Gas rage!

[Bodach na mara]

The point of this thread was that as a paying customer I want to be able to buy gas conveniently. Why isn't that an acceptable request? I have no desire to mess about filling my own cylinders while still paying full price for the gas from a useless supplier.

I totally agree with that statement. All this talk of other suppliers misses the point that Calor used to be the supplier of choice because the bottles could be exchanged in a very wide variety of places throughout the UK. It is no use switching to FloGas, setting off on a cruise and finding out that you can't get a replacement bottle anywhere except from the place where you got the original one. Remember that talk of getting the bottle refilled is not completely accurate, you exchange it for a full one and the empty is returned to a depot for filling.

I fully agree that Calor is failing its customers and deserves to be sanctioned. But it is not the only fuel that is harder now to obtain. When I lived in a student flat it was heated by paraffin heaters and when we ran out it was easy to find somewhere to fill up our pink ( or blue even) can. When trying to get some paraffin recently I found very few places to buy it and then only at a horrendous price.

 

[Concerto]

Had the same problem with Gaz 907. Chandlers couldn’t get it, found it at a camping site eventually. Highest price so far £45.99

When one of my Campingaz 907's runs out, I search on line for where I could obtain a refil.

The first time one was empty this year, I refused to pay £50.50 in Lerwick, but bought one in Kirkwall for £45 and it was delivered to the boat.

The second one ran out in Bangor Marina, but they had none. I knew I was visiting Conwy Marina, so phoned to check they had stock. Yes, they did but I must order it on line as they would not hold it otherwise. Went in this morning with the empty bottle and had to wait while another customer was being served. Before I said anything, I was told they had no gas. When I said it was on Click and Collect, he knew there was only my bottle. The best bit was it only cost £30, the cheapest I have found in the past 2 years!

 

[fredrussell]

I have no desire to mess about filling my own cylinders while still paying full price for the gas from a useless supplier.

The trouble is, as you point out, Calor do have a monopoly and Calor are sh1t, so if you want gas that’s what you’re going to have to do. The hose to fill your own is under a tenner on eBay.

 

[lustyd]

All this talk of other suppliers misses the point that Calor used to be the supplier of choice because the bottles could be exchanged in a very wide variety of places throughout the UK. It is no use switching to FloGas, setting off on a cruise and finding out that you can't get a replacement bottle anywhere except from the place where you got the original one

Exactly the issue, but don't forget it's been about THREE YEARS since you could reliably swap a Calor bottle, so those locations count for absolutely nothing except brainwashing and false hope.
No, you can't get FloGas at most marinas, that's why we all need to ask. You can, however, get it within a couple of miles of most marinas on the south coast - I was checking as I went, expecting to run out of Calor on our last bottle. So yes, overall, FloGas is considerably easier to swap than Calor.

I'll re-iterate though, if we want things to change, then we all need to ask our marinas (who should also work for us!) to stock gas from a reliable supplier. I selected FloGas because they appear the most widely available non-Calor option.

 

[lustyd]

The trouble is, as you point out, Calor do have a monopoly and Calor are sh1t, so if you want gas that’s what you’re going to have to do. The hose to fill your own is under a tenner on eBay.

Calor don't supply gas though, I've been trying and I've been speaking to LOTS of retailers and NONE of them are getting gas. FloGas do supply full cylinders - this is safer and more convenient overall so why wouldn't we all just switch rather than fund an abusive monopoly?

 

[lustyd]

When one of my Campingaz 907's runs out, I search on line for where I could obtain a refil.

I'm glad you've been able to get gas on your trip. I couldn't. The issue is that you're paying considerably more for your gas, and your gas cylinders are also filled by Calor. I hope that you continue to be lucky on the south coast, but most places there told me they hadn't seen either for a while.

 

[Concerto]

I'm glad you've been able to get gas on your trip. I couldn't. The issue is that you're paying considerably more for your gas, and your gas cylinders are also filled by Calor. I hope that you continue to be lucky on the south coast, but most places there told me they hadn't seen either for a while.

A bottle lasts me about 7 weeks living on the boat. I have sufficient now to complete my trip.

 

[lustyd]

That's probably a good thing, on the south coast they like to demonstrate that they don't need your money

 

[sailaboutvic]

The amount of solar, batteries and other kit needed to sustainably cook for several people is beyond what normal yachts can support. Several YouTubers are trying to convince people they're doing this, the only actual successful one is Delos from what I can tell, and that's a 54 foot monster with solar farm and multiple wind gens plus a diesel generator which they regularly use. I have a pretty average 36 footer and there's simply no electric solution that will work when I spend 9 days at anchor. I'd need to tow a raft full of lithium batteries covered in several square metres of panels.

The point of this thread was that as a paying customer I want to be able to buy gas conveniently. Why isn't that an acceptable request? I have no desire to mess about filling my own cylinders while still paying full price for the gas from a useless supplier.

What do you call a normal yacht? Before we sold up in March we had an induction hob , electric kettle, microwave, fridge and a freezer running of 400ah lithium battery bank with 750w solar on a 42 foot .
We was full-time living on board , admit we was in the Med so plenty of sun shine.
If all you want to do is cook for the weekend trip and the odd holiday you manage with less solar and 400ah batteries bank.
The weight and size of 400ah Lithium bank is not much more then what most got with 200ah LA bank .
Actually on the 36 footer we got now I have one 240ah battery and a smaller starter battery and they weigh more and take up much more room then the 400ah bank.
Come winter the LA batteries will come out and replace again with another 400ah bank , the only thing is my array of solar will only be 200w.
As we only going to be cruising throught out the summer only , with a bit of luck this will see us ok.

 

[lustyd]

I'm sure it works better in the med or for marina hoppers, but here in Blighty you'd get a couple of weeks where it would seem to work then the whole thing would fail and you'd have to run to the marina or start the generator. I've done the sums, it simply won't work in the UK.

FWIW 200W didn't quite keep up with normal sailing loads and the fridge on our trip, and that's with us also running the engine for 20 mins for hot water each morning. The 9 days at anchor were during a heat wave with zero cloud cover and the panels were in good sun.

 

[sailaboutvic]

I'm sure it works better in the med or for marina hoppers, but here in Blighty you'd get a couple of weeks where it would seem to work then the whole thing would fail and you'd have to run to the marina or start the generator. I've done the sums, it simply won't work in the UK.

We won't be running to no marinas I can assure you that .
Only time will tell .

 

[waynes world]

What is the problem at all with LPG cylinders.

If you struggle to get them then dont use a marina, take it with you, have a cylinder of each local supplier as you can buy them for less than £15. There are a good few LPG suppliers than Calor if you look around.

 

[lustyd]

What is the problem at all with LPG cylinders.

If you struggle to get them then dont use a marina, take it with you, have a cylinder of each local supplier as you can buy them for less than £15. There are a good few LPG suppliers than Calor if you look around.

No problem at all, the whole point of the thread is switching supplier and convincing marinas to stock the alternative reliable ones.

 

[waynes world]

No problem at all, the whole point of the thread is switching supplier and convincing marinas to stock the alternative reliable ones.

if you take it with you then its easier than trying to convince a marina to use anew supplier, unless you can get enough folk to convince a marina then i think its a slim chance.

 

[WoodyP]

Is propane gas easier to find?

 

[waynes world]

Is propane gas easier to find?

its better and much same to get , depends where you go for it. lower freezing point.

 

[lustyd]

Is propane gas easier to find?

No about the same, it's the same suppliers too, you just choose the cylinder type you need. Butane and Propane are both LPG

 

[Momac]

I have two spare 907 cylinders which helps with variable supplies.
There is a large caravan retailer not too far from us. They buy in larger quantities than the local marinas so they are charged less and are able to sell at a more reasonable rate.
We try to go when we are in the area

 

[SaltyC]

A bottle lasts me about 7 weeks living on the boat. I have sufficient now to complete my trip.

I obviously cook too much. I don't get 7 weeks out of a 7kg bottle.

 

[lustyd]

I obviously cook too much. I don't get 7 weeks out of a 7kg bottle.

The 907 holds 2.75kg so I assume he either doesn't cook or has a lot of them. going by my usage that would probably be three or four