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Concerning the safety of the propane gas itself what is different on a boat, is that since propane sinks, the boat acts as a huge dish]which can collect an very large volume of propane gas which can be very explosive. Unlike a refridgerator, a stove only needs to be turned on when in use and is thus an attended appliance as Gord May said above. Also, since no propane is needed until the next time you cook, the propane line can be shut off before it ever reaches the interior of the boat, possibly by a remote valve wired to the circuit board. This not only safeguards a potential leak at the appliance itself but anywhere along the line. I should point out, that it's important to sure the propane locker itself, if you use one , is properly vented.
I should note that some mariners feel even with the above safety precautions in place, propane is a dangerous fuel to have on board. The more continual, unattended operation of a fridge means that when trying to manage the risks, the above protocals are not an option, so you will likely need to accept more risk of a propane leak and catastrophic explosion with a fridge than a stove. As you said one needs to understand and manage the risks onboard. Given a choice, many mariners manage this risk by choosing another refridgeration option.
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