Propane Placement Poses A Predicament

[hooligan6a]

Zeehag, I disagree with just about everything you said. I have been sailing for over 40
years, including a solo circumnavigation. Do you sail much?

[Cheechako]

Stern rail should be fine. You will get a lot of naysayers here though. Anything is better than a locker not desgined for propane!!! I've used on on the stern for the BBQ on three diff boats over the years. Those propane lockers stay real damp and are hard on the regulator etc. Not that they are bad... just sayin.... they're not perfect either.... I used to pull my alu tank out of mine and it was covered with white "fuzz"....

[hooligan6a]

Cheechako, my locker is designed for propane. There is just no getting away from the fact, that a tank hanging on your stern rail, just looks nasty. I have seen a lot of beautiful boats with a rusty steel tank hanging off their rail. Ugh!

[Cheechako]

Must it be a rusty steel tank? Aluminum or composite with a nice sunbrella cover works fine... steel tank on a boat? surely you're kidding!

[bobconnie]

Hooigan6a You must be looking at boats of folks who don't give a damn about their boats !! we sailed a steel boat around the pacific from USA to japan to oz and the south pacific for over 20 years!! and NEVER let it be rusty !! we had rail hung propane tanks and only had to replace them because they were Over date !! and with the new tanks today theres no reason to have dirty or rusty tanks !!! I think you are being a little off here, lack of maintaince do not make mounting them on the rail a bad thing !! just our 2 cents !! and If my current boat did not have a Locker, my tanks would be on the rail again !!!!!

[s/vfootloose]

I had thought about using pvc pipe. 12" would probably be enough but you would need to find it in a couple of foot lengths and end caps. Glue the bottom cap on, drill a drain, make top cap removable. Make s/s straps to fit your rails or pushpit. It would look neat and protect the tank.

[hooligan6a]

When I started sailing the only thing available was steel tanks, no composit tanks. This was when the average cruising boat was 30 ft. No one had the money to buy aluminum tanks then, steel was it.
Still there is nothing like a built in propane locker, anything else looks tacky.

[bobconnie]

Well Hooligan6a ya know what they say about opinions !! everyone has some !! you feel like its shabby, thats your opinion! I feel that rail mounted tanks either covered with sunbrella, or aluminum, kept clean, look just fine !! and work well with out overboard drains that can plug up ect. and you don't !! so as they say some like it simple and some dont!! its still opinions! and ya know what they say about that LOL as I said if my new boat did not have a locker, they would be on the rail !! Thats my opinion!! LOL Thats why I sail what I do and you sail what do ! they make a lot of different boats for the same reason, Opinions A lot of us feel the way I do and a lot of others feel as you do ! the question was will it work, not if you thought it looked shabby !! just sayin it will work as a lot of boats show it will, and lots of INS COs. agree!!

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by hooligan6a

Zeehag, I disagree with just about everything you said. I have been sailing for over 40
years, including a solo circumnavigation. Do you sail much?

been sailing only 55 years..... only 10k miles in last 3 yrs. not much at all.

is your right to not agree with me--- where do you sail? racing or cruising? local orlong passages? within your nation or outside??? currently or wanna be??? between boats?? short hop weekender or liveaboard cruiser???

[bobconnie]

Get em Zee LOLOL

[Mimsy]

Originally Posted by hooligan6a

When I started sailing the only thing available was steel tanks, no composit tanks. This was when the average cruising boat was 30 ft. No one had the money to buy aluminum tanks then, steel was it.
Still there is nothing like a built in propane locker, anything else looks tacky.

Please avert your eyes as we pass you with our tacky stern rail mounted tank. I'm not a huge fan of the look of it, but how often do I have to look at the back of my boat?

[Nemo55]

Propane in closed spaces go Boom!!! ,,,"Marvin the Martian"

[hooligan6a]

How manY boats have you heard of going boom, because of propane? Many more go boom because of gasoline. If a vented propane locker with a propane gas detector was not safe, I don't think the major boat manufactures would be putting them in their boats.

[Sailor Robius]

wow, thanks for all the info everyone. i will definitely look into this more in the coming month as we move onboard and begin to use the LPG more often. i appreciate yours links, designs, and other helpful hints. until next time,

-keep the wind in your sails and the drinks cold. : )

[Nemo55]

If your detector fails.
Propane leaking down into a closed space such as the sole of your boat or the bilge IF ignited would cause a catastrophic explosion far worse than any gasoline leak.. the tooth picks left over wouldn't leave much for study.

i am just pointing out that in an enclosed space propane is way more dangerous than gasoline.
However.. when the tank is stored in the open and the leaking gas is given a chance to dissipate all propane will do when ignited is blow torch,,and then it is very safe as compared with gasoline.

Originally Posted by hooligan6a

How manY boats have you heard of going boom, because of propane? Many more go boom because of gasoline. If a vented propane locker with a propane gas detector was not safe, I don't think the major boat manufactures would be putting them in their boats.