International gas bottles

[kt636]

I know this isn't a sailing question, but I thought someone here might know about gas bottles in other countries...

Some friends of mine are taking an overland trip from the UK to Australia. Check out the website if you like: http://www.overland-underwater.com

They're planning to do their cooking using propane, but don't know what are the best type of bottles to take. I assume most places don't refill the bottles but do a like-for-like exchange.

I know that in Europe, as far as butane is concerned, Camping Gaz is pretty universal but I have no experience with Propane, and I don't know about anything further afield.

Does anyone have any experience that could help?

Thanks,
Dave.

 

[TigaWave]

Many places will refill bottles, if you have the Aluminium bottles common in the US and Calor these will usually be re-filled, but camping gas seems to be available almost anywhere with exchange bottles. Just watch for rust on the bottom which has been painted over, sometimes these are refused on safety grounds, and your stuck with having to buy a new bottle when you take it in for re-fill/exchange.

 

[Sea Devil]

Camping Gaz is available throughout Europe and in West Indies etc you can get them refilled without too much problem -

The system works throughout the world

EXCEPT the USA where you have to use US bottles which are no good in Europe and Australia where you need Australian bottles and again they are no good in Europe..US and Aussie have strict rules and their swop or fill system only works with their own bottles...

 

[jimboaw]

If you find it impossible to get your own bottles refilled Nigel Calder's excellent book explains how to refill your own bottles from a local bottle. (borrowed or rented?) Looks simple enough to me but have never tried it. Basically you invert the full one above the empty, connect them with a hose with suitable adaptors leaving the lower valve loose (ish) Crack the top valve to purge air then snug up the bottom valve, open both valves wide and wait! Takes a while.

 

[macd]

"Camping Gaz is available throughout Europe and in West Indies etc"...except, god help us, on the Isle of Man. Apparently the Island's gas company has allowed its licence to lapse, evidently on the grounds that many of the local bottles were getting old. I'm sure there's a remedy for that, but it seems to be beyond the Manx intellect to work it out.

 

[Sea Devil]

to be strictily accurate in a lot of WI islands the boat boys take the bottles away and fill them from other bottles - would that work for Manx?

 

[macd]

We might not have Camping Gaz any more. But we do have Health and Safety, big-time.

For locals it just means cruising somewhere else to fill up. Sounds as good an excuse as any, come to think of it.

 

[peterb]

[ QUOTE ]
Camping Gaz is available throughout Europe

[/ QUOTE ]

Camping Gaz is not easily available in much of Scandinavia. At low temperatures the pressure in a butane bottle is too low, so most Scandinavian marinas stock propane. However, butane is often available on caravan sites.

 

[VicMallows]

Certainly agree with you on the rust factor. Why on earth don't they galvanise them like all the 'big' bottle suppliers?

Of course, because the gas is so expensive, I only use Camping Gaz as emergency backup and keep the bottles far longer than the others!

Incidentally, HandyGas (in UK) cylinders seem to be kept the smartest, and gas is a bit cheaper than Calor. (note though 20.5mm fitting rather than 21mm).

Vic

 

[VicMallows]

In the States you can (used to) even buy the kit in Sears to fill 14oz (400g) propane 'disposable' cartridges using this method. (These cylinders are commonly used by plumbers and available at B&Q etc). The cylinders have a schrader type relief valve which makes this possible. Cylinders always have a scary sounding warning: "TRANSPORTATION FORBIDDEN BY FEDERAL LAW IF REFILLED. $500,000 fine or 5 YEARS IMPRISONMENT".

You can't say I didn't warn you!

Vic

 

[ytd]

Most specialist camping stores here seem to be able to refill all types of cylinders. But there are only specialist stores in capital cities. Most petrol stations would only be able to fill or swap 9kg or 4kg cylinders. From memory I think they are the same as US ones. Cylinders are filled with LPG which I think is mainly propane. see here

http://www.elgas.com.au/portagas/portagas.htm

 

[VicMallows]

Well, you disallusion me about AUS! Those ELGAS terms&Cs make ours look fairly easy going.

(on a BBC local station the other day, someone moaned bitterly they could not get their bottle deposit back after *30* years! ... Calor (dominant supplier) said they'd donate £5 to charity for ANY bottle returned!).

Vic