Propane, the kiss of death

[double u]

we wanted to supplement our propane cooking with induction & water heater - alas our inverter failed after maybe 1/2 h of service...

[noelex 77]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

I think solar and larger house banks have made the switch to induction cooking far easier, even for a 40ft.

With a 49 foot boat with a reasonably large solar array (1005w) and alternator (175A @24v), we use induction cooking much of the time. However, it is not functional when cruising areas of poor solar insolation at anchor without a generator. The shortfall is so great in some locations and at some times of the year that even on a large cat with a much larger solar array this limitation would still apply.

So without a viable alternative to electric cooking (and for most boats this means propane) your cruising area is limited or you are going to be tied to shore power or you must install a generator. These limitations are too restrictive for my needs, but they will not concern many boat owners.

So electric cooking is great, but make sure you weigh up the impact of these limitations before ripping out (or not fitting) a propane system.

A combination of both electric cooking and propane has been the best solution for our needs. This would not suit all boats, but is an option worth considering if your needs are similar.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by double u

we wanted to supplement our propane cooking with induction & water heater - alas our inverter failed after maybe 1/2 h of service...

What inverter was this?

[tomsnrg]

Originally Posted by Island Time O25

What is strange is that worldwide at this point most coastal cities have fleets of CNG vehicles of one sort or another yet this has not helped with establishing CNG refill stations for the regular people.

CNG is lighter than air and for this so much safer. On a boat it will evacuate itself rather fast. But handling 220bar/22MPA pressure tanks and reducers on board is a can of worms I'd not like to open. My bet is cheaper batteries and power electronics will take care of cooking energy needs.

[SimonFirth]

The good news is that it is soluble in water. Keep water in your bilge and then pump it out regularly.

[rslifkin]

Even if you need a generator for electric cooking, that's not the end of the world. You add some complexity for the generator, but reduce some by removing the propane system. And you also gain the benefit of 1 less fuel type to obtain, store, etc. The generator means that your cooking fuel is now the same as propulsion fuel.

[Don C L]

Using solar power to charge a battery to power an electric stove seems a tad Rube Goldberg to me. There are some fairly good solar ovens that might be good complements to the galley....

[David Ess]

Originally Posted by double u

we wanted to supplement our propane cooking with induction & water heater - alas our inverter failed after maybe 1/2 h of service...

Youre supposed to install the right equipment. Blame yourself, not the stove.

[David Ess]

Originally Posted by Don C L

Using solar power to charge a battery to power an electric stove seems a tad Rube Goldberg to me. There are some fairly good solar ovens that might be good complements to the galley....

Wrong, its a good system, and many boats now have the proper equipment to do it. No more...kiss of death.

[David Ess]

Originally Posted by rslifkin

Even if you need a generator for electric cooking, that's not the end of the world. You add some complexity for the generator, but reduce some by removing the propane system. And you also gain the benefit of 1 less fuel type to obtain, store, etc. The generator means that your cooking fuel is now the same as propulsion fuel.

Exactly, even more benefit to ending the.....kiss of death.

[David Ess]

Originally Posted by SimonFirth

The good news is that it is soluble in water. Keep water in your bilge and then pump it out regularly.

"Propane gas is not soluble in water by its chemical nature. It is a hydrocarbon gas with non-polar bonds, unlike water having polar bonds. This generates affinity between the bonds of the same type and a repulsion between the different ones.". Jesus h.

[David Ess]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

With a 49 foot boat with a reasonably large solar array (1005w) and alternator (175A @24v), we use induction cooking much of the time. However, it is not functional when cruising areas of poor solar insolation at anchor without a generator. The shortfall is so great in some locations and at some times of the year that even on a large cat with a much larger solar array this limitation would still apply.

So without a viable alternative to electric cooking (and for most boats this means propane) your cruising area is limited or you are going to be tied to shore power or you must install a generator. These limitations are too restrictive for my needs, but they will not concern many boat owners.

So electric cooking is great, but make sure you weigh up the impact of these limitations before ripping out (or not fitting) a propane system.

A combination of both electric cooking and propane has been the best solution for our needs. This would not suit all boats, but is an option worth considering if your needs are similar.

Very few boats without a genset.

[boatman61]

So dramatic.. The Kiss of Death..
You can definitely label Birth under that heading...
Its easy to tell this is a predominantly N American forum by the amount of exaggeration and paranoia that's introduced every week.
Just make sure your well insured, make your kids happy..

[R Hutcheson]

A simple solution is to use a 6” diameter pvc pipe. Check the inside clearance as it can vary to find one the canisters will fit through. Put a galvanized bolt through one end of the pipe, and top it with a clean out fitting. Attach the unit to a stanchion with large hose clamps so any leaks drain overboard.

I also drill a hole through the clean out lid for a lanyard.

The result is a safe propane locker for portable cylinders.

[David Ess]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

Thought the topic was boats !

Yes, and many boats have really, really low standards. Im surprised more of them dont blow up.