about or come upright.

 

[VicS]

You'll find a lot of useful information on gas installations on these two web sites.

http://www.calormarineshop.co.uk/

http://www.socal.co.uk/marinenotes.html

 

[graham]

i am not an expert on the subject but I know that the Gas locker must vent overboard through a pipe with minimum internal diameter 19mm from the bottom of the locker .

The locker has to be a dedicated gas locker ie not used for anything else. In practice If you made the locker over size then stowed a petrol, container next to the bottle I cant see what harm it could do.

does the"CP" have a stern deck? I have seen a gas locker mounted on the stern deck draining directly overboard.i have also seen one mounted on the coachroof of a folk boat. You can buy butane bottles that are only about 8 inches high which may help.ave you gone off the Origo idea now?

 

[Cantata]

I can understand that a coded boat should have a gas safety certificate.
And I'm not suggesting that gas safety mustn't be taken very seriously.
BUT is the inference that every boat must have a gas safety certificate? Mine doesn't. My insurance policy doesn't mention it. I can clearly see the sense in getting one, but will anyone want to look at it except me?
The certificate, of course, is only a statement of the situation at the time of inspection, as well. I guess they are only valid for a fixed time before re-inspection?

 

[snowleopard]

The Calor link is good. You can also get a booklet from Calor that gives all the information you need, regulations and best practice.

 

[lockwood]

Thanks for the info - the Calor link is excellent.

I am still undecided if Gas is the way forward, as I also like the Origo burners. I am in the process of doing-away with my sliding galley and installing a permanant galley to replace a spare sleeping berth. There is plenty of room for a gas locker inside one of the cockpit lockers so that shouldn't be a problem.

As I say, still undecided and looking at pros and cons of going the Gas or Origo way.

UPDATE - call off the search. Just purchased a brand new Eno 2 burner gas cooker from the FOR SALE section of this site.

 

[KREW2]

Hi
just had to renew 2 hoses a job I could have done myself, however my insurance broker sent me a letter asking for a gas certificate, when I evetually found a marine registered corgi plumber I told him to do the job and test the system. two hundred and thirty pounds later I have a new regulator two new bits of rubber and a piece of paper
Regards K W

 

[sailorman]

cheaper to change insurers