PETROL/LPG

[hardy]

Hi Guys
I have sold my Hardy and now looking for a small sports cruiser.ie 22-23 ft
I would like diesel for economy but cannot find anything , there are lots of petrrol-with lpg conversions anyone with any idea how much cheaper lpg is to petrol? is there a power loss?useing lpg
thanks

<hr width=100% size=1>KISMET HARDY

 

[Alpha22]

Most car conversions admit to a very small reduction in power. Probably insignificant.

D.



<hr width=100% size=1>If you want a job doing well, it's often better to get a profesional in.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Lookoing at car conversion, about 80 - 90% of original petrol power.

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[BrendanS]

I've know several boats that have had lpg conversions done. None of them have been without issues.

If you do want to go down that route, then this site will give you comparative prices for petrol/lpg and diesel around the country depending where you are .<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.marinefuel.info/>http://www.marinefuel.info/</A>

Typcially around the Solent lpg is 32p per litre. There's a bit of a price war going on with petrol, and can be had for 85p per litre in Lymington

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[Solitaire]

May I suggest you do a search under "LPG" . This topic has been covered in detail - start there and then come back with questions.
<hr width=100% size=1>Boating is <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.powerboat-training.co.uk>Serious</A> Fun

 

[longjohnsilver]

Now i'm really confused (again!). Why is road lpg about 38p per litre but marine lpg only 32p ish? Petrol from marine outlets is always much more, doesn't make sense to me.

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[BrendanS]

Dunoo, beats me. Perhaps the boating community actually use quite a lot of lpg compared to motorists - not that many cars are lpg converted, and boats use a heck of a lot more than cars? Maybe the boating lpg suppliers are loss leading to stimulate the market. No idea.

Though at 85p for petrol, petrol prices on the Solent are suddenly quite comparable to road prices, and very nice it feels too! /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

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[longjohnsilver]

Initially thort the same, but still not that many boats converted against tens of thousands of cars. Still doesn't make sense.

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[BrendanS]

Goes back to my point about loss leading to stimulate demand?

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[Dave_Knowles]

If a price war has started maybe we should keep it going by shopping around. I am amazed at how many boats come up the Beaulieu river for fuel when by going just to Lymington if petrol or Yarmouth if diesel and they could save so much. I think that it must be people assume the price is pretty much the same all over.
We are talking about diesel 7p/litre and petrol 14p/litre and at around 1 to 2 miles per gallon these are big big savings. The other thing is that it would probably be quicker to go to the cheaper places as it takes nearly 20 mins to go up the river.

<hr width=100% size=1>Take care.

Dave

Dave Knowles
Southampton - UK

http://www.MyCleopatra.co.uk

 

[KevB]

I had my last boat converted to LPG. 2x 5.0 ltr petrol engines and I had not one single problem. Even starting the boat on LPG in winter was never a problem.
It's about 20% less efficient than petrol so although it may be up to a third of the price, the saving is not that much due to less mpg -

Remember Diesel is at least 20% more efficient than petrol so although LPG and diesel are priced similar, there is a massive difference in range with diesel being almost twice as efficient. You'll use almost 2 litres of LPG for every one litre of diesel.

No noticeable power loss using LPG but then again didn't very often run at full bore....

My boat actually ran much smoother on LPG, tick over was a low 600 rpm and when in gear dropped to only 400rpm. this allowed for very slow manoeuvring.

The only draw back I found was lack of range on LPG, with about 200 litres on board I could only manage about 3 hours cruising before having to switch to petrol of refill.

When I sold the boat I got 10k more than I paid for it, mostly down to having the LPG conversion.

Would I do it again.... probably not. The convenience of diesel outweighs any initial upfront costs.

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[pt8]

We converted our boat to LPG 3 years ago and have had no problems with the installation. I think what you really need to consider carefully is where you intend to use the boat as, apart from the south coast, LPG is not universally available everywhere. Price is about 32p a litre and we have found no significant loss of power. Saying all that though, we have decided to re-engine with Diesels this winter. Main reason is because we are considering our future and we do not see a future for any expansion of the LPG outlets, which is a shame. Marine Gas Services, who installed our installation, have now gone out of the business so we have no service/backup for the installation. Also, we know we wish to cruise further when we retire and because of the lack of outlets in other areas, especially the tidal Thames and the fact that the Environment Agency will not allow duel systems on the inland waterways we feel that we have given it the test of time but now the time has come to reconsider. If only the LPG industry had really put their heart and souls into a proper network of outlets and the Environment Agency looked again at the new technology used these days, I feel that the LPG conversion market would have taken off. You cannot argue with the benefits - no polulion to speak off, the engine oil hardy ever needs changing and the price. But of course, if Red Diesel is taxed by Europe do not expect the price of LPG not to be affected too. Our main reason for change is the supply chain.

Rose

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[neale]

Re:
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Now i'm really confused (again!). Why is road lpg about 38p per litre but marine lpg only 32p ish? Petrol from marine outlets is always much more, doesn't make sense to me.
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LPG for road use has an additional tax of around 5 pence per litre.

Neale

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[BrendanS]

Always used to fill up at Yarmouth (as it was invariably cheapest in area) but would top up wherever was convenient if I was out and about and running low.

Would use Lymington Berthon for convenience if in a hurry as I pass that fuel barge on the way out and home - however, now more tempted to use Berthon for regular fill ups while it's cheaper than Yarmouth.

The last place I'd ever go for fuel is Beaulieu!! It's expensive for anything, and the harbour master is going to charge you for a) breathing b) being alive c) having a boat d) moving e) stopping etc


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[Gordonmc]

Road LPG is more expensive because you are buying in small quantities. If you buy in bulk the pricie goes down to between 20 and 25p a litre. That is what the marina will be buying in, so can still pass on with a fair mark-up.
Fleet car operators are slowly catching on and installing their own LPG tanks.

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[jhr]

Yes, Beaulieu is expensive (petrol 99p per litre; ouch!). I suspect there are several reasons for this, one of which may be premium pricing. However, I also suspect that they don't sell in the volumes achieved elsewhere in the Solent and that it's a pain to get fuel delivered (river too shallow to deliver by water, narrow lanes in the New Forest) and therefore that they can't buy from wholesalers at the same prices as others in the Solent manage to negotiate. Certainly when I'm elsewhere I try to fill up as and when, and I always fill up a 20 litre can when I'm at Sainsbury's but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet!

The agony at Buckler's Hard is somewhat abated by the guy on the fuel pontoon, who is always polite and cheerful (well; he is to me, anyway).

It's true that the Beaulieu Harbourmaster has been known to charge the occasional passing plankton, but I still maintain that it's the price you pay for retaining the character that has gone from most other places in the Solent. (Dons tin helmet).

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[Guest]

I've got a short wheel base frontera sport that was converted 2 & half yrs ago. No probs at all with LPG - marvellous stuff ! Its like pullin a mooney to the taxman everytime ya fill er up !!!

Most boaters with conversions report little or no problems. Some of the early conversions had seals drying out and cracking etc. Almost every one will recommend turning back to petrol before you shut the poer pack(s) down in order to ease starting.

If you cruise in an area where Marine LPG is in abundance, and you put the hours in to make the conversion count, go for it, your wallet will thank you for it !

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[BrendanS]

>>It's true that the Beaulieu Harbourmaster has been known to charge the occasional passing plankton<<

I just wet myself laughing! /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

Actually don't begrudge the high prices, as it keeps the place quiet. Good interview on this subject with Lord Montagu in latest Nov PBO.

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[CJN]

If you need services back up or anything, anyone! I will always try and help!

Cjn

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[CJN]

Most do noy have power loss, you will do less MPG on LPG than petrol, at 32 ppl it's still cheeper. Please be careful what LPG system is on the boat, as some parts for the lpg marine are no longer available

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