Gas pipe

[Lady Campanula]

I've read the above with care and interest - that's why I invited comment. My own home has a mixture of copper piping and plastic add-ons. The plastic H2O fittings have been in place close to 20 years, without the slightest problem from mice or any other cause. Changes and additions are easy and quick to install. Neighbours have had pipes freezing/splitting, with very expensive damage, so I'm far from sold on the argument that copper is a superior material. And it costs the client hundreds of pounds more for a copper installation than a reliable plastic one.

'Do it once. Do it right...'

The longest run of copper gas piping on the boat is impossible to inspect without 'destructive disassembly', so it follows it hasn't been inspected in years. It runs from the stern locker, within the moulded cockpit thwarts, to the cabin, then behind panelling to the cooker area. I have no idea how long it has been there, or what condition it is in where it passes through bulkheads. I intend to replace it with 'something new', which will have the merit of being of a known standard in 2011.

A 'bubble tester' will be fitted, the gas locker will have restraints for the bottles, everything will be new and as safe as I can make it....and I will be able to effect an annual gas safety inspection, which is and will remain impracticable with hidden rigid copper piping.

FWIW, I sailed several times on HMSTY Lord Trenchard which had all the standard gas safety preventive and warning devices that the gas safety experts could put in place. It still leaked, and there was a catastrophic explosion and major injury to the skipper.

On the last three boats I have delivered, I have found clearly-unsafe elements of the gas installations, as outlined by the BSS Scheme Guide. I intend to make the installation on the Cutlass 27 I have acquired simple, reliable, capable of ready inspection, and safe. I'm pleased to have knowedgeable input from peeps here, but it remains my responsibility. This thread is part of that.

 

[Alfie168]

If you worked in the industry you would see just as many failures in plastic as in copper. Its a myth that plastic doesn't suffer freezing problems. It does, its just that its not the pipe that bursts its the fittings as they are not flexible. I had to change loads of burst plastic elbows of all makes last winter. It makes just as much of a flood as a copper burst I assure you

Would you have willingly accepted repairs on your aircraft that were not 'by the book', or by someone who thought they knew better...I hope not.

I havn't read the report on the Lord Trenchard, but the safest specification in the world only remains that way a) If it is properly maintained and audited 2) If it is properly operated. I'd bet a fair sum there were gaping holes in the regime of maintainance and usage long before there was a hole in the boat. Thats the usual reason for these nasty events.

Tim

 

[Lady Campanula]

Would you have willingly accepted repairs on your aircraft that were not 'by the book', or by someone who thought they knew better...I hope not.

I havn't read the report on the Lord Trenchard, but the safest specification in the world only remains that way a) If it is properly maintained and audited 2) If it is properly operated. I'd bet a fair sum there were gaping holes in the regime of maintainance and usage long before there was a hole in the boat. Thats the usual reason for these nasty events.Tim

I am listening. I say again, the gas systems on the last 3 boats I delivered were judged by me as unsafe. On one, I disconnected the corroded regulator and 'deep sixed' it. On a boat I'm looking after for a friend, I've discovered the wooden gas locker is split on two seams, and the gas drain is to below the waterline! It was a Coded boat for some years, so how does that comply? All the copper piping has been in the boat since it was new in 1986, and we've seen 2 instances of copper piping around the engine fracturing, with significant fuel loss. Does gas-carrying copper piping work-harden in a different way?

On the wee boat I've acquired recently, the gas piping has probably been in the boat, uninspected, for the past 30 years. It must be on the last lap of its fatigue life - no-one can tell me what that is - and has earned its retirement.

'Preventive maintenance' presumes one can inspect and repair/replace. You'd be shocked to know how many pax. aircraft are flying with known cracks in e.g. ribs and main spars, where their steady propagation is carefully monitored.

It's the bits you can't see that are worrying.