Long rubber propane lines okay?

[Canibul]

Yes, I've been doing my homework this morning and found Gastite and ProFlex. Both make CSST, or Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing. It ain't cheap. I'm trying to find someone who will ship me 100 ft. of it with a dozen fittings. Emailed companies in Houston and Tampa...so far no joy.

[Neeltje]

Originally Posted by robert sailor

The best gas lines in homes are copper. Make sure if you use rubber that you buy the stuff made for gas/propane because they slowly eat rubber and the proper stuff has a special liner in the hose to prevent this.

I was thinking of using CSST (Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing) on mine, if only because it's so easy to work with (bend) and there's no brazing, welding, reaming or threading involved.

My only concern is that I've read that if it's improperly grounded, it's prone to pin-holing in case of lightning strikes. They also recommend that it be kept away from "surrounding metal structures and tubing".

This said, I've got a steel hull and a steel superstructure (a Faraday cage if you will), and I'm hoping this will protect me from those pesky little gas explosions.

[Canibul]

Originally Posted by FSMike

You use a heater in the T&C, or are you planning on traveling?

It's already installed. We don't even have heating in our house here. Nor glass in the windows. BUT a trip up to the Abacos is probably in the cards within the next year or so. And it would probably be early in the year, right after the holidays. so I decided to leave the little heater in place for now.

[robert sailor]

Years ago we were sailing down the outside of the Baja in Mexico on a stormy and black night... we were slowly passing a steel boat that we knew. Just before we passed them they were hit by lightning and it was a hell of a sight. The whole boat sort of glowed and we could even see the keel in the water like it was on the hard.

To our surprise they had zero issues with electronics. Never forget that one!

[Cheechako]

Good quality copper is the way to go for most of the run. DO NOT use rigid copper... only soft copper. No fitting or connections inside the cabin except to the appliance.

[Canibul]

Faraday cage?

[LakeSuperior]

As mentioned in other threads, if using copper, steel, and stainless, isolate the stove and tank from the metal line with short runs of flexible hose on each end. This will isolate the metal lines from vibration. Copper will work harden and break if subjected to vibration. Make sure the metal lines are well supported with rubber grommets in the hangers to minimize vibration.

[knots2u]

Originally Posted by Canibul

Faraday cage?

I like this

video explaining a Faraday Cage

.

[Neeltje]

Faraday came up with the idea that in a lightning strike, if you're in the middle of a continuous and grounded metal structure, current would prefer to go around the metal structure than through you're relatively resistive waterlogged body.

He more or less substantiated his point by standing on a platform in the middle of a globular steel cage before sending enough artificially generated Mega-volts at it to make the "cage" sparkle while he continued his presentation.

To whit, the naissance of the "Faraday Cage".

Granted, he was way short of producing the 100 thousand Volts of your average lightning bolt, but he did make a point that people in my situation find somewhat comforting.

[MarkSF]

Bristol used this when they built my boat :

Trident Marine: LPG Hose & Fittings

(scroll down to "supply hose"). Not rubber, it's a reinforced thermoplastic.

Looks like a good solution if you set store by the ABYC regulations, which I do.

[bornyesterday]

Good to see I'm not alone in thinking that copper isn't the best material for lpg pipes.
Going to replace mine this summer.

[gonesail]

i used the LPG supply line hose from trident marine along with their brass solenoid fitting with pressure gauge. trident also has good tech support. the plastic conduit clamps from home depot are great to support the hose along the way.

[Canibul]

Thanks for trident link I'll try that,too. I plan to replace every single piece of tubing with the hose. My copper tubing is following the departed holding tank. And the old boat keeps getting a little better every day.

[fisherman.ben]

I don't see how 1/2in would be a problem, remember this is for pressurized gas, and unless you are using your stove top, oven and heater at the same time, I don't think it will have a problem delivering the amount you need

[Dave Lochner]

Before installing rubber propane hoses, you might want to read this recent article in Practical Sailor