Propane LPG tanks in Australia

[jim_thomsen]

For the past few years we have used Fiberglass propane tanks we purchased in the Caribbean, but now they are recalled because they apparently leak.

So, I think maybe we should get new tanks. I have called the chandlers in Mackay but none carry cylinders.

Where is the best place to buy marine quality cylinders? They need to be about 25cm in diameter.

We are currently in Australia (Mackay) and will be in Cairns in a couple of weeks.

Thanks.

Jim

[cha0s]

I am surprised that BCF don't have them. I bought one from them a couple of years ago. Bunnings definitely do though it may not be the size you're after and they're only mild steel. Gasmate 8.5kg LPG Gas Cylinder - Bunnings Warehouse

Camping shops and army disposal shops also have them. (same thing - not marine specific)

I have never used a specific marine lpg tank but I know you can get them at outback marine at the gold coast. They may be able to arrange shipping to cairns or mackay Gas Cylinder

[Weyalan]

You have a couple of choices:
You can buy painted mild steel ones for very cheap (think about $30 for a 2kg / 4.5 pound)
You can buy stainless steel ones for very expensive (think about $300 for a 2kg)

The cheap ones will rust and probably last 2-3 years max before they'll need replacement

You can buy the cheap ones most Barbecue supplies places and some hardware stores (Bunnings) or even some camping stores.

[Ambler]

Swap and Go are all you can easily fill these days.
It is getting harder to find someone that will fill any LPG cylinder while I wait, let alone my US made Alloy Wilmington tanks because they are not stamped AS.... but they actually conform to the AS standard which means having a printout of the standard with me. Honestly I would just get a cheap tank from Bunnings Hardware and "swap and go" leaving your salty empty behind each time, at least while you are in Australia.
Wayno

[geoffh]

There is an online supplier called Outback Marine selling stainless steel in your size for $330.
Cheers

[40 South]

Jim
Whitworths (marine chandlers) carry a 4.5kg SS bottle for $499. I don't know dimensions. They have shop in Cairns Ph:07 4035 5933 or you could call their generic number 1300 90 90 10

[KDH]

We have two mild steel ones and they seem to hold up well. They are just over two years old and only rust on the bottom of the ring where they sit in the locker. We like having two small ones as when one is empty we can drop it off to be filled while we still have one to use. Both fit into our propane locker. For the cost of the stainless one you can replace the mild steel ones many times over.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, cha0s.

[MarkJ]

When I was in Aus in 2009 I bought one mild steel 4kg cylinder at Bunnings... it fits the hole in the boat where a Swap and Go one doesnt.
I keep it painted and its lasted since then. They are fine.

The price was $48 so for the money they cant be beat!!!!!!



Mark

[Jim Cate]

In Oz, one thing to note about the Swappers is that their capacity is only 8.5 kg, rather than the 9kg that is normal for that size tank. It is a somewhat more expensive way to purchase LPG, but you are spared maintenance on the rusty cylinders.

And here in California, I just noticed that the swap cylinders that look like 9 kg (20 lb) contain only a bit over 15 lbs... that's even worse than Oz!

Bastards...

Jim

[savoir]

That's a safety thing. Gas bottles are not supposed to be more than around 3/4 full. Someone will probably fill in the details soon.

[MarkSF]

Originally Posted by savoir

That's a safety thing. Gas bottles are not supposed to be more than around 3/4 full. Someone will probably fill in the details soon.

Every now and then an attendant, who doesn't know what he's doing, fills a bottle to the brim (sometimes under pressure from an ignorant customer). The result is often a long, painful recuperation in a hospital burns unit for the aforesaid customer.

[savoir]

The idea is that the propane has room to expand but where that regulation is written I'm not sure.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by savoir

That's a safety thing. Gas bottles are not supposed to be more than around 3/4 full. Someone will probably fill in the details soon.

Hang on there, mate!

The 20 lb tanks are certified for that capacity... you don't have to overfill them to get there.

The external dimensions of the swap tanks (with only 15+ lbs of gas in them) are visually the same as the 20 lb non-swap ones that you buy from HD or such. I submit that this looks like underfilling, with a profit motive suggested to my cynical mind.

Cheers,

Jim

[Searanger50]

What is the best way to go re- Gas Cylinders. We are in the UK and currently carry 2 x 4.5kg Propane Calor Gas. We are planning to leave the UK either later this year or next spring with the aim to SLOWLY (about 10 yrs) cruise Med, W. Africa, Caribbean, S. America and then the Pacifi to N.Z and Australia and back?