Store propane tanks on board?

[MikeDobbs]

Hey everyone,

This might seem like a silly question, but on the 1lb propane tanks it says not to store at temp above 120 degrees or so, and it's got me alittle concerned about leaving them on the boat. Do you all bring propane on and off the boat with you each time? Or do you leave it on the boat?

It would be convenient if I could just leave it onboard, but I wanted to see what everyone else is doing.

Thanks!

 

[smokeonthewater]

I avoid having them on the boat at all but if I do I don't leave em on the boat.

 

[MTboatguy]

Is your boat getting over 120 when it is not being used? When storing propane, common sense is one the best senses you can have.

What has occurred to make you concerned? did you have a tank start venting?

 

[MikeDobbs]

No problems- I just feel like when the boat has been sitting in the sun with cover on it gets pretty hot, and don't want to put my wife or myself in any danger. I've been reading about how propane is heavier than air, so needs to be vented in case of a leak. I was thinking if I can make room in my glove compartment I could keep a cylinder in there because it has a drain that goes directly outside the boat and not to the bilge- but just looking for some advice from more experienced people.

This is my first power boat, so lots of questions. Had sailboats for years and always kept propane on board- never gave it a second thought. I guess the engine and blower fan and sparks, etc have me overthinking things on this boat

 

[MTboatguy]

In most normal situations you will be fine I have been working with propane for many years now and Knock on wood have never had a situation, but in a normal boat storage situation you should be fine, keep them out of direct sunshine, for the most part propane is not a spontaneous combustion material, it requires a spark to ignite(I know that others will argue with me, but don't, I have heard it all before) Just keep those small tanks out of direct sunlight when not in use and you should be fine.

 

[Grub54891]

Abyc standards state that all propane has to be in a vented locker designed for propane storage. I did see one that the owner had took some pvc pipe and capped the bottom,mounted them at an angle,and vented it to a vent installed in the side of the hull. A screw cap sealed it up. Not sure if it was compliant but any leaking fumes would exit the boat.

 

[gm280]

I don't see much difference with folks having a propane tank sitting in their yard in the direct sun, or sitting at their BBQ grill in the sun and sitting on a boat out of the sun. They have over-pressure vents systems. So just use reasonable care and common sense and I don't see much of an issue... JMHO!

 

[MTboatguy]

If you have a tank venting, you will know it, you will be able to smell it, in that case you just need to make sure it is in plenty of fresh air, on boats it is pretty easy to cool it down if needed, just dunk it in the water for s small amount of time and it will cool off.

 

[smokeonthewater]

I don't see much difference with folks having a propane tank sitting in their yard in the direct sun, or sitting at their BBQ grill in the sun and sitting on a boat out of the sun. They have over-pressure vents systems. So just use reasonable care and common sense and I don't see much of an issue... JMHO!

The difference is that in the yard the propane will dissipate but in a boat it will quietly make it's way into the lowest recesses of the hull and patiently lay waiting for ignition to blow you and your boat into tiny bits.

 

[gddavid]

The difference is that in the yard the propane will dissipate but in a boat it will quietly make it's way into the lowest recesses of the hull and patiently lay waiting for ignition to blow you and your boat into tiny bits.

Also, the tanks used connected to a house or BBQ grill are more heavily constructed than 1lb tanks and can withstand the abuse.

Theoretically any propane stored within the hull of the boat needs to be in a ventilated compartment, with a vent line leading from the lowest of the compartment overboard to a point above the waterline and without any dips. In practice on a an open boat (like your profile pic) it would probably dissipated from the smallest breeze before working it's way into your bilge, I would not keep it in the cabin of any boat or enclosed spaces which are not ventilated. I would not leave them onboard when the boat is not in use, you never know for sure if you are using the boat for the last time of the season and you can end up forgetting a bottle slowly rusting away for you or a future owner to discover at a later date.

Gas marine ranges (and other appliances) used to be compressed natural gas, which is lighter than air (at atmospheric pressure) and it was safer, unfortunately boaters are hard pressed to find CNG readily available near most harbors and the industry switched to the less safe but more convenient propane.

 

[ondarvr]

My cousin is just learning to walk again after a propane explosion on his boat almost exactly one year ago.

Got up in the morning, went to make coffee and......boom. He and his wife were both burned and injured, he spent many months in the hospital, much of it in a medically induced coma recovering. So can it be a problem, yes, a very serious one.

 

[garbageguy]

To answer the OP's question, I do not leave them on the boat.

While it may not be a problem, it could be, as mentioned by ondarvr. While it may be "convenient" to leave them on the boat, is it worth it?

 

[bruceb58]

The difference is that in the yard the propane will dissipate but in a boat it will quietly make it's way into the lowest recesses of the hull and patiently lay waiting for ignition to blow you and your boat into tiny bits.

+++1

This reminds me to move the cylinders I have still in my boat from a trip a couple weeks ago.

 

[MikeDobbs]

Thanks for the replies everyone! I will continue to carry them on and off the boat so as not to take any chances