When I was in
Fort Lauderdale, I went to the gas man and purchased new aluminium propane
tanks for less than one-half the
price of the same tank at West
Marine.
If you are going on a long voyage, I think it's worth getting new cylinders. The dates on the cylinder are important in many destinations around the world. When I was in
Australia and
New Zealand, they took the dates very seriously.
I also take the cylinders seriously because I sail in a
catamaran, and I feel that my greatest
offshore risk is fire and explosion. That's the main reason I carry a life raft.
I reckon that if I have new cylinders and valves before I set off on a long voyage, I substantially decrease the risk of
offshore disaster and the risk of onshore hassles in faraway places.