Propane
I'm sitting here reflecting on what's been said currently, and in the past,
about propane and I can't help but wonder. The safest thing to do with
propane is to shut the valve on the tank off when the propane is not in
use, but yet few if anyone does it. Instead folks are relying on "safety"
features that are know failure points, This is done not only because they
are in the standard, but it also seems to make things easier, not just for
the user, but for the designer and builder, too.
What about hoses that become chafed, rotted, or even eaten through by
rodents, not an infrequent occurrence? How many of you do the suggested
pressure test of the system, something that I believe is recommended
monthly? Then, too, how many of you are absent a pressure gauge to begin
with? I think what we need to do is to think about the dangers of propane
and how to mitigate them, not just reject something because it doesn't fit
our's, or someone else's definition of safe. Tom mentioned the other day of
the frequency of fires due to alcohol stoves, but yet alcohol stoves are
still acceptable per the Standard A3.
If you were to ask me, I'd say that safety is an individual goal, not a
standard. Standard are promulgated for reasons and help us to understand
the dangers, but are they always the total and final answer? I'd rather be
on a boat that is sans safety features, but yet has located the propane
tank where it is easy and simple to just shut off the tank"s valve when
done cooking. I also think that relying on a propane appliance when
unattended, such as a heater, is foolish, as those much touted safety
features are known fail, but yet many folks do because the appliance is
installed as per the standard. Where's the safety in that?
Just food for thought, so let's share your thoughts.
RUDY & JILL SECHEZ
*BRINEY BUG-a 34' Sail-Assisted Trawler *
850-832-7748
Sanford FL
TRAWLER TRAINING and ANCHORING CONSULTANTS
ANCHORING-"A Ground Tackler's Apprentice"- E-Book or Hard Copy
This thread has been most interesting. Unfortunately, while propane is a
good fuel source, some boaters still don't appreciate the dangers involved,
and therefore the need to take appropriate precautions. Just like gasoline
fumes, propane is heavier than air, and just settles into the bilge, waiting
for the first spark to set it off.
A dramatic description of the consequences, including photos, can be seen
at: http://boatmoves.com/A_Propane_Disaster.htm
Kevin Redden
I've installed the Trident 1300 marine gas control and detection
system, with two detectors, one directly under my galley stove (at the
back/bottom of a drawer in which we store cookware), one in the bilge
a deck below the stove. The controller runs a self-test on power-on,
and I can also test it on demand. It won't allow me to energize the
remote solenoid until it has passed the self-test; the "ON" button
stays disabled until the test light quits blinking. I don't know what
failure modes the system might have, and I'm sure it does eventually
become ineffective due to age and the marine environment. I'm hoping
the test mechanisms can determine whether the system is fully
operational.
On Fri, Sep 20, 2019 at 2:05 PM Kevin Redden via
Trawlers-and-Trawlering trawlers@lists.trawlering.com wrote:
This thread has been most interesting. Unfortunately, while propane is a
good fuel source, some boaters still don't appreciate the dangers involved,
and therefore the need to take appropriate precautions. Just like gasoline
fumes, propane is heavier than air, and just settles into the bilge, waiting
for the first spark to set it off.
A dramatic description of the consequences, including photos, can be seen
at: http://boatmoves.com/A_Propane_Disaster.htm
Kevin Redden
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'Lo All,
Before I built the interior of my old sailboat, I had a homemade table
upon which I secured a little propane camp stove. The propane bottle
would not fit into the stove with the valve assembly attached. The
instructions said to remove the valve assembly and store both the
propane bottle and valve assembly in the stove. I did that until I found
that without the valve assembly attached, the bare bottle would leak
propane on occasion. From then on, I stored it in a box on the stern
that had holes on the aft end that would vent any leaked propane aft
over the stern.
--
Take care and be safe.
Wayne
Celestial - Destroyed by Hurricane Michael - 2019
Albin43 Sundeck
Near Panama City, FL