Francesca Knowles
Port Hadlock, Washington
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From my neighborhood to yours:
Just a reminder for boat-owning RVers that propane should NEVER be used aboard a closed-hull boat of any size unless installed according to Coast Guard Rules for such an installation.
Propane is heavier than air, and any seepage will collect in the hull of such a boat and likely STAY THERE until it finds an ignition source and... Propane Explosion Injures Owner, Destroys Boat
..........................
Be careful out there!
* This post was
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edited 02/03/12 01:45pm by Francesca Knowles *
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" Not every mind that wanders is lost. " With apologies to J.R.R. Tolkien
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Old-Biscuit
Across the USA
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Tragic accident fortunately 78 yr. old boat owner wasn't seriously injured.
BUT once again lousy, inept reporting.......
"Coast Guard Petty Officer Nathan Bradshaw said it’s not yet clear what caused the explosion. There was a report that the boat’s owner, who lived aboard, was seen carrying a 15-gallon tank of propane onboard his boat Tuesday..."
Probably will be a result of propane and the improper use of it.........but don't know of any '15 gallon' portable propane (40# holds 9.4 gallons & next size is 100# holding 23.6 gallons).
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Francesca Knowles
Port Hadlock, Washington
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It's early yet...but I live in the community in question and know somebody that lives in the Marina.
He says the fellow was a liveaboard, too, and despite advice to the contrary continued to use propane appliances on the boat.
There's some other feedback from Marina users at the link I posted, too.
This is sure a tough way for the (former) boat owner to "live and learn"- literally.
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gbopp
The Keystone State
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The owner 'learned', and fortunately 'lived.'
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Veebyes
Bermuda & Maryland
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Boats present their own set of problems with things that go boom. Another reason why boaters are more likely to use gel cell & AGM batterys so explosive gases don't wind up in the bilge where things like a bilge pump or a starter can make a big boom.
Boat: 32' 1996 Albin 32+2, single Cummins 315hp
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rickjf
florida
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propane is a reality on boats as well as an Rv.
I know as I;ve lived aboard for 9 years. that said,
you must take precautions. on my boat anyway, only
one propane appliance, the stove. the hose is a solid
piece inside the boat to the stove fitting. we have a solenoid
shutoff whichis always off unless cooking. the trigger to remind
us of this is that it uses power and as we have the same
battery issues, we want to conserve power.
The point is, treat things with proper respect. I saw a boat
blow once because of a gasoline leak. owner smelled it so locked
up and left. go figure
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Francesca Knowles
Port Hadlock, Washington
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Well, if you're doing it I hope you're doing so according to these provisions required by the Coast Guard on vessels approved for such a setup.
This following quoted passage is one of the most critical provisions, it having to do with the "drainage" that must be provided for in case of a propane leak or accidental discharge.
Had the boat owner in the accident under discussion adhered to these requirements he MIGHT have avoided this disaster.
Begin Quote:
"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.'
End quote.
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skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
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We had some LP appliances aboard our HR cruiser but upon the advice of surveyor we removed all LP from the boat. CNG is the only way to go when aboard. Lighter than air it won't collect in the bilges. Alcohol is a decent fuel for cooking but it has it's OWN concerns when used below decks.
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7.3 psdman
home
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skipnchar wrote:We had some LP appliances aboard our HR cruiser but upon the advice of surveyor we removed all LP from the boat. CNG is the only way to go when aboard. Lighter than air it won't collect in the bilges. Alcohol is a decent fuel for cooking but it has it's OWN concerns when used below decks.
I was wondering what kind of concerns there are about using alcohol based fuels on board? Or is it a matter of using any open flames below deck?
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Francesca Knowles
Port Hadlock, Washington
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They raised what's left of the boat today...
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