Propane refills around the world

[Beausoleil]

For years I've heard that many countries will only allow filling of steel propane tanks, and that many a cruiser with brand new aluminum tanks are turned away when they refill in the middle of the South Pacific, or in Mudjagurdistan, or in newest-junta-of-the-month...

What's the real scoop? Are fiberglass tanks too new for world-wide cruising? What about aluminum? Does it help if I pronounce it "aluminium" in certain countries?

We're making final preparations, and I'd hate to end up with a fiberglass or aluminum mooring float...

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Beausoleil

or in Mudjagurdistan,

Bugger. I need another $40 chart



.

[Pelagic]

Some places will give your more hassles than others (I have a Stainless and an Alloy tank, both certified).

Seems there is always a problem when you use an agent/go-between who does know how to show the physical supplier, the certification stamps.

Whenever I can, I always go along to make sure and check the weight as quite often with new types of tanks they just under-fill them and don’t tell you.

[Weyalan]

I'm not trying to belittle your concerns by any means, but, in the unlikely event that you cannot get a cylinder filled, could you not just buy a cylinder locally that can be filled? Most places that fill cylinders also sell them. I just brought a brand new 5lb cylinder, filled, for about $40... maybe I'm not understanding the problem (it happens with me a lot).

[Steve Pope]

You wont get fibre glass tanks filled in New Zealand, Maybe in a year or two but don't hold your breath, you will get steel and alluminium ones filled but be sure to have compatable fittings or adaptors to suit as different countries have different standards etc.

[Celestialsailor]

It's a bummer about the FG tanks. I have seen a video of one puposely put into a fire...no explosion. Like has been said before...it's a matter of time and then they will fill them. I'm wondering if you could fill a steel tank and make an adapter to later fill a FG tank back at the boat?

[Pelagic]

Yes but they would only equalize i.e. half fill!

[Lodesman]

Is propane available everywhere? What about Natural Gas?

[ess105]

Originally Posted by Steve Pope

... but be sure to have compatible fittings or adapters to suit as different countries have different standards etc.

Is there such a thing as a universal adapter set that one can carry so as to be reasonably certain you can either :
a) Fill your current tanks anywhere
and/or
b) Fit local tanks to your current system

[Ram]

The tank I bought in France could not get filled in Spain, the tank I bought in Spain could not get filled in Tunisia, Greece or Turkey so I finally threw the French tank away, and now the one I bought in Spain is going the same way,to the trash- This tank I bought in Spain (Blue about 25kl) is supposed to be an international one, and it looks the same as the ones in Turkey,Tunisia, but they will not refill it or exchange it, so now im buying a funky littly tank in Greece thats half the size and Ive never seen one like it before , so seems like if I dont buy it and refill it in the same country there all desposabule

[NoTies]

Originally Posted by Beausoleil

What about aluminum? Does it help if I pronounce it "aluminium" in certain countries?

Interesting fact Beausoliel. As far as I'm aware "aluminum" is about the only word the US hasn't massacred. Apparently it was the Poms (British) who changed it to rhyme with cadmium, vanadium etc.

[NoTies]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

Yes but they would only equalize i.e. half fill!

A standard size cylinder will completely fill a same sized cylinder through an appropriate hose so long as the emptying cylinder is inverted and above the filling cylinder. I do this all the time since some bureaucratic jerk wrote off my aluminum cylinder because I had lost the "lie flat" documentation for it.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by NoTies

Interesting fact Beausoliel. As far as I'm aware "aluminum" is about the only word the US hasn't massacred. Apparently it was the Poms (British) who changed it to rhyme with cadmium, vanadium etc.

Actually, the mis-spelling of the word Aluminium, as Aluminum is a North American (USA & CAN) aberration (to which I adhere). The rest of the world uses the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) preferred spellinging, ending in ium.

Google:
etymology aluminium

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by NoTies

A standard size cylinder will completely fill a same sized cylinder through an appropriate hose so long as the emptying cylinder is inverted and above the filling cylinder. I do this all the time since some bureaucratic jerk wrote off my aluminum cylinder because I had lost the "lie flat" documentation for it.

Great info...So to get this straight...you take the full cylinder elevate it (upside down) above the empty aluminum cylinder, and open both valves?

[NoTies]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Actually, the mis-spelling of the word Aluminium, as Aluminum is a North American (USA & CAN) aberration (to which I adhere). The rest of the world uses the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) preferred spellinging, ending in ium.

Google:
etymology aluminium

You're probably right Gord (you usually are) but I was giving you guys the benefit of the doubt with the spurious "facts" as I seem to remember them from some drunken source. You mean you massacred yet another word? ;-)