Replacing a propane tank-gctid808324

[Opu]

Cheers has a horizontal propane tank and I may have to replace it (it's a bit rusty). Has anyone replaced a horizontal tank with a BBQ grill-type tank? Would there be safety issues? Different fittings?

I priced new tanks; the horizontal tanks are around $200 and the BBQ are around $60 for the same capacity. It would be nice to save the money if there are no safety issues.

[TenMile]

You can't lay a BBQ tank on it's side -- it's meant to sit upright. So as long as you do that and properly secure it, you can use one of those.

[Opu]

Thanks Terry. The tank is located under the flybridge console and there should be enough room to mount a BBQ-style tank in its normal orientation.

[boatworkfl]

"TenMile" post=808325 wrote:
You can't lay a BBQ tank on it's side -- it's meant to sit upright. So as long as you do that and properly secure it, you can use one of those.

There are propane tanks that are designed for horizontal mounting, expensive though.

[Mr._Darcy]

I traded tanks on Mr. Darcy. Got rid of the very heavy horizontal tank and replaced it with an upright BBQ style. A couple of ss eye bolts with acorn style nuts and fender washer on the outside ends, fender washers and l/w with nuts on inside and a racheting tie down strap keeps it secure.

Greg

[Hamnavoe]

Doing the same here in France where it is nigh on impossible to get the old tank filled. We have domestic and outdoor 6kg bottles which, by unbolting the handles, can slide neatly into the space, and I am fitting a simple base with tie down strap.

[Machog]

I had my 20 year old horizontal tank re-certified, its only issue the gauge always reads full. I was refused a fill at one place before I got it re-done, went back an hour later somonelse re-filled it no problem.

Some where on the web I found information about horizontal tanks not having to be re-certified, printed it up and have it on the boat, but not on the boat so can't share it. Yes I can, http://commutercruiser.com/propane-t...on-regulations, read forth paragraph.

Machog

[Uncle_Bob]

Two 10 pound BBQ tanks are much better than any 20 pound arrangement as long as they are properly secured.

[Wild_Blue_Yonder]

I got tired of argueing with the propane filling station every time I tried to refill the horizontal tank. Easier to get a BBQ style. Will be mounting it next week.

Jim

[Terkar]

Has anyone had comments from marine surveyors about the placement of tanks on the upper bridge? I just had a survey and he was saying the tank should be contained in a vented overboard compartment. He wants me to drill and use thru hulls on the upper walls to vent space under upper helm. Says any leak from up there will flow down the stairs and collect in the cockpit and engine compartment.

Any comments about this?

Terry

[Wild_Blue_Yonder]

Sounds like BS to me. So how is a vertical tank different from a horizontal tank in terms of venting.?

Jim

[Terkar]

Sounds like BS to me. So how is a vertical tank different from a horizontal tank in terms of venting.?

Jim

He did not say this for horizontal tank only. Does not matter horizontal or standard vertical tank- both supposed to be in a compartment vented to outside the boat.

[Norton_Rider]

Below is a portion of the ABYC rules on propane installations. I believe that the surveyor is referring to the sections in blue. Frankly, I personally share the surveyors opinion. I've never liked Bayliner's installations because the propane cannot flow directly overboard. On my boat I installed a propane locker with two tanks on the hardtop and eliminated the tank under the upper helm.

A-1.7.6.1 LPG cylinders, cylinder valves, regulating

equipment, and safety devices shall be readily accessible,

secured for sea conditions, and protected from the weather

and against mechanical damage, and shall be

A-1.7.6.1.1 installed in a ventilated location on the

exterior of the boat where escaping gases will flow directly

overboard, or,

A-1.7.6.1.2 if the escaping vapors will not flow directly

overboard, the cylinder shall be installed in a dedicated

locker meeting the requirements of A-1.8 LPG

LOCKERS.

A-1.8 LPG LOCKERS

A-1.8.1 Lockers used to contain LPG cylinders,

cylinder valves, regulating equipment and safety devices

shall be designed to minimize the likelihood of use as a

gear storage locker and shall be,

A-1.8.1.1 vapor tight to the hull interior, and

A-1.8.1.2 located above the waterline, and

A-1.8.1.3 constructed of, or lined with, corrosion

resistant materials, and

A-1.8.1.4 shall open only from the top with

A-1.8.1.5 a gasketed cover that shall latch tightly, and

A-1.8.1.6 shall be capable of being quickly and

conveniently opened without tools.

A-1.8.2 Installation:

A-1.8.2.1 LPG lockers shall be installed so that the

locker opens only directly to the outside atmosphere, and

A-1.8.2.2 If a LPG locker is installed inside a boat

locker, the LPG locker shall be located as high and as close

to the boat locker's opening as possible in order to comply

with A-1.8.2.1.

A-1.8.3 When means of access to the LPG

equipment locker or housing is open, the cylinder valves

shall be capable of being conveniently and quickly

operated, and the system pressure gauge dials shall be fully

visible.

A-1.8.4 Lockers shall be vented at the bottom by a

dedicated vent, with a minimum diameter of any

component in the vent system that shall be not less than 1/2

inch (12.5 mm) inside diameter.

A-1.8.5 Locker vents shall be led outboard, without

pockets, through the hull to a point lower than the locker

bottom and above the waterline with the boat in the static

floating position.

NOTE: See ABYC H-27, Seacocks, Thru-Hull

Connections and Drain Plugs, for requirements for

seacocks.

A-1.8.6 Locker vent openings shall be located at

least 20 inches (508 mm) from any hull opening to the boat

interior.

A-1.8.7 LPG lockers shall not be used for storage of

any equipment other than LPG cylinders, cylinder valves,

regulating equipment, and LPG safety devices. See A-

1.8.1.

A-1.8.8 Storage provisions for unconnected reserve

cylinders, filled or empty, shall be the same as for the

cylinder in use.

[kev_rm]

Leaked propane will travel directly towards the center of the earth. I thought about the flybridge too... but I think it would be dangerous.

I keep my tank on the swim step.

The other option, IMHO, is put it where you want to, but install a propane sensor alarm in bilge that is loud enough to annoy anyone nearby.