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HK

wrote:
On Jul 24, 11:35 am, HK wrote:
Richard Casady wrote:
On Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:26:06 -0400, Gene Kearns
wrote:
If not, there would be people wanting to sue them over
unsuccessfully using propane (or acetylene, or hydrogen) in a boat.
Propane mixes perfectly with air, with great ease, and has an octane
rating of 100. Other than that. If there is an ideal fuel, propane is
it.
Casady
The only problem I see with LPG as a fuel for boat engines is that it is
heavier than air and settles. If there is a leak in the tank or hoses,
and the tank is below deck, the bilges are going to fill up with a
pretty explosive gas. This is less of a problem on land vehicles,
because there are more ways for "escaping" LPG to vent to the open air.

Also, wouldn't the boat engine LPG fuel tank have to be a pressurized
vessel? Yet another system on a boat that would have to be watched
carefully.

We have a 500-gallon LPG tank buried in our backyard. Its presence used
to make me a bit nervous.

Propane turns to a liquid at a reasonable pressure and typically vapor
supply pressures are not high at all. Gasoline is also heavier than
air in both liquid and vapor states so boats have the same problem
with either. Main issue is that there is not a robust supply system
in place to provide propane as a vehicle fuel. And a gallon of
propane only has 75% of the energy that a gallon of gas has so it
would need to be a lot cheaper per gallon.

Thanks. My only real experience with LPG is household, and in observing
the LPG-powered towmotors I see from time to time at warehouses.