How long does a 907 gas bottle last?

[Davegriff]

I change to a 6kg propane which last much longer and doesn't freeze in the winter.

Just my opinion. "Living in the sticks", we use it at home, but I wouldn't use a propane bottle on board. Gas is never really ideal on boats anyway, but propane pressures are about 10 x that for butane so far more dangerous. I think any sensible gas retailer would advise against. The jets should be changed specifically for propane too....

 

[duncan99210]

OK, during the summer months when cruising we use a 907 every 3 weeks - almost to the day - with 2 on board, cooking one hot meal a day plus hot drinks. That's in the Med, so a similar climate to your Transat. From that, with your larger crew and a definitive need to avoid running out, I'd say that 3 bottles would be the right set to carry.

However, I understand that you can't get Camping Gaz on the other side of the pond, so perhaps you should be thinking about how to manage your gas supply when you get there. The advantage of Camping Gaz in Europe is its ready availability but the bottles are small and expensive to refill. They also fit into the rediculously small gas lockers that are fitted to lots of AWBs; because of this, I'm fitting a new locker to our boat so as to be able to carry 6kg bottles, which are cheaper and last longer. You might give some thought to doing something similar so that you can use a wider range of bottles as you travel round. Perhaps a thread asking about gas bottle sizes in the Caribbean would be an idea?

 

[sailorman]

Jets do not need to be changed & only the regulator but these days a single regulator is available for dual gas.
i use propane too

Just my opinion. "Living in the sticks", we use it at home, but I wouldn't use a propane bottle on board. Gas is never really ideal on boats anyway, but propane pressures are about 10 x that for butane so far more dangerous. I think any sensible gas retailer would advise against. The jets should be changed specifically for propane too....

 

[Conachair]

FWIW, on a 20 day transat, 2 adults +2 kids we used about one and a half 907 bottle

One meal a day, lots of quick heating sessions for the kids food, oven used two or three times.

Could you get them filled on the other side? i can't remember seeing camping gaz in the carib. Martinique maybe. But would make much more sense to get an easily fillable bottle sorted out before crossing, or buy new ones over there. i went for USA style GRP bottles and a conversion kit.

 

[Roberto]

Could you get them filled on the other side? i can't remember seeing camping gaz in the carib. Martinique maybe. But would make much more sense to get an easily fillable bottle sorted out before crossing, or buy new ones over there. i went for USA style GRP bottles and a conversion kit.

We crossed to Brazil, there they could fill any bottles. Downside was our bottles have never been swapped so they are all well rusted now.
From there North I do not know, I was by myself did not use much gaz, I eventually had a general refill in the Azores.

Whatever type of bottle one decides to use, I would advise -at least is what I have done now- to get an "open valve" fitting (that is a fitting like a regulator except gas can flow both in an out, usually used for grass burners or soldering lamps) with a piece of hose attached, that way any butane supplier will be able to fill any bottle through the hose.

For example this is for Campingaz, when unscrewed the gas can flow both ways.

 

[Oscarpop]

The problem I have then is that our gas locker can happily take 2 907's. There is no place to store a third without risking any leak filling the bilges and blowing the boat up.

Suggestions please? We are going to be stuck for space and storage so installing another gas locker isnt going to happen.


Also as suggested, as we intend to travel around the globe ( hopefully) can anyone shed insight on gas in the Caribbean??

 

[savageseadog]

Just my opinion. "Living in the sticks", we use it at home, but I wouldn't use a propane bottle on board. Gas is never really ideal on boats anyway, but propane pressures are about 10 x that for butane so far more dangerous. I think any sensible gas retailer would advise against. The jets should be changed specifically for propane too....

That's incorrect, for normal tempratures Propane pressure is higher by a factor of around 2-3 and most boat stoves are dual fuel anyway, subject to using the correct regulator.

 

[Boathook]

I find a 4.5kg calor bottle lasts aweek on holiday with general cooking and a gas fridge on say for 4 days and 3 days in a marina with mains electrics. You mention else where about doing the ARC. I would try and find those who have done this and see how much gas they used as you will be operating 24 hours a day.

 

[Roberto]

Suggestions please? We are going to be stuck for space and storage so installing another gas locker isnt going to happen.

Quite a few boats store them outside, protected (or not) by canvas covers. Usually seen with larger bottles, but why not a 907.

 

[Tranona]

The problem I have then is that our gas locker can happily take 2 907's. There is no place to store a third without risking any leak filling the bilges and blowing the boat up.

Suggestions please? We are going to be stuck for space and storage so installing another gas locker isnt going to happen.


Also as suggested, as we intend to travel around the globe ( hopefully) can anyone shed insight on gas in the Caribbean??

No reason why a sealed bottle should leak. Keep it in a cockpit locker. Gas leaks are usually at joints in thesytem, not out of a bottle with the sealed cap on.

 

[RobbieW]

Two of us living aboard on anchor with Plastimo 2 burner stove, a 907 lasts us on average 2 weeks which includes oven use. That's of course with normal awake/sleep times, not sailing 24/7.

+1 (though ours is a Force 10) - I work on 15 days/bottle over the last 18 months of living aboard

Also as suggested, as we intend to travel around the globe ( hopefully) can anyone shed insight on gas in the Caribbean??

I havent looked for a reference to verify this but based on previous searching, and a little experience in the BVI, getting 907s refilled in the Caribbean shouldnt be a problem. Having them overfilled could well be as standards arent as rigorous as in Europe - the gas you are likely to get is a mix of butane/propane because thats what works in hotter climes. Weigh your bottles when empty and again when full, burn some off if necessary.

Unless the situation has been resolved in Gran Canaria, you are more likely to find it impossible to get a 907 refill there than on the other side.

My thought is that 3 x 907s is about right for a west going transat between the canaries and the Windwards with 3-4 crew.

As you are looking at continuing around the world, its likely worth your while to get one the SOCAL multi-fitting kits to deal with a variety of gas bottle standards.

 

[Conachair]

The problem I have then is that our gas locker can happily take 2 907's. There is no place to store a third without risking any leak filling the bilges and blowing the boat up.

Suggestions please? We are going to be stuck for space and storage so installing another gas locker isnt going to happen.


Also as suggested, as we intend to travel around the globe ( hopefully) can anyone shed insight on gas in the Caribbean??

I would definitely get something sorted before you head off. Doesn't help you much but i went for a 10lb & 20lb of these..
http://www.budgetmarine.com/Catalog...rs/Composite+Cylinders/product.aspx#LTC/LC-10

and a set of adaptors. http://www.socal.co.uk/toolbox/regu...arine-universal-gas-cylinder-adaptor-kit.html

Which works great, decant from any bottle and you can see the level as you go so don't fill beyond 70%. That conversion kit fits 907's as well, last time I got some there was a bit left so I put it in a 907. Prob is making sure you don't overfill the 907. Also, gas varies wherever you are, in Grenada I think it was about 50/50 butane/propane and some places it might be just propane , 907's might not be up to that.
Whatever route you go I would recommend the adapter kit, somewhere along the way it will save you a load of hassle and probably money.

Welcome to the cruising lifestyle, where nothing is the same and never quite fits

 

[Ian_Edwards]

That's not my experience, I change from 907 Butane to 6kg Propane just by changing the regulator from a blue one to a red one. I didn't have to change the jets on the hob and didn't notice much difference in the flame. The 6kg propane cylinder just last a lot longer.

 

[charles_reed]

My 907 lasts 35 days solo, 30 days with two and 27 days with four.
I do a lot more cooking than you intend to do, usually two cooked meals a day and have a Leisure Products stove (the top end Plastimo at 55% of the price) which has oven (used frequently) 2 burners and grill.
The mean figure given above is over 8 years of records though the Med.

I only use the 907 because refills are easily obtainable - the best LPG container is the Butagaz Cube - made of GRpolypropylene - it holds 6kg of LPG, weighs the same full as a 907, fits into the same space and doesn't rust. The refill usually costs the same as a 907. Snag is it's only available in France and Portugal. I still use two as backups and make regular trips back to Bonifacio from Greece to refill them. Either Propane or Butane mix, their own patent safety regulator

I would strongly recommend two things which will cut LPG consumption and give you variety in cooking. A pressure cooker - Tefal make ones which are stowable, with short handles and the use of a wide-mouth vacuum flask or a patent heat storage cooker. Both are most desirable on long passages.

 

[rob2]

I spoke with the guys from Socal about the rusting that my 907s suffer - the drain is like a fountain when the stern slams. They suggested that I should varnish the bottle before fitting it. If you can also get them sealed in HD plastic bags, spares could be carried on deck, but in case of storms you'll have to devise a secure way to avoid them being carried away!

I have the same problem that my gas locker has been fitted out to carry two 907s, so to convert even to a 4.5 kg Calor gas would require major surgery.

Rob.