The Offshore Voyaging Reference Site

Ten Ways to Make Propane Safer

The Force10 marine stove (cooker) in the galley of aluminum expedition sailboat Morgan's Cloud.

I think that most everyone will agree that propane on a boat is intrinsically dangerous because said gas is heavier than air—any that escapes can pool in the bilge waiting for a spark to blow us into the latter part of next week.

And there are safer alternative fuels, mostly liquids (diesel and paraffin/kerosene, as well as compressed natural gas CNG), but none offer the combination of easy availability and instant on-demand easily-adjustable heat that propane delivers.

So, for the food obsessed, like Phyllis and me, propane is really the only practical solution—it’s not for nothing that professional chefs tend to cook on gas.

(It’s an interesting aside that, in my experience, a mariner’s willingness to cook on liquid fuels, like kerosene, is inversely proportional to their interest in cooking and food. I’m not expressing any criticism here, just an observation, and I’m sure there are exceptions.)

Having said all that, there are a bunch of things on boats that are at least as dangerous as propane—the boom comes to mind. And so a lot of staying safe is recognizing risks and managing them, rather than eliminating every risk, whether we are talking booms or kabooms…sorry, it was too good to resist.

To that end, here is a list of ways to reduce the risk of propane explosion that I have learnt in some 35 years of going to sea with the fuel, that are in addition to the standard safety precautions, such as a vapour-tight locker for the bottles, required by the authorities.


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Justin C

Here in the UK regulation says 5 year replacement for flexible/rubber (is it rubber?) tubing. I attempted mine this year and did the cylinder to copper pipe OK, but the flexible (armoured) copper pipe to stove defeated me (no space, copper too soft and I bent it) had to call in the “experts”.

I say experts in quotes because, though they left me with a certificate saying all was good, when the boat was surveyed (insurance requirement after 5 years of ownership) the next day, the surveyor suggested improvements to the gas system. I don’t think the surveyor was being picky, or was trying to justify his price, I think the current requirements for certification here is the UK leave something to be desired – either that or the “experts” fudged it and should lose their license to certificate vessels.

Marc Dacey

Another vote for the Electro-Systems sniffer. I have an older model in my Atomic 4-powered sloop (I run propane outside, only, because inside propane on a gasoline-powered boat gives me nightmares) and if even a drop of gas hits the bilges during a maintenance job, the thing goes off to wake the dead.

For the newer boat, (diesel and a Force 10 stove) I’ll get a new sniffer and will bookmark this valuable summation. Good luck with the question to become Canuck.

Michael Purser

I am having a good experience with my new Origo alcohol stove. After nearly setting the boat on fire while trying to use the old-style, pressurized alcohol stove that came with my well-loved Pearson Vanguard, and eschewing propane due to increased complexity, maintenance, specialized storage space, and, oh yeah, the kaboom thing, I bought the Origo 3000 on the advise of James Baldwin (see http://www.atomvoyages.com). The new alcohol technology uses a canister filled with non-flammable material, no pressure and works like a charm. No solenoids, gas-tight connections, alarms, etc. It heats water faster than I can get the coffee ready for it, and has a real low setting: no “tamer” required. One filled canister (~1/3 gallon) lasts one-two weeks. Do the math. No gasoline on the boat either. No kaboom.

Dick Stevenson

Hi Michael,
The only fires (numbering 3) I have seen and helped put out with were alcohol related stoves where the alcohol got spread out unseen and spread a fire. It is slippery stuff.
Dick Stevenson, s/v Alchemy

Michael Purser

It turns out I know how to operate a fire extinguisher! Check that off the “getting ready to go” list.

Brian

I’d rather deal with fire than an explosion.

You can add a bit of salt to make it more visible.

Michael Purser

Thanks for the tip Brian. The new alcohol stoves aren’t pressurized, the fuel doesn’t go anywhere (only fumes come out of the canister) and the fire hazard on my boat is near zero. BTW, the smoke alarm worked!

Martin Sonderegger

Hi Michael
Another tip is to keep the canisters as clean as you can get them.
Alcohol has the nasty habit to creep along dirt/rust/salt as if it were a wick which can lead to an explosive experiance upon igniting the stove.
I have had this happen with a tiny heater using the same system. (Thankfully harmless because of its size but still scary)

Dick Stevenson

Hi John,
Nice article well thought out and I endorse all aspects. I also have my system checked with a manometer when the opportunity arises. I have found good propane hose hard to find in the UK where copper is the preferred method, possibly the only legal method.
Dick Stevenson, s/ v Alchemy