International Gas Fittings

[SaucySailoress]

Look, I'm asking this on behalf on HWMO, who is too lazy to ask himself...

he wants to know how do you manage to cope with different fittings when filling gas bottles. Apparently we inherited six bottles with our boat - two for filling in Kuwait, two for Dubai, and two for Bahrain... as it would seem they all have different fittings....

[savoir]

Make up a set of pigtails.

Each one should have a little hose around 6 - 12". One end of each should fit two of your bottles and the other left open. Buy adapter fittings for the other end from plumbing stores as you go. Use SS hose clamps to hold them all together. No their seal isn't the best but they will last long enough for you to fill the bottle.

I'm not sure how many you will need. Maybe 4 ? ? ?

The only one piece adapter I have ever seen was US - EU Camping Gaz.

[GordMay]

Get out of the Middle East.

[Lancerbye]

Having spent 3 years south of you in Qatar I have to agree with Gordon. lol

[barnakiel]

By now we have a set of regulators for each (?) country. No issue. What is a problem though is when in Spain they will not fill our UK bottles, while in France they will not fill our Spanish bottles ... and so on and so forth, ad infinitum ;-(

In some places the problem can be alleviated by hiring a local bottle, hanging it in the sun and filling our own bottles via a high pressure hose with adequate fittings.

6 types of regulators onboard and 4 types of bottles, by now.

BTW If you inherited a fortune you can go pretty much well along with Campingaz.

b.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

By now we have a set of regulators for each (?) country. No issue. What is a problem though is when in Spain they will not fill our UK bottles, while in France they will not fill our Spanish bottles ... and so on and so forth, ad infinitum ;-(

In some places the problem can be alleviated by hiring a local bottle, hanging it in the sun and filling our own bottles via a high pressure hose with adequate fittings.

6 types of regulators onboard and 4 types of bottles, by now.

BTW If you inherited a fortune you can go pretty much well along with Campingaz.

b.

Unfortunately EU regulations prevent the refilling of domestic gas cylinders. In the main for a few years this was ignored and it was possible to get refills. It has now become more difficult. The only common approach is camping gaz and then exchange them. An expensive option I'm afraid.

Looking into this I'm considering switching to propane which can be refilled and actually has a more standardised fitting. The problem is getting propane near marinas is difficult. You usually have to go to an industrial supplier often miles away.

No easy solution I'm afraid. ( I have even resorted to decanting at times)

Dave

[barnakiel]

We did not find propane easier to get refills. What we found was most countries are either or. Spain has both (as well as 4 different fittings !!!). So to say the EU govt will tax you everywhere within the EU but as soon as you cross the border your bottles are no good ... this situation truly sucks.

My guess is the fitting/hose/fitting sun&ice way is well worth exploration. I will probably invest some time and effort this year into the project.

b.

[careka]

Its not only the fittings, its also the pressure,
some use 30millibar, and some 50 millibar, that will also make a problem with the burner in the stove. it has to be adusted.

isent it fun

[conachair]

I invested in these in the UK. Not cheap and you need a m20 - m20 pigtail as well, but the money saved by filling a 20lb & 10lb grp bottles bought in caribbean from a hired 13kg propane bottle will go a long way to paying for it instead of using the expensive camping gaz. Hopefully next time cruising will be a bit easier. Just find a bottle to borrow & fill the boats bottles.

And in these cold northern climes with propane I'll be able to eat hot food when the temp heads towards freezing point.

[SaucySailoress]

My god - I thought he was kinda making a mountain out of a molehill, but this seriously is gonna be a big problem... How we supposed to sail around the world if we run out of gas?

[careka]

you can kick out the Gas, and go eletric, Induction. (hope i speddel that rigth

need a good battery bank, but it will be whats comming.....

[courageous cat]

Originally Posted by Saucy Sailoress

My god - I thought he was kinda making a mountain out of a molehill, but this seriously is gonna be a big problem... How we supposed to sail around the world if we run out of gas?

SUSHI

[goboatingnow]

The gas situation especially in Europe for cruisers is bordering on the crasy. Widely incompatible systems and a no-refill rule. ( in fact personal decanting is illegal, though practised). With the demise of refilling ( illegal or other wise) the situation has reached ridiculous proportions.

While EuroNorm EN1949 exists to standardise all LPG gases to 30mb ( propane or butane), its still a fact of life that pressure in european clyinders varies quite significantly, so you may need a local regulator as well.

Its camping gaz or electric IMHO

Dave

[Kawan]

Years ago in French Polynesia, I just drilled the appropriate plastic plugs and siliconed in a piece of fuel hose then decanted. One store let me put their cylinder in their freezer overnite, which REALLY made for an easy fill.
Jon

[Ironhorse74]

Liquid propane is nothing to screw with. Fuel spills are dangerous. Use the right adapter. Here are two for European GAZ fills to US propane bottles.


European "Camping Gaz" System Adapter
US LPG System Adapter