storing acetone on GRP boat

[Ric]

Hello,

Normally I don't keep acetone on my GRP boat, but will need to this summer while I go on a longer cruise. How do other people store it? I am reluctant to keep it in the original plastic bottle - the consequences of a burst would be dire!

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[snowleopard]

it won't dissolve cured resin and will evaporate rapidly so i wouldn't worry too much. best to keep it in a ventilated locker without access to the interior as the fumes are flammable.

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[Cantata]

Just to reinforce the comment about flammable fumes.........a can of acetone is a pretty hairy thing to have on board, in a fire it would probably blow you and the boat to pieces!

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[Benbow]

But it will dissolve many plastics used in hoses and skin fittings above the water line.
It therefore is potentially hazardous to a boat's integrity.

I would store it in the gas locker in an outer metal container well packed with enough paper tissues etc to absorb it if it leaked.

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[poter]

Why do you need to keep it on board??
As others have already said it is a highly flammable substance, toxic, & will damage the boat if spilled.

I think the answer to your question is don't.

poter

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[Trevor_swfyc]

Quite agree:

<pre>Do not store acetone in a polythene container.

Do not store acetone on board your boat.</pre>

A gas locker with acetone and tissue to soak up leaks is obviously a joke!

Stay safe.
Trevor

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[roger]

Different countries have different attitudes to risks. I tend to think of Scandinavia as safety concious but they keep gallon plastic containers of acetone on open shelves in wooden shops. I think that is crazy.
What do you need to keep acetone for?
If its for cleaning up after fibreglassing then it would be much safer to throw away the brushes etc.
Acetone is extraordinarily volatile and would (I'm guessing) be much more hazardous than petrol.
You can certainly buy the stuff if you need to in some countries. I know its available in Sweden and Norway. Others may be able to able to tell you where else you can get it.

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[JamesS]

I keep a small plastic container on board for cleaning etc but it is always stored in the gas locker so that any spillage drains straight overboard.

Cheers

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[Paulka]

I know how dangerous acetone is. It is "forbidden" to introduce acetone in many power plants, but as there is no substitute, there is a tolerance for certain specific jobs. I had a fire in a power plants machine room due to acetone. Fortunately, there was only a small quantity there and the fire could be managed relatively easily, and without too much damage.
I keep a small quantity (max 1/2 liter) of acetone on board. I keep it in the original plastic bottle, which is kept together with the petrol container (for the outboard and generator) in the chain locker which drains to the sea.
I have no gaz, so no gaz locker either.

Hope this helps.

Paul



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[Benbow]

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>

A gas locker with acetone and tissue to soak up leaks is obviously a joke

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Not a joke, perhaps not too well put.

I suggest the container it comes in is put in an outer metal conatiner and the space between filled with absorbent material for physical protection and to absorb spills. This is how hazardous substances such as acetone are usually transported. You may find suitable metal containers by speaking to a friendly chemical lab.

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[longjohnsilver]

Well I was going to suggest exactly the same as you, but better still to get a suitable metal container.

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[Trevor_swfyc]

Sorry to post again on this but I think it might be best to refer to the safety regs for guidance on this, see line 6 <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.socal.co.uk/bluewater/lpg1.htm>here</A>. I appreciate where the thinking is coming from on storage in the gas locker, but if the acetone container leaked and the acetone ignited you would soon have a very serious fire even more so if one of the bottles was live to the rubber hose.
I know we are all sick of rules and regs but the insurance company would soon point them out to you when you put in a claim.

All the best.
Trevor

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[Boathook]

I purchased acetone the other week and it came in a metal container. After reading the threads I will reconsider where I store it but I will always have some onboard as part of my repair kit.

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