BBQ grill fuel use question

[Nom De Guerre]

I have a SS rail-mounted BBQ grill on the stern pulpit. It is fueled by a 1 lb propane camping bottle.

Should I leave the in-use bottle screwed on, or unscrew it and store it safely elsewhere between uses? I figure it will be about a week between uses.

Btw, the BBQ sausages for lunch were delicious, thanks for asking.

 

[mccauley13]

I remove mine and store it in my vented "jet pods" attached to my lifelines.

 

[Rick D]

I Made This Up

I had lousy luck with bottles leaking when left attached and got a line snagged on the bottle.

I made up this with an adapter line, and I added an adapter and ball valve to the end that attaches to the bottle. Out in the air and handy to keep a spare bottle. It's just flat aluminum stock and riveted.

 

[tommays]

They make a bottle bag to hang on the rail as there is a high leak rate when you remove them which makes putting them below a bit of a risk

 

[Steve Dion]

I had lousy luck with bottles leaking when left attached and got a line snagged on the bottle.

I made up this with an adapter line, and I added an adapter and ball valve to the end that attaches to the bottle. Out in the air and handy to keep a spare bottle. It's just flat aluminum stock and riveted.

Rick:

Do you race to Ensenada with the BBQ in place and cooking? I am trying to figure out what your racing secret is@!! Keeping the crew happy and well fed?:dance:

 

[Rick D]

Rick:

Do you race to Ensenada with the BBQ in place and cooking? I am trying to figure out what your racing secret is@!! Keeping the crew happy and well fed?:dance:

I sure do! I used to BBQ steaks and hamburgers but I figured out it was a PITA when trying to do it in big swells off the quarter, so I now make a variety of things which can be frozen ahead of time and only to be served in bowls.
As you can tell, I don't strip the boat except of the breakable decorating touches my wife has added and her rugs, comforters, pillows good towels. I substitute old bed covers, old towels and old pillow cases for the guys. When I'm done, I won't let my wife back aboard until I spend a day cleaning the boat inside and replacing her stuff. It helps to keep a harmonious marriage!

 

[caguy]

I had a problem with leaking after detaching the bottles. I now leave them attached to the regulator but I remove the regulator from the BBQ itself. Mine just bayonets on and off. The regulator shut off valve works far better than the bottle schrader valve.

 

[RAD]

One of my projects this season is to find a plastic container for the bottle and regulator, I went to bar-b-q one night and there was no regulator and bottle, I must have snagged something while docking somewhere and it went swimming and I didn't notice.....put a lanyard with a clip to the life lines on the new one

 

[njsail]

Here's the solution I use. I bought a thick PVC pipe 2' precut and put a cap on it and stuck a stainless bolt through the bottom. I used 2 6" stainless clamps and I created a multi-bottle propane holder that is vented and protected from the elements. It's the white PVC tube in the pic. The boat is a mess and not launched yet but this should be good enough to provide an idea of one way to solve this problem relatively cheap and easy. I didn't have to cut anything - home depot sells 2' lengths.

 

[Benny17441]

Have not found that either way could be significantly unsuitable. I gather it would be a matter of convenience or preference. I usually take them off but on occassions have a left a bottle on for months. No problems to report on either way.

 

[RAD]

Have not found that either way could be significantly unsuitable. I gather it would be a matter of convenience or preference. I usually take them off but on occassions have a left a bottle on for months. No problems to report on either way.

Mine was on for years! never removed it during a season except in the winter then the day came and it ended up missing

 

[Nom De Guerre]

It sounds like people have seen leaks doing it both ways. The only differences are that:

-If I take it off I need to store it safely. Extra work to remove and install everytime, as well a needing to build the safe storage (admittedly not a big deal).

-If I leave it on I only need to worry about losing it completely due to a line snag or whatever. It is already in position to dissipate leaks overboard.

I think I'll just leave it in place between uses and see how it goes. Let's call it the Zen approach to bottle storage.

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[Dantodd]

-If I leave it on I only need to worry about losing it completely due to a line snag or whatever. It is already in position to dissipate leaks.

Add a lanyard and you don't even have to worry about that.

 

[zeehag]

once upon time looong ago when i used to use rail mounted gas grills, i used to be a lazy brat and leave the boom gas bottles attached to my grill. they didnt leak and were ready for next use.
now i use a mesquite powered lil cheapo free standing grill i bought for little dollars and mesquite an d become obnoxious on the dock cooking my wtf i cook and enjoy it more than a gas cooked meal. this beef here really deserves real bbq with real mesquite..awesome.

 

[John23883]

Mac Caps

Take the tank off and put a cap on it! The shraeder valves are problematic and often leak. I use Mac Caps which are brass caps that you screw on and seal the tank. Not only is the tank sealed, but you also know which tank you have been using as it is sometimes hard to tell if you have more than one tank and the weight is close. Here's a link to Amazon but I bought mine on ebay. http://www.amazon.com/Mac-Coupler-Propane-Bottle-MacCaps/dp/tags-on-product/B001AH1DCQ

 

[agaliha]

Propane locker

I store my green gas bottles (with the regulator removed) in the "extra" compartment of my built-n propane locker of my Beneteau 361. It is vented overboard in case of a leaking valve. It is safe and very convenient to the grill.
Agaliha