I would like to convert the CNG stove of my Hunter 37 to propane. Has anybody out there done this and, if so, how did you do it, e.g., new stove, replace burners on original stove. Where are you storing the propane tank, etc. Thanks. Frank
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Paul Akers
Looked into it
I started to look into it (for curiosity's sake) and found out that there's a conversion kit for CNG -> LPG. This applies to a Safe-Gas brand system. If you need more info, such as info from the manual, contact #'s, etc. contact me through the Owner's Directory on this site. Paul Akers S/V AKERS AWAY
I started to look into it (for curiosity's sake) and found out that there's a conversion kit for CNG -> LPG. This applies to a Safe-Gas brand system. If you need more info, such as info from the manual, contact #'s, etc. contact me through the Owner's Directory on this site. Paul Akers S/V AKERS AWAY
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Carl Dupre
The Reverse...........
....of what we are pondering! We are looking into the cost of converting from LPG to CNG for our new H340; dealer is looking into with the existing "Force 10" stove; whether this is just a burner head change, or the whole stove needs to be replaced. Anyone out there know anything about this? I am curious as to why you want to switch to LPG. We are considering going to CNG for safety; I get nervous with heavier-than-air fuels that can collect in the bilge and go "Boom". Are you thinking of this because of lack of CNG availability in your area? How about you, Paul Akers; CNG seems to be generally pretty available around the Narragansett area; why were you looking into it? Are we overboard with our concern for LPG safety? We don't hear of many sailboats blowing themselves up on LPG, but the frequency of occurrence becomes 100% for you if it happens to you! The conversion cost estimate for us may come in high. If it is high, we will likely buy a 'sniffer' and stick with the LPG. We would appreciate hearing some experience from others who have pondered this issue. THANKS in advance. Carl and Juliana Dupre s/v Syzygy
....of what we are pondering! We are looking into the cost of converting from LPG to CNG for our new H340; dealer is looking into with the existing "Force 10" stove; whether this is just a burner head change, or the whole stove needs to be replaced. Anyone out there know anything about this? I am curious as to why you want to switch to LPG. We are considering going to CNG for safety; I get nervous with heavier-than-air fuels that can collect in the bilge and go "Boom". Are you thinking of this because of lack of CNG availability in your area? How about you, Paul Akers; CNG seems to be generally pretty available around the Narragansett area; why were you looking into it? Are we overboard with our concern for LPG safety? We don't hear of many sailboats blowing themselves up on LPG, but the frequency of occurrence becomes 100% for you if it happens to you! The conversion cost estimate for us may come in high. If it is high, we will likely buy a 'sniffer' and stick with the LPG. We would appreciate hearing some experience from others who have pondered this issue. THANKS in advance. Carl and Juliana Dupre s/v Syzygy
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Justin Wolfe
Did it on a 43
Changed the burners on the stove. Bought two tanks, regulator, solenoid switch, and hose. That was it. Cost roughly $500 for the package (that may have been the price with only 1 tank). It's a half day job + mounting the tanks we can be very easy to very hard. The hardest part is usually deciding where to locate the tank. I almost did this on a 35.5, but opted out because I couldn't find a tank location I was happy with.
Changed the burners on the stove. Bought two tanks, regulator, solenoid switch, and hose. That was it. Cost roughly $500 for the package (that may have been the price with only 1 tank). It's a half day job + mounting the tanks we can be very easy to very hard. The hardest part is usually deciding where to locate the tank. I almost did this on a 35.5, but opted out because I couldn't find a tank location I was happy with.
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Paul Akers
Carl...
I only looked because I was curious. Around Narragansett Bay, there are several sources of CNG. I live 10 minutes away from one in Providence. A tank ($15) lasts the full season+ for the two of us. The reason I looked was because 3 friends recently converted from alcohol to propane and bought SafeGas brand LPG stoves just like my CNG stove and I wanted to know the difference. I am happy with CNG. If I was to head South, then that would be a different story because of the difficulty and uncertainty of finding CNG.
I only looked because I was curious. Around Narragansett Bay, there are several sources of CNG. I live 10 minutes away from one in Providence. A tank ($15) lasts the full season+ for the two of us. The reason I looked was because 3 friends recently converted from alcohol to propane and bought SafeGas brand LPG stoves just like my CNG stove and I wanted to know the difference. I am happy with CNG. If I was to head South, then that would be a different story because of the difficulty and uncertainty of finding CNG.
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Bryan C.
You must vent propane!
If the post below aren't clear about it, propane must be stored in a locker that is separate from the cabin and vented to outside of the boat (i.e. a hole in the bottom of the locker lead to a vent on the side of the boat. Venting your CNG tank probably wouldn't hurt but the issue is less critical since natural gas floats while LPG sinks. I haven't done it, but from what I have read the biggest problem isn't usually changing the stove or other hardware by modifying your boat for a vented LPG locker.
If the post below aren't clear about it, propane must be stored in a locker that is separate from the cabin and vented to outside of the boat (i.e. a hole in the bottom of the locker lead to a vent on the side of the boat. Venting your CNG tank probably wouldn't hurt but the issue is less critical since natural gas floats while LPG sinks. I haven't done it, but from what I have read the biggest problem isn't usually changing the stove or other hardware by modifying your boat for a vented LPG locker.
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Paul Cossman
CNG conversion to propane
I converted my P42 from CNG to propane because of the lack of availability of CNG outside of North America and New Zealand. We cruised Mexico and throughout the South Pacific, and CNG is unavailable. Conversely, propane is ubiquitous. The stove conversion is easy; most manufacturers will provide you with the new nozzles for the gas outlets for your stove. Bryan is right about the venting overboard, and that is the most difficult part. You can avoid that problem by mounting your tanks on the deck. We opted for putting a propane locker in the lazarette and venting the bottom of the propane locker directly overboard with a hose by cutting a small vent hole in the hull. The locker holds two separate 4 pound tanks, and a single tank lasts my wife and me about four months, and we live aboard full time. We purchased an electric solenoid (made by Xintex) that provides for two separate propane detectors. If a detector senses propane it sets off an alarm and closes off the propane line. I put one detector on the floor of the galley and another in a dry spot in the bilge. We have been very happy with the conversion.
I converted my P42 from CNG to propane because of the lack of availability of CNG outside of North America and New Zealand. We cruised Mexico and throughout the South Pacific, and CNG is unavailable. Conversely, propane is ubiquitous. The stove conversion is easy; most manufacturers will provide you with the new nozzles for the gas outlets for your stove. Bryan is right about the venting overboard, and that is the most difficult part. You can avoid that problem by mounting your tanks on the deck. We opted for putting a propane locker in the lazarette and venting the bottom of the propane locker directly overboard with a hose by cutting a small vent hole in the hull. The locker holds two separate 4 pound tanks, and a single tank lasts my wife and me about four months, and we live aboard full time. We purchased an electric solenoid (made by Xintex) that provides for two separate propane detectors. If a detector senses propane it sets off an alarm and closes off the propane line. I put one detector on the floor of the galley and another in a dry spot in the bilge. We have been very happy with the conversion.
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Patrick Ewing
Your stove may not convert
I checked into this a few months ago and found out that the main thing needing to be changed was the gas orifice(s). Those are apparently expensive to change ( no good explanation why ) and there is also an issue of whether your stove has aluminum tubing. I was told by Sure Marine that you must change the tubing as well to copper and that is simply too difficult to be worth the effort. I am not sure that I would accept the information without some independent confirmation from some other dealer. I found another stove which I will install later. There are some strict rules about tank installation which include having a separate access door to the tank storage compartment which cannot be within another compartment. That means that you have to have a separate compartment with its own access door for the tanks. Looking into this further, I decided that the best thing to do for the tank storage is to make a fiberglass box mounted inside the port lazerette with a louvered access door on the side of the lazarette - next to my left leg when standing at the wheel. Someone also said that I would need to change the supply hose as well.
I checked into this a few months ago and found out that the main thing needing to be changed was the gas orifice(s). Those are apparently expensive to change ( no good explanation why ) and there is also an issue of whether your stove has aluminum tubing. I was told by Sure Marine that you must change the tubing as well to copper and that is simply too difficult to be worth the effort. I am not sure that I would accept the information without some independent confirmation from some other dealer. I found another stove which I will install later. There are some strict rules about tank installation which include having a separate access door to the tank storage compartment which cannot be within another compartment. That means that you have to have a separate compartment with its own access door for the tanks. Looking into this further, I decided that the best thing to do for the tank storage is to make a fiberglass box mounted inside the port lazerette with a louvered access door on the side of the lazarette - next to my left leg when standing at the wheel. Someone also said that I would need to change the supply hose as well.
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Al Budding
CNG to Propane
I recently orderded the parts to convert my Hillerange to propane. The kit consists of an oven thermostat and new orfaces for the burners. It cost about $100 and can be ordered directly from Seward products, 3721 Capitol Ave, Whittier, Ca. 90601, if your stove is made by Seward. The most difficult part, as Paul mentioned, is installing the locker for the new tanks. Lockers, tanks, regulators and sniffers, can be ordered from West or Defender. I think you will find propane much less of a hassle. It's less expensive, lasts longer, and is much easier to find than CNG. Good luck with the conversion. AB
I recently orderded the parts to convert my Hillerange to propane. The kit consists of an oven thermostat and new orfaces for the burners. It cost about $100 and can be ordered directly from Seward products, 3721 Capitol Ave, Whittier, Ca. 90601, if your stove is made by Seward. The most difficult part, as Paul mentioned, is installing the locker for the new tanks. Lockers, tanks, regulators and sniffers, can be ordered from West or Defender. I think you will find propane much less of a hassle. It's less expensive, lasts longer, and is much easier to find than CNG. Good luck with the conversion. AB
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Patrick Ewing
Here are some interesting sites
Fill adapter for cng tanks: http://www.corpbrothers.com/catalog/cngtest.html Products: http://www.corpbrothers.com/catalog/marineproducts.html Prices:http://www.corpbrothers.com/catalog/pricelist.html Al, Did they lie to me about changing the aluminum tubing? Did you have to change yours? Was new tubing part of the conversion kit? Do you know if there is an upgrade kit to add piezoelectric ignition?
Fill adapter for cng tanks: http://www.corpbrothers.com/catalog/cngtest.html Products: http://www.corpbrothers.com/catalog/marineproducts.html Prices:http://www.corpbrothers.com/catalog/pricelist.html Al, Did they lie to me about changing the aluminum tubing? Did you have to change yours? Was new tubing part of the conversion kit? Do you know if there is an upgrade kit to add piezoelectric ignition?
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Al
Patrick
I am in Seattle and the boat is in Florida. I don't remember the type of tubing, but if you give me your email address, when I get home, I'll give you all the details. budding@prodigy.net
I am in Seattle and the boat is in Florida. I don't remember the type of tubing, but if you give me your email address, when I get home, I'll give you all the details. budding@prodigy.net
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