What Gas Bottles have you been able to EASILY purchase at locations convenient for boaters ( South Coast)

[jac]

Apologies for another thread on this topic but i hope a slightly different angle.

Lots of discussions re moving from Calor 3.9 / 4.5 bottles and lots of suggestions as to what could peeople could get at various locations. So far however, i've not seen any real feedback on what it's possible to get this season if you happen to run out of gas halfway through cooking your morning bacon and wonder up to the marina / harbour master office and purchase something.

SO....

 

[lustyd]

Of your list the only one reliably available is FloGas since the others are all filled by Calor and usually unavailable and/or discontinued.
Unfortunately FloGas takes a little planning and needs delivery for most places or a trip to the depot. If you choose the patiogas version it’s available at B&M B&Q and many other retailers consistently.

 

[SaltyC]

Without being tooooo smug, I haven't had a problem with the 7kg Calor, but once the spare is in use I have a few weeks to locate a replacement.
As for the 4.5kg, thinking I need to replace the one on my blowlamp, it will then see me out.

 

[Iliade]

Calor 13kg. Used to fill the boat's Camping Gaz R907s. I find the 47kg ones a little too unwieldy, despite my inner Scotsman.

(I was a gas engineer long before I qualified as an Engineer, thus I'm pefectly placed to tell you why it went all went bang...)

 

[harvey38]

Safefill

 

[Sandy]

I have three Gaz 907 bottles, usually two onboard - the one in use and a full one. The third is stored empty at home and only deployed if I am away for over a month. I've never needed to buy a marina priced refill.

 

[Seven Spades]

I use 6kg propane which seems to be easily available from stockists. i.e. not everyone stocks this size but those that do are not in short supply. Camping Gaz 907 prices are nuts in the UK we have just returned from Europe where the going rate seems to be €17.50. The difference in prices has nothing to do with subsidies, 2kgs of gas does not cost much.

 

[Stemar]

I was in Force 4 yesterday and they told me they would swap a 4.5kg butane bottle for a 7kg one at no extra charge. Otherwise it's Camping Gaz at insane prices, or Flowgas, but their website says they'll only supply the GRP bottles (ideal for a boat, as a good bit lighter) if you have one to exchange.

 

[Momac]

I have three Gaz 907 bottles, usually two onboard - the one in use and a full one. The third is stored empty at home and only deployed if I am away for over a month. I've never needed to buy a marina priced refill.

We do tend to avoid marinas which seem to charge top prices and we use exactly your three cylinder methodology for the 907's. After running out of gas at a relatively remote location in our first year of boating I learned not to leave it too long with the soare cylinder empty.



Even the caravan retailer we frequently use has become expensive at £44 for a 907 refill earlier this year.

I do need to get a refill ready for our 2 week holiday on board in a few weeks time.

I have only once found a supply issue with 907's and that was not recently.

 

[Stemar]

If suppliers have a choice, Camping Gaz bottles will be the first to be filled, cos there's twice the profit compared with Calor or Flogas

 

[dunedin]

If suppliers have a choice, Camping Gaz bottles will be the first to be filled, cos there's twice the profit compared with Calor or Flogas

People seem to get very excited about the high cost of Camping Gas cylinders. But the total cost per annum for most of us is a minuscule part of the annual running costs, so why the big angst about it? Is it really a huge deal?
Meanwhile often pay far more inflated prices for electricity connections.

 

[lustyd]

Is it really a huge deal?

Yes it is. Calor* abusing their monopoly is a huge deal when its obvious we're being ripped off. They've literally ceased a reasonably priced product in order to try to force their customers to pay 3x the price for the same gas in a different bottle, why are you not annoyed/outraged by that?

*Calor fill the silly little campingaz bottles in the UK

 

[Momac]

People seem to get very excited about the high cost of Camping Gas cylinders. But the total cost per annum for most of us is a minuscule part of the annual running costs, so why the big angst about it? Is it really a huge deal?

Accepting there is a cost per bottle but £40+ for £5 worth of gas is a rip off.
Did someone mention under 20 Euro for the same refill in France ? So why is it more than double the cost in the UK?

 

[dunedin]

Accepting there is a cost per bottle but £40+ for £5 worth of gas is a rip off.
Did someone mention under 20 Euro for the same refill in France ? So why is it more than double the cost in the UK?

So 2-3 bottles a season the extra cost might be £60 or so. A couple of nights on anchor would more than cover this.
And compared to all the other costs of boating is near trivial. I don’t get the hot gas that this topic generates.

 

[lustyd]

So 2-3 bottles a season the extra cost might be £60 or so. A couple of nights on anchor would more than cover this.
And compared to all the other costs of boating is near trivial. I don’t get the hot gas that this topic generates.

So as long as you’re spending more on other things you’re happy to be ripped off? What a strange attitude. Wanna buy some peanuts for £30 a packet? They’re cheaper than your boating hobby so….

 

[dunedin]

So as long as you’re spending more on other things you’re happy to be ripped off? What a strange attitude. Wanna buy some peanuts for £30 a packet? They’re cheaper than your boating hobby so….

Lots of things in boating - and in life - have high prices. But unless you know the full costs you will never know the true gross and nett margins of retailing Camping Gas cylinders. And is the nett margin more or less than other stuff you spend your money on. Do you agonise over the price of beer vs buying in Lidl? If so you are creating a lot of personal angst with no benefit.
Chill. Or buy a portable induction hob.

 

[Whaup367]

Flogas were asking £40 for a 7Kg refill last month... either delivered to my house (not my boat) or at one of their few, inconveniently situated locations. Calor @ marina£31, @ filling station within walking distance of house, £32, @ Garden centre nearby, £31.
...and Calor are handing over their effective monopoly on supply of 4.5 & 3.9 cylinders to an sctual monopoly at Flogas?

No thanks.

PS apologies to OP, I'm not on the south coast so this is off-topic.

 

[Momac]

So 2-3 bottles a season the extra cost might be £60 or so. A couple of nights on anchor would more than cover this.
And compared to all the other costs of boating is near trivial. I don’t get the hot gas that this topic generates.

Fair enough if you don't get it. You don't need to comment of this subject.

 

[lustyd]

Lots of things in boating - and in life - have high prices. But unless you know the full costs you will never know the true gross and nett margins of retailing Camping Gas cylinders. And is the nett margin more or less than other stuff you spend your money on. Do you agonise over the price of beer vs buying in Lidl? If so you are creating a lot of personal angst with no benefit.
Chill. Or buy a portable induction hob.

Nonsense. We can all see it’s less than 1/3 the cost literally everywhere that doesn’t have a monopoly running the show. Stop making excuses for Calor, you’re part of the problem.

 

[Momac]

The refill kits (example below) are now less than the cost of one 907 refill so payback would be after a couple of refills if you already have a larger butane or propane cylinder.