What type of gas?

[brownsox]

We have just bought a trailer sailer which has had the gas system renewed but there is no bottle or regulator.
Should we go for camping gaz or calor gas?
And does anyone know a cheap source of bottles in West London ...?

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[yoda]

For cheap bottles go to the local recycling center (used to be known as the tip) I get camping gas bottles for £5 rather than the £45 from the shop. Doen't matter if it looks awful because you are just going to change it for a full one!

Yoda

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[sailorman]

if u intend to sail in the cold weather go to "propane" it gasses-off @ lower temps. than butane

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[Talbot]

camping gas is more expensive, but easier to replace in Europe. I use mainly calor, but I have a spare camping gas cylinder, and a handy gizmo from the local caravan shop that allows the camping gas cylinder to use a calor regulator.

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[snowleopard]

if staying in UK, stick to calor, far cheaper. if spending time in continental europe, camping gaz is the only universal option. if crossing the atlantic go for propane.

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[brownsox]

Thank you all so much - we're gobsmacked to get such useful replies so quickly.
The gizmo that allows for both sounds great, shall look for one - between trips to the tip ...

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[peterb]

If you're planning to go north (such as into the Baltic) then use propane. Supplies of butane (such as Camping Gaz) are difficult to find anywhere in the Baltic, and virtually impossible anywhere north of Stockholm.

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[Guest]

answer first is what stove / appliance you have as they are suited to a particular type.

Calor Gas stoves can burn Butane or Propane, but Camping Gaz stioves without modification can only use Camping Gaz - that is if the appliance is the camping style.

Butane is not tolerant of cold winters and can be a problem when temp drops below freezing. Propane has a mich lower temp threshold and is therefore the choice in colder climates or even in UK winter - witness my Holiday home gas system fails if I use calor in winter ! There are available composite gases .... mixtures of BUtane and propane, but in UK not generally seen.

If you are serious about cruising and need large bottle - go Propane, if average weekender / frw days sailing - go Calor ..... of course dependent on appliance.


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/

 

[oldharry]

Calor is better value - you get more gas for your money, but is virtually impossible to buy outside the UK. (including Eire who have Calor but with different bottle fittings)

Camping Gaz is obtainable almost anywhere in Europe.

Calor comes in bigger bottles which may not fit the Gas locker on your boat.

Standard Butane cookers will run quite happily on Calor or Camping Gaz, but the regulators are not interchangeable, so if you need to switch makes during a trip you to change the regulator too. It is only camping cookers with integral Gaz cartridges that cannot use Calor, and these should never be used on a boat as they frequently spill gas while changing cartridges, the cause of numerous sometimes fatal accidents.

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[greatspirit]

Agree with others.... following sites are useful:
www.bes.ltd.uk/nav_graf/frames_cat.htm
www.gaslow.co.uk
If using butane at low temperatures it usually stops working halfway thru boiling the kettle in the morning... you will find the gas bottle covered in frozen condensation... pour the heated water over the frozen gas bottle..... presto....


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[snowleopard]

>>the regulators are not interchangeable

it's actually the screw fitting which isn't interchangable, the regulator itself works for any source of butane. you can get a camping gaz adaptor that screws onto a calor fitting so allowing you to use either type.

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[JackFrobisher]

If you pick up a Calor cylinder from the tip, look for a blue one if you want Butane (like Camping Gaz). There are orange, green and white ones that say Calor as well (Calor is a supplier of loads of different gasses, not a trade name for Butane). Orange is Propane, I have no idea what the green and white ones are.

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[charles_reed]

Two types propane or butane, both sold in UK but Camping Gaz is only butane.

Whilst Camping GAz is available all over Europe it is easily the most expensive - Calor is expensive and only available in UK.

Butane won't gasify below -8C, so will frequently, in cold weather, cease flowing. Propane however gasifies down to -23C so is the gas of choice for cold-weather use. The two use different regulators and propane liquefies at far higher pressure.

I have found the Butagaz Cube, the most useful marine pack - the GRP/polypropylene container holds 6kg and when full weighs less than the 4.5kg Calor cylinder, but fits into the same space. Refills costs marginally less than the 2.2kg Camping Gaz cylinder. It is only available in France and Portugal tho'.

I have two tails to the LPG supply and change the regulator to suit the most economical local national supplier. All the suppliers charge a set price for the "hire" of their containers, which, excepting Calor gas is refundable when you leave their country, providing you have the original supplier's invoice.
Calor and Camping Gaz are significantly more highly priced for their containers than most other suppliers.

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