Hello Critter,
My 2nd attempt to post a response, the first earlier this am disappeared, damn. Decided to resend since no-one else has contributed this info yet.
Anyway, congratulations on your new
project.
Don't waste your time testing a 27 yr old copper-tube based propane system on a
boat. the copper workhardens and will fail. All the test will tell you is if it is holding pressure to-day.
Here is the thing. There are much more interesting and exciting ways to put yourself and crew at risk when sailing than in a propane explosion.
Best is to replace everything between the tank and the
stove... hose, solenoid,
wiring. Take the
stove to an RV place and have them check it out. Use intended-use flexible hose, I got mine from Sure
Marine, Ballard WA. They are helpful and will answer your questions. It takes end fittings that have to be professionally installed on the hose, which means that you have to have the shop do it. Measure the run carefully, at about $13.00/ft you don't want to be a foot short. Include some for the swing
arc of the gimbal stove.
No joins below
deck, and any holes through bulkheads must be sealed to gas (air) and
water , you can get (expensive) fittings or make some other arrangement. Do not use vacuum or
fuel hose and hose clamps.
If the tank is mounted on a box, the box must be sealed and have a vent hose out of the bottom to vent leaked gas far enough
outboard that it does not drift back into the
cockpit.
If your
bilge blower hasn't been updated, toss it and get 1-2 inline blowers, more blow/amp. Install them with new
wiring, and the switch must be sealed and installed outside of the house. Depending on the kind of sailing you will do, you might need a dorade box to prevent sea
water ingress back into the hose. It must vent so that gas doesn't drift back into the
companionway hatch, or other vents/intakes.
If you insure your boat through BoatUS, they are helpful, ask them for
advice resources.
Oh, if you think the above is overkill, pm me and I'll try to intro you to my
dock neighbor, her 50 ft wooden boat was about 30 yrs old when it blew up at the
dock. When they raised the hulk, she found a cracked copper propane line.
Just sayin.
May you sail with fair winds and empty holding tanks!
Separate note to fkittson...... would love to swap notes on Albergs ... I'm refitting a AL35, pm me?
Peter