Switching to Propane from CNG

[awaywego]

I'm switching to a propane stove in my Hunter Legend 37.5. Does anyone know of any resources to buy used marine stoves? So far, it appears my only option is to buy new from Force10 or Dickinson.

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by awaywego

I'm switching to a propane stove in my Hunter Legend 37.5. Does anyone know of any resources to buy used marine stoves? So far, it appears my only option is to buy new from Force10 or Dickinson.

Have you considered re jetting your existing stove ? Not difficult to do and a hell of a lot cheaper.

[jackdale]

Agreed on the rejetting. I have gone the other way on a home BBQ. Easy.

This issue may be in creating a safe storage locker for the propane. My understanding is that CNG lockers do not need to be vented overboard. LPG lockers do.

[Jim Krause]

Switching to propane from what?


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[sailcruiser]

Some friends of ours have a Legend 37.5 and have done this. I can get details from them if you'd like but I know for sure they re-jetted the stove and put in a propane locker. I will see them tomorrow and am sure they'd be happy to give me the details.

Just so I'm clear what year is the boat? I seem to recall the Legend falling in the early to mid 90s. Friends boat is a 91 or 92.


SC

[Jim Krause]

Oh - CNG as in Compressed Natural Gas (Doh!) - As Jackdale wrote be sure your locker is properly vented and consider installing a sensor & cut-off relay in the galley if you don't have one. You might find a used stove here, via eBay, or at a larger marina in your area (lots of boats sadly being salvaged down in the SE) but in the big picture, new ones aren't too pricey. I'd likely not mess around with retrofitting/re-jetting unless your stove manufacturer has the alternate parts available. BTW I like your blog- and the Calder book is a good one to have! Cheers & Good luck.

[akprb]

We have a Legend 40.5 and love the idea of propane. The locker where the CNG goes not suitable. What's your plan on the 37.5?

Re-jet for sure. If needing a slightly larger oriface a very small drill bit will do the trick :-) We switched from Butane to Propane on last boat and didn't do a thing (short of installing a solenoid) and stove worked fine.

[hamburking]

I had a Hunter Legend 35.5 with CNG stove. Around here, there is no source to refill the CNG bottles. I went to a custom place and it was ridiculously expensive. So I agree with switching to Propane. Personally, I like the Origo non pressure alcohol stoves...its an easier change since there is no external fuel (propane) to deal with.

[sailingfarmer]

CNG is under high pressure Propane i snot... BIG DIFFERENCE.... CNG rises in air when set free... Propane sinks (think sitting in the bilge or engine room if there is a leak)... BIG DIFFERENCE..... CNG is hard to find in US while PROPANE is easy to find... (BIG DIFFERENCE) CNG cooks hotter...Propane about 30% less.... not so big deal....

$1500 for a new stove ouch..... pus reinstall...

[tinkrman69]

re jetting is the way to go. I searched for a new stove and found some that were not too expensive, but had no deck...just an open grill over the burner deck. I liked the lay out of the one I had...a shipmate...They went out of business back in the '70's, so it took a while of diligent searching online and I found some parts for the oven but ended up modifying the jets on the top burners and adjusting the air vent to get a blue flame. It's worked gret for the past 2 years. I had no lockers...the CNG tank was a horizontal on the deck house. I made a platform aft for the propane any leakage goes over board and have a senior blow decks with a solenoid.

I helped a friend do the same on his Gulf star 37. we had to rebuild the storage locker as the propane tank wouldn't fit. we also put a drain in and routed it out the transom, just above the watering and a good foot below the locker sole. One of his burners was toast so we found a retro-fitted one for his shipmate.

Son't know why they went out of business. mines 40 years old and still looks great....thick good grade stainless. The retro-fitted burners aren't as robust, but still work good.

if you drill the jets make sure it's a clean hole and straight, other wise it won't ventury the air well and you'll get yellow in the flame, hence black pot bottoms. I've even added holes in the burner of one and enlarged the jet to make a hotter burner for stir fry and deep rapid boiling on larger pots....makes coffee water faster too AAHHH.... by the time I have the press cleaned and filled the water is ready ;-)

Be patient and do the research and walk through the safety before you start work.

good luck
Lance

[newhaul]

Used to do work on restaurant cooking appliances all you need to do is change regulator and rejet the stove and oven as far as the appliances are concerned as to the tanks themselves make sure the gas locker vents down and directly overboard.

[awaywego]

I was very interested in just "rejetting" my currrent CNG stove, but when I talked to the guy at SureMarine over the phone (who was very helpful and knowledgeable), it sounded as though getting the parts for my stove wasn't possible. May have just been the salesman in him trying to sell me a new one, but I didn't get that impression really. However, I also believe in the power of the internet to present other solutions. Can anyone provide specific links to the products I would need to make this happen? I'm thinking about just hanging a tank off of the stern rail, so my main questions surround the stove itself....as in what changes need to be made to it. The guy at SureMarine talked about a thermostat that wasn't typically present on my particular stove model that may be required to make it a propane stove? For reference, I have a Seaward Hillerange 3132.

[Stu Jackson]

Dennis Igarashi - cell - (626) 374-6422

He used to work for Seaward before they closed. He'll know.

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,7405.0.html

[foufou]

Appliance parts stores in SF area carry the jets. Bring one of those with you and they get the right threads.. A few bucks apiece

[awaywego]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

Dennis Igarashi - cell - (626) 374-6422

He used to work for Seaward before they closed. He'll know.

Seaward panel parts

I just talked with him on the phone and he has no idea what I was talking about...said he doesn't have anything to do with appliances.....?