Propane locker install

C

clayhubler

Member
I am putting a propane locker in the port lazarette on hammerhead. We are going go go with a propane cooktop in the galley and a forced air diesel heater to replace the aging wallas 95d.

Here is a link to the abyc lpg systems standards. Is this the correct document?
https://law.resource.org/pub/us/cfr/ibr ... 1.1993.pdf


1.12.5 Lockers shall not be used for storage of any other
equipment.
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I want to also put the diesel tank in the lazarette. Is this a violation?

From a practical sailor article:

An LPG locker must be a dedicated space. That means all non-LPG system items-shackles, tools, etc.-must be removed as they can easily damage system components.
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It seems that the rule is to protect the lpg equipment from damage. I don't see any harm on having the diesel tank in there too if everything is secured. Thoughts?
 
The above standards are 1993. There are at least 2020 ABYC standards, Unfortunately it is about $245 a year to join as a business. I had a membership years ago.

I have had LPG cooking stoves on several of my larger cruising boats. The LPG lockers were as per specs: only for LPB cylinders--all of mine were aluminum tanks. All of these LPG lockers drained overboard at their lowest point--and were nowhere near the cockpit or cabin companionway. They all had a pressure valve after the regulator, they all had solenoid valves to shut off the LPG from the galley when the stove was not in use. They all had bilge sniffers; one was under the appliance. The other was in a dry part of the bilge. I used specified hose. Protection for the hose where it went thru the bulkhead.

I have seen boats with LPG water heaters and refrigerators: None of these could pass ABYC standards. If the insurance company had known about these installations they would most likely not be covered.

I have seen several vessels blow up, one catch on fire, several others just launch there people aboard into the air--and fortunately none were killed.

I made it a rule, the LP gas was off unless you were cooking. We had CO sensors in several places in the boat. If we were leaving the boat for any length of time, the valves on the tanks were shut off. There was no automatic transfer switch.

Here is a link to an article by Steve D'Antonio on LP installations. I believe that this is about 6 or 7 years old.

This is another article by a Canadian Surveyor with some good points.

I am not a fan of LPG in a C Dory. I do carry two 1# canisters for an emergency single burner stove, if for some reason I were to loose my induction burner and microwave cooking implements. Those are stored in side PVC pipe, open at the bottom and are in the engine splash well. I put silicone grease on the threads, and put bronze top caps on the cylinders. I use the stove in the cockpit if necessary.
 
thataway":22fjtig5 said:
The above standards are 1993. There are at least 2020 ABYC standards, Unfortunately it is about $245 a year to join as a business. I had a membership years ago.
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Seems like a bad idea for abyc to make people pay $245 a year to make their boats safe...

Thank you thataway for the links, I had seen the canadian guys page already. He has some good commentary...

It still seems to me there would be no harm in having the diesel tank in there, provided it is secured and cannot damage the lpg equipment, but as the guidelines say the locker is to be used for no other purpose, I am going to consider other options.
 
check out the propane locker in this video, I'm pretty sure these folks know what they're doing.........I will be buying this boat.........when I win the Lotto

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=ra ... M%3DHDRSC3

I converted my lazarette for propane storage, it has room for two small tanks (I don't recall the size) and not much else. I've been running the HS2000 propex furnance for a number of years now. I wish I had bought the HS 2800 but the HS2000 takes the edge off. I like that my fuel tank can sit for extended periods and still be ready to work at the turn of a valve.

I have some pics on page 2 of the B~C album
 
Hey Ken,

First thing I noticed is there is an aux fuel tank inside that propane locker!! Isn't that in violation???

I remember you had put in the propane furnace and I have checked out your photos in the BC album. I wish I had the older molded fiberglass doors like you. I got two 5# tanks to fit in the lazarette but since I have the smaller hatches I had to get the manchester tanks, which are narrower, but taller. I'm going to modify the bottom of my lazarette to accommodate them.

Did you head south yet or are you still hangin around these parts?
 
First thing I noticed is there is an aux fuel tank inside that propane locker!! Isn't that in violation???
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ABYC is not law--it is "best practices". If this was a CG inspected vessel, then it might be a non acceptable practice.

There are two features I see missing from the propane system on that Ranger 31. First is I don't see a solenoid valve so that the tank and be turned on and off from the galley. Second I don't see evidence of an explosive gas "sniffer" under both the stove and the bilge. Both of those items are "best practice" and what I have always had on any boat with LPG aboard.

Just because a builder builds hundreds or even thousands of boats, does not mean that they use "best practices". For example one of the biggest issues with C Dory and cored hulls could be totally eliminated if the installation of any penetration thru the cored structure was sealed off either by going thru a solid glass laminate, or other non.permiable material, such as epoxy plugs. Why don't they do this (and a few high end builders do)? Because it costs more money and is labor intensive. Thus necessitating a higher price tag.

A few years aback we had decided to buy another trawler--Specifically a Defever 49. We went to the DeFever owners gathering, and then spent 7 days with Curtis Stokes as our Buyer's broker. We looked at all of the Defever 49's and even a few of the larger Defevers. We found several nice looking boats, within our budget. Problem was that every single one we looked at had significant deck rot. Could have been avoided with proper construction when built. There is a reason you can buy a 60' Defever for less than $190,000.
 
thataway":2iwjlnfm said:
ABYC is not law--it is "best practices". If this was a CG inspected vessel, then it might be a non acceptable practice.
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Does the USCG have regulations written up somewhere? I am really showing my ignorance here, but guess I didn't realize that abyc wasn't law. What would the CG do if they inspected that Ranger 31? I find it hard to believe that any brand new vessel sold in the US today would be in violation of any of the regs.

I have pretty much got the problem figured out that sparked this thread. I have found a diesel tank that will fit between my fuel tanks, so my port lazarette is going to be a dedicated propane locker.
 
As I stated ABYC is only best practice. This is what surveyors go by. An inspected vessel carries passengers for hire, and have much tougher regulations than a recreational boat. CG only odes safety inspections--I suspect if they smelled propane odorant in the boat, then they might make an issue over it. But not on a routing safety inspections for life jackets, fire extinguishers, registration etc.I

I didn't review the entire video, but it looked good. Notice that they have a solenoid valve in the line as I suggested. I did't look further for sniffers. There are very rigid qualifications for the hose and how it is run.
 
An individual can join ABYC for $190.00 and gain online access to all of their standards plus discounts on their courses. The current A-1 is dated July 2018.
 
tomherrick":1idnrs0u said:
An individual can join ABYC for $190.00 and gain online access to all of their standards plus discounts on their courses. The current A-1 is dated July 2018.
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How can an individual join ABYC? The only $190 membership I see is the student:

Regular Student $190 (Annual membership, 2nd year free)

This membership is intended for students actively enrolled in an educational institute. Please note - ABYC is not an educational institute; enrollment in ABYC courses DOES NOT qualify you for student membership. You will be asked to provide proof of student status before membership is officially approved (picture of student ID card or registration papers, etc.).
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Membership specifically for current ABYC Certified Technicians already working for an ABYC member company. You get the membership benefits for a fraction of the cost.
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When I was a member it was thru my marine company:

Business$275/year
ABYC's basic membership level - the most popular membership level, intended for small marine businesses - surveyors, boatyards, repair services, etc.
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Is there some other way?

Thanks
 
I have Propane...both stove and heater (fireplace)....it was a task to get it into compliance with the Coast Guard.....I was lucky and have a friend who is a marine surveyor and he showed me how it had to be installed...

I had to make the locker deeper as Propane tanks are large...my extension goes down to about 3/4" above the fuel tank...
The tank had to be sealed tight with an overboard discharge vent...
From the tank it has to go to a remote solenoid valve.
From the valve it goes into a Y fitting with each line having a separate propane valve......each line has to have it's own regulator...and the line from the regulator cannot not have any fittings...it must be one continuous line to the fixture... Check out my pictures....
 
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