BoatBanter.com - Propane Profane?

jlrogers±³© wrote:
Propane on a boat. Uses and Abuses?

Anything you want. Cooking, heat, engine, light, 'lectrissy, chemically
pure water (created directly from H's and O's)... whatever

Safety and Soundness?

Soundness? I guess you can upgrade mufflers on any type of internal (or
external) combustion engine... there are suitcase generators nowadays
so quiet that you have to look at the gage panel to see if they're
running. Safety? Every fuel has it's precautions. Propane has a few
that muct be taken seriously in a closed environment such as a boat
hull. But it's not difficult to comply & be totally safe (or at least
as safe as a comparable power system using any other fuel).

Another key part of a proper system is a spark-free solenoid shut-off,
right inside the properly vented enclosure.

Leaks and Location?

A proper installation is the first safety feature. I once inspected a
boat that had an owner-installed "propane locker" consisting of a
plywood box edge-nailed together in the lazarette. There was a fair
amount of household type electrical equipment which had been
owner-installed too... an explosion waiting to happen.

Finding leaks is easy. Just mix up some dish soap, a type/brand that
makes good bubbles, about 50/50 with distilled water, and take a small
tip art-type paint brush. Pressurize the system and "paint" the soap
mixture on all joints. Wait ten minutes, then look for bubbles or foam
around any joints.

Fittings and Tubing?

If you use copper tubing, be prepared to remake all connections whether
flared or compression fitting, every four or five years.... this tubing
work-hardens from vibration and will start to leak all on it's own. I
happen to like copper tubing & flare fittings, but then I've worked
with it a lot over the years.

Seals and Sealants?

THe beauty of properly done copper tubing & flare fittings is that you
need no sealant. OTOH the solenoid will occasionally need a new BUNA
rubber seat.

Instead of a union label, look for mil-spec serial numbers on any parts
or seals you buy. Failing that, the Underwriters Labs Marine approval.

-signed- Injun Ear (formerly known as Eagle Eye)