Fiberglass Propane Tanks ?

[farotherside]

Hey folks,

I'm a fulltime liveaboard, and I've just purchased my first propane stove, upgrading from a diesel cookstove (there's a lovely young lady moving aboard with me, and a diesel stove just wouldn't do...).

I've got a secure, vented propane locker built into the wing of my trimaran, one that measures almost exactly three feet wide, two feet deep and one foot tall. I figure it will fit two 1'x2' (or smaller) horizontal lp bottles side-by-side with a bit of construction. Ideally 20 lbs each? It could be a while between fillups.

Carrying propane around on a bicycle is already hassle enough - is there any chance there's a manufacturer that sells fiberglass bottles that can be mounted horizontally? My googling hasn't found anything yet...

[MarkJ]

How do you want me to answer this?

Did God invent cars to drive on their roofs?

[steve_hendry]

Hmmm, maybe several 5# vertical tanks?

[mike d.]

check with Practical Sailor i seem to remember they did a test on them last yr i think. it was that or plastic can't recall

[captainKJ]

try here,, these might work

Ragasco USA - Clear View Fiberglass Propane Tanks, 3 & 5 Gallon Tanks

[GordMay]

Not approved for "heating" applications, but see the 33# horizontal tank for forkliufts.
New Forklift Propane Cylinder Tank: 16-1/2 Lbs. Empty!

[rebel heart]

I have one of these mounted horizontally:

Vertical Composite Propane Tank

Works fine. I keep a canvas cover over it to keep the plastic from getting trashed by the sun. No idea if it's "approved" for that use, but it works fine.

[captainKJ]

Save at Pacific RV Parts - RV Parts and Supply

Propane Tank - Horizontal Mount - 20 lb. - Aluminum - 12" x 20 5/8"* - *LPG Tanks, Lockers & Cannisters* - *Galley, Stoves & Barbeques* - *Main Deck

How to Mount Horizontal Propane Tanks | eHow.com

http://www.tjtrailers.com/store/20-l...pane-tank.html

[barnakiel]

One could be custom made, but who will want to fill it these days? Everything is swap, swap, swap - at a price up to 4 times the raw gas price.

I am afraid you have a project pending. It is called 're-designing my LPG locker'.

b.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Everything is swap, swap, swap - at a price up to 4 times the raw gas price.

b.

Europe is a bit of a rip off for gas. 2.75kg for 12 euros... US$17 and the last one lasted 20 days -- but I do like cooking

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Europe is a bit of a rip off for gas. 2.75kg for 12 euros... US$17 and the last one lasted 20 days -- but I do like cooking

This is Campingaz and the same happens in the West Indies (e.g. Martinique).

At Cepsa out of town you can get the same stuff at 1.3 Eur per Kg - full 3 times cheaper (!!!) than at the swap place.

However - they will not fill foreign tanks ... they will not even fill my Spanish tank, which I bought 2 years ago in Cadiz - Spain has 5 LPG vendors and 4 different LPG connectors ....

....
F(censored)cking EU,

barnie

[seandepagnier]

Maybe you can switch to alcohol instead? Then you can make your own fuel from fruit. Plus if you accidentally spill fuel, it wont end up an explosion hazard like propane. Also the stove is simple to make and repair, and it is much safer.

I also use a wood stove for when I am cooking longer, it works great on small wood scraps. Eventually I need to get an electric stove working so I can use my solar panels to power it, and not use any fuel!

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by geckosenator

Maybe you can switch to alcohol instead? Then you can make your own fuel from fruit. Plus if you accidentally spill fuel, it wont end up an explosion hazard like propane. Also the stove is simple to make and repair, and it is much safer.

I also use a wood stove for when I am cooking longer, it works great on small wood scraps. Eventually I need to get an electric stove working so I can use my solar panels to power it, and not use any fuel!

Is there any room for you in your cabin!!!!!

[daedaluscan]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

I have one of these mounted horizontally:

Vertical Composite Propane Tank

Works fine. I keep a canvas cover over it to keep the plastic from getting trashed by the sun. No idea if it's "approved" for that use, but it works fine.

I made a locker for two of these and so far they work out great. Bought them at Trotac in Victoria. In Victoria I took them to be filled on my bicycle all the time and they are much lighter than the steel tanks I replaced. Here in Mexico I carry them by hand a lot and agian the weight is better.

[ShipShape]

A propane tank MUST be mounted for use the way the manufacturer intended, NO EXCEPTIONS. Cylinders are designed so that the pick-up tube withdraws propane gas from the "empty" space above the liquid propane - this is one of the reasons why propane tanks are not filled completely full. If a vertical tank is mounted horizontally the pick-up tube will be submerged in the liquid propane.

A few months ago I called the company that manufacturers the fiberglass tanks. They have no intention of making a horizontal tank, or a shorter tank that would fit vertically in my 14" tall locker. Also I found out that the fiberglass tanks have a rather short lifespan. Over the long run, aluminum tanks are the best value.

ABYC standard 1.5.6: Only systems using LPG cylinders of the vapor withdrawal type are permitted. Cylinders designed or installed so as to admit liquefied gas into any other part of the system are prohibited.