Gas Locker

[Mike_02]

Here is a question for all you out there on gas Lockers.

My gas bottle is in a cockpit locker. I want to make it comply with insurance regs and have a few issues.

The main problem is wth the gas Locker drain. I can place the bottle inside a container inside a locker but i have to have a drain from the bottom of the locker over the side. This enables any gas to drain away.

Now the problem....if i do this the gas Locker wil fill up with water every time i heal that way. I have a Long keel boat that sits low in the water.

I cannot raise the bottle to stop this from happening as if i do then i will totally loose my cockpit locker and have no where to fit frnders and such things.


Any ideas....????..and now i will not stick it outside...and no i can't get a diesel cooker as my engine is petrol.

 

[miket]

Redirect through transom, or similar.

 

[dickh]

Is it possible to raise the box containing the bottle and hang it from the top of the locker thus raising the drain height. I did this a few years ago, I made up a box for the bottle and hung it underneath the cockpit seat, and then fitted a Bomar circular hatch for access. Drain led out thro' the transom. Admittedly this was on a GRP boat so might not be applicable to your boat

 

[Mike_02]

Sorry that won't work. I have 2 cockpit lockers. The first has the bottle in it at present. The locker is totally full with this in it. The bottle base is at or just below the waterline.
If i move it to my other locker and raise it then this locker will be useless for anything.

So in short i cannot find a way to raise the base of the bottle above the waterline and still use my cockpit lockers....bit of a problem really.

 

[David2452]

A small bouyant ball in a captive sleve with grille at bottom and seal at top, you'll probably have to make it yourself.

David

 

[jimi]

Do'nt know anything about this at all but at the risk of sounding stupid ... would a bailer type skin fitting solve the problem of the locker filling up? Presumably if you are heeled over you would be moving reasonably fast & the bailer would operate?

 

[bedouin]

Well - if the base is below the waterline then there is no way of doing it at all. I would guess that you need at least 6 inches between the base of the locker and the WL - maybe more.

It used to be permitted for the gas locker to drain into a self-draining cockpit - provided that the exit to the cockpit drains were themselves above the waterline. I don't know if this is still acceptable.

 

[Plum]

Mike, I had a similar problem. My drain was in the transom not far from the centreline so my problem was not just when heeled, it was as soon as I had 4 people in the cockpit. I did two things:

1) I changed from the single Calor gas bottle to two Camping Gaz bottles. This gave me about the same capacity but as the bottles are only half the height the base of my new gas locker was a lot higher. Two bottles are better than one as you never fear of running out completely, yet the spare bottle is also stored in the draining locker. Yes, the gas is more expensive than Calor but it only increased by Gas bill by 10GBP per year.

2) My new gas bottle locker (made from stainless steel) is at the top of my locker, but pivots on a verticle hinge pin so that it swings away under the part of the locker seat that does not lift up. To change a bottle I release a clip and swing the locker into full view. Once changed I swing it back to give almost full access to the rest of the locker. In this position one end of the locker is still exposed so you just have enough room to put a hand in to turn off the gas of the bottle that is closest so you only have to swing out the locker to change over or replace a bottle. The flexible hose is arranged so that it is not strained when swinging out the locker.

 

[PaulJ]

Provided the bottom of your gas locker isn't below the waterline when you are on an even keel, would it be practical to run the drain pipe under or round the back of the cockpit and have the drain outlet on the oposite side of the boat? Then when you are heeled, either the gas locker or the drain outlet will be on the "high" side....

 

[johmal]

From the gist of the replies - it sounds as though you are a bit stuck.

I have had two boats with non-gas cookers. The first was an optimus two burner parafin cooker - which worked really well - once you got the hang of lighting it!

The other had a two Burner Origo alcohol cooker which used Meths. The Origo is a really simple device.

Both boiled kettles in well under 5 minutes, and got away from the need to have draining lockers, gas detectors etc. They also both work in cold weather (when gas cookers start to struggle).

So get rid of the gas - and reclaim that locker space!

John

 

[gus]

Basically gas is only a problem if it escapes/leaks. Seal up the base of your locker so that no gas can escape into other parts of the boat and fit an alarm which is never off whilst the boat is occupied. Fit a dual sensor kit with one part in the locker and the other under you cooker. My locker base is also too low to have a drain and having explained my situation to my insurance company, they are quite happy with the arrangement. They appreciate that I am aware of the danger that escaping gas can create and that I have no wish to blow myself up and thus will use the gas detector at all times. It is surprising how sensitive these alarms can be, even to other gas like fumes (for example glue) so it gives confidence that the slightest leak would be readily detected.
Let common sense prevail and realise that a lot of the 'regulations' are there to save fools from themselves.

 

[David2452]

Problem is, talking "common sense" to your insurer would be a waste of time in the (most unlikely I agree) event of a claim. If your locker has no overboard drain then you are not insured.

David

 

[gus]

David, I can assure you that my insurance company (Pantanieus) is well aware of the fact that I do not have an outboard drain and are happy to remain my insurers on the understanding that I will be ever vigilant in the use of the alarm.