Alcohol fuel storage

Status
Not open for further replies.
Jul 11, 2013
56
Columbia 8.7 Potomac
Where do those of you that use alcohol stoves store your fuel?
I'm assuming that its not considered safe to store cans of fuel right in the galley, but just checking my assumptions.
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
We stored our under the sink in our galley on our H31 without an issue over 20 years.
 
Nov 9, 2012
2,500
Oday 192 Lake Nockamixon
Provided it's in a can and it doesn't fall over and leak, it should be good. It's not like propane, compressed natural gas, or butane. Those guys stay outside the cabin, in case the tanks leak, and the gas settles in the bilge. These gasses, and gasoline fumes, are heavier than air. This is also why gasoline power boats with enclosed motors like inboards, I/O drives, etc, have blowers that you run for 5 minutes before starting the engine. I keep my propane canisters in the fuel locker in the cockpit, which is open, because they could leak.

You could just keep a bottle of Everclear Grain Alcohol, or Bacardi 151 rum, on hand. It'll do double duty: stove fuel, and party fuel! My friend suggested this, and I told him he was nuts, that's the expensive way to do it. So I went by my local REI and got him a can of alcohol fuel. But then again, you could pick up a bottle of isopropyl at the pharmacy to burn in your stove...

Brian
 
Oct 2, 2006
1,517
Jboat J24 commack
How you keep it from moving around in adverse conditions is far more important than were you store

If the container fails due to how its stored it dangerous no matter the location


For example the storage area below my settee stays very cold even in the hottest weather as it is below the water line, NOW I would not put a can of gasoline down there BUT stove fuel is pretty stable :)
 
May 24, 2004
7,164
CC 30 South Florida
We used to keep it in a cabinet by the galley. Alcohol fumes dissipate quite rapidly and spilled fuel will soon evaporate but a spill in proximity to a flame could be dangerous. The alcohol flame is invisible but it can be put out by water. Any space away from the stove itself could be adequate. You can use an aluminum camping fuel bottle for added safety. They are hardy and puncture resistant and a properly tightened lid will make it leak proof. You can purchase it by the gallon and take it aboard in quart bottles.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.