Spare gas cylinder storage

[MikeBz]

Our boat currently has a drained locker which holds exactly one cylinder. Is there a risk of a 'fresh unopened' cylinder leaking, i.e. if we decide to carry a spare is it important that it too is in a drained locker?

Mike

 

[cliffordpope]

Yes. I had a faulty one (fortunately mounted ouside on a caravan) that leaked its entire contents in a month.

 

[boatmike]

Yes! Also in case of fire, heaven forbid, it is a bomb so if not in the locker store in the open, preferably at the transom.

 

[Poignard]

I once had a Gaz cylinder in my workshop that was slowly leaking through the ball valve. It taught me that if I have one on the boat it must either be in a locker with an overboard drain or on deck outside the cockpit.

If you haven't room in your gas locker have you considered building a vented deck box for it. I saw one on a SCOD up by the mast that didn't look too obtrusive, or maybe there is room on the after deck. Something like this only smaller

 

[[10753]]

According to my surveyor the rules for the spare are the same as those for the live cylinder.

I have had 2 cages made that hang on the pushpit - have to make sure the regulator remains dry.

 

[MikeBz]

Thanks folks, no room for doubt there!

Mike

 

[Csail]

I have recently thought about our system, the bottles are in a locker in the deep cockpit but the drains are under water so surely the gas would not drain if there was a leak?

 

[Oldhand]

If you have space in your chain locker and that locker drains overboard, that is the place to stow your spare bottle. Put it in a heavy plastic bag to reduce corrosion possibilities. It doesn't take a second to heave out on deck when you want to anchor.

 

[[10753]]

Thats correct. Gas floats.

 

[oldsaltoz]

The gas is heavier than air and has a bad egg smell added so you should smell it if you are low enough or soon after you open the forward hatch.

You are sitting a bomb, fix it before it blows, also bear in mind the insurance company will not pay out if the installation is not correct, including a separate shut off valve next to the stove.

Avagoodweekend......

 

[boatmike]

Drains underwater = No drains = Chocolate teapot .......

 

[webcraft]

[ QUOTE ]
Drains underwater = No drains = Chocolate teapot .......

[/ QUOTE ]
. . . ours is only a chocolate teapot when under way at speed on an even keel or on starboard tack . . .

What would be helpful would be a foolproof gas detetor that will work in a deep bilge without going off if it gets wet . . . our gas detector is under the cooker, but the bilge is 3ft deeper.

 

[silver-fox]

[ QUOTE ]
Drains underwater = No drains = Chocolate teapot .......

[/ QUOTE ]

So glad I read this! Like the muppet I am I have left two spare gas cylinders in the cockpit thinking they were safe because its "Self Draining"

Ah well, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger - but it doesn't do too much for the old self esteem! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

If I had a leak would the butane or propane dissolve in the seawater or would it just sit there in a column in the cockpit drains?

 

[pyrojames]

It'll just sit there waiting for an ignition source. Although to be fair there are not not many in the cockpit unless you smoke.

PyroJames

 

[MarkJohnson12345]

A tip I had was to store the 'new' gas cylinder in the anchor chain locker.

It has a 'drain' and with luck far away from any ignition source.

I do it and feel a bit safer.

Mj

 

[discovery2]

We keep ours in the chain locker. Made a plywood base with hooks to fix bungee cord over top of cylinder to hold in place. Base fixed with sikaflex.
Also made a similar holder for 5 litre petrol can for outboard fuel.

Happy to send pics if you pm me with an e-mail address (haven't yet sussed how to attach image to post!)