Propane Gas Bottle Connection

[Ubifig]

What is the most common type of connection (thread, male/female) on propane gas bottles around the world? Recommendations of a converter kit for round the world travels? Thank you.

[wholybee]

There is no "most common", you need to know where you are going.

If you don't know all of where you will be going, bring some hose, with the correct fitting on one end to fill your tank, and make adapters for various countries.

I have a US system, and I was able to fill that in a lot of places. In a couple places I bought a propane torch kit at a hardware store for the parts to make an adapter to transfer propane from a local disposable tank into my tank.

[Montanan]

Are you seeking adapters for 1 pound to 20 pound tanks?

Be specific as to what your connection is.

[barcoMeCasa]

one of these bought in the UK has paid for itself more than once

https://www.socal.co.uk/p/4018/marin...re-adaptor-kit


Filled both GRP boat bottles last week, €18 for 13Kg butane. Camping gas about same price for 2.6Kg 907 bottle.
Takes maybe an hour to drip from one bottle borrowed from the shop down into the boat bottle. GRP is handy not just as it doesn't rust but you can see the gas level as well.

And often you just take what's there, might be propane, butane or sometime a mix.

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by Ubifig

What is the most common type of connection (thread, male/female) on propane gas bottles around the world? Recommendations of a converter kit for round the world travels? Thank you.

In North and South America, including the Caribbean, the USA-style POL (G.9) connector is the most widely used for filling portable cylinders sized between 4 pounds and 100 pounds. This connector is in fairly widespread use in all western hemisphere countries except for Jamaica and Ecuador, though some countries use other connectors as well.


In other areas there's a wide mix with the comparatively expensive Campingaz exchange cylinders being the closest thing to a widely used standard.


I think you'll find that most cruisers no longer carry a converter kit as their usefulness has declined over the years. Most fill stations willing to fill a USA-spec cylinder will have the necessary adapter. Those that are unwilling to provide a fill are deterred more by regulatory enforcement than hardware.

[Ubifig]

I will have two 17# fiberglass tanks fitted with USA fittings.

[Ubifig]

Originally Posted by Jammer

In North and South America, including the Caribbean, the USA-style POL (G.9) connector is the most widely used for filling portable cylinders sized between 4 pounds and 100 pounds. This connector is in fairly widespread use in all western hemisphere countries except for Jamaica and Ecuador, though some countries use other connectors as well.


In other areas there's a wide mix with the comparatively expensive Campingaz exchange cylinders being the closest thing to a widely used standard.


I think you'll find that most cruisers no longer carry a converter kit as their usefulness has declined over the years. Most fill stations willing to fill a USA-spec cylinder will have the necessary adapter. Those that are unwilling to provide a fill are deterred more by regulatory enforcement than hardware.

Thank you. This is very helpful. Our catamaran has an all electric galley but I put a Weber gas grill in the cockpit not just to grill but as a backup cooking source in the case of any issues with the electrical system. We will have 2 17# fiberglass tanks fitted with USA fittings.

[barcoMeCasa]

Originally Posted by Ubifig

Thank you. This is very helpful. Our catamaran has an all electric galley but I put a Weber gas grill in the cockpit not just to grill but as a backup cooking source in the case of any issues with the electrical system. We will have 2 17# fiberglass tanks fitted with USA fittings.

You don't mention cruising plans - a lot of the world doesn't have any places to refill near where boats might be, and if they do it can be just for local bottles. Even the Canaries have different bottles on different islands.
Common to swap empty bottles for full ones so decanting can come in useful if you want to keep your own bottles.
The one thing you can be sure of cruising - you don't know anything for sure until it actually happens 🙂
Just in Caribbean maybe not worth the bother though.