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Old 07-04-2013, 13:42   #1
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Propane Usage for Liveaboard Couple?

Hey everyone!
My husband and I have lived with an electric cooking stove for two years. Needless to say, we've struggled with cooking during long off shore trips. We're upgrading to propane in the next few months. We'll only be using propane for our cooking stove (our heating stove is diesel).

Are there any liveaboard couples who use propane here? How much propane do you use per month? We are building a propane locker and want to make sure we build a big enough one to house enough propane to last us about 3-4 months of cruising at a time. We cook about 1 meal a day on the stove and use the oven about 1-2 times a week.

Thanks and cheers!
Denise
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Old 07-04-2013, 13:53   #2
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Re: Propane Usage for Liveaboard Couple?

i cook a lot and feed others. sometimes i heat bath water--heck i am in tropix now--dont need hot water too much except to cook with and coffee....i use one 20 pound (? normal sized) bottle of propane over 3-6 months. i keep 2 bottles on board.
i usually run out while mid passage, so is good to have 2 bottles
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Old 07-04-2013, 13:54   #3
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Re: Propane Usage for Liveaboard Couple?

We used 20 lbs every 2-3 months. We bake our own bread and used the oven a lot more than you plan to.

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Old 07-04-2013, 13:54   #4
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I use two twenty pound tanks in 3 months when cruising full time.
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Old 07-04-2013, 13:56   #5
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Hey dirk good to see you!! How are you doing? Sell the boat yet?
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Old 07-04-2013, 13:57   #6
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Re: Propane Usage for Liveaboard Couple?

tman..must be the loong hot showers???
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Old 07-04-2013, 14:24   #7
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Re: Propane Usage for Liveaboard Couple?

We have been living aboard for 7 years and our average is two 20 lbs tanks yearly. As you should be aware that liquid propane when in its gas stake is 270 times to one unit of liquid. To control the fuel to its best pressure I also installed a house regulator down stream from the one installed on the tank. I also would pass along that I am a propane mechanic as well.
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Old 07-04-2013, 14:28   #8
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Zee I cook 3 meals a day 4 times a day with tea hot water and heat as needed!!! Hmmmmm I guess I'm the one man out
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Old 07-04-2013, 16:40   #9
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Re: Propane Usage for Liveaboard Couple?

We have (2) 10 pound bottles. We cook quite a lot and bake some. One bottle lasts 7 weeks. Almost to the day. Some places do not fill the tanks completely.
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Old 07-04-2013, 17:12   #10
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Re: Propane Usage for Liveaboard Couple?

This is reassuring. We have 2 11lb tanks and they last a good 2 months each. However, we are finally going to be brave and light our oven. Sounds absurd perhaps but I have always been afraid to light it. There is nothing wrong with anything I can see but to leave a gas valve on long enough to light the thing is pretty scarry. If there was a tool I could buy our a willing volunteer perhaps it would be less frightning.
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Old 07-04-2013, 17:26   #11
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Re: Propane Usage for Liveaboard Couple?

My 20 lb bottle lasts about 2 months. The big variable is the oven. Use it lightly and you will get around 3 months.

I prefer to enjoy the bread and casseroles and things.
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Old 07-04-2013, 18:06   #12
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Re: Propane Usage for Liveaboard Couple?

Quote:
Originally Posted by BlueWaterGirl View Post
Hey everyone!
My husband and I have lived with an electric cooking stove for two years. Needless to say, we've struggled with cooking during long off shore trips.
Do you not have enough solar panels and batteries? I cook off electric powered only from solar panels, and never even drained batteries more than 10% for a meal.
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Old 07-04-2013, 18:49   #13
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Re: Propane Usage for Liveaboard Couple?

If we use our inverter for Connies bread maker, and for a few other things, we get 3 to 4 months from a 20 lb tank.we have 2 in the propane locker, and 2 more in vented storage. We like to be independant from most shore side services. We cook at least twice a day, we do canning of fish and veggies, We seldom need to use propane to heat hot water in the tank. We love cooking with propane, hate to cook with electric stoves ! Im sure you will much happier with the gas !! Lot's of good meals to come !!
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Old 07-04-2013, 19:09   #14
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Re: Propane Usage for Liveaboard Couple?

Thank you for your replies everyone! You gave us much to think about. I think a 20lb tank would do us fine then, based on how much we cook.

Artful Dodger, thanks for the tip. We will definitely look into that when we're ready to get everything set up. We may also be looking for you on here!

Bobconnie, we also can a lot of food before big trips, so that shoud help. Would you exlain a little more about your vented storage? Sorry, I'm a complete newbie to this topic. We are getting a 20lb locker but we'd love to keep an additional one on hand.

Boat Alexandria, we unfortunately do not have enough solar panel power. That is actually our next big project. It doesn't seem like we'll get enough though, especially since we cruise mostly in the Desolation Sound (British Columbia) area. Also, I keep hearing that most people do not get enough solar to power everything they need. Am I wrong? What's your solar/battery set up?

Thanks again, everyone! Cheers!
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Old 07-04-2013, 19:28   #15
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Re: Propane Usage for Liveaboard Couple?

Living aboard, we got about 2 1/2months out of a 20lb'er. We had 3 but never broke into the 3rd one as I recall. Used primarily for cooking, diesel for heat and water heater. Entertained a fair bit so the stove and oven got a regular workout, even in Mexico. Cruised a lot in PNW, So Cal and Sea of Cortez. Installed a couple of sniffers, one in the engine room bilge and the other in the master stateroom bilge. They never went off but gave us peace of mind. Tanks were stored on top of the wheelhouse.
Commercially, we always had diesel stoves that ran 24/7... galley was always toasty warm and coffee pot was always on the back of the stove. Phil
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