CNG tank fill or exchange... PNW... Anacortes, Port Townsend???

Terry Cox · Oct 21, 2018

As far as I know Harbor Marine in Everett still does. Boaters Discount in Laconner still does as well, but they are closing their doors as of this January. Port refused to renew their land lease.

Boaters Discount would always have their exchange tanks filled in Seattle. Need to find out where. Let you know when I do.

John Nantz · Oct 21, 2018

Go to Sure Marine in Ballard. http://www.suremarineservice.com +1 (206) 784-9903
For info, many years ago I tried filling my tank at a place that serviced vehicles and got read the riot act (by Sure Marine) as it wasn't authorized. However, maybe the times have changed though. An adaptor would be required if this is possible but don't ... DO NOT ... ask Sure Marine for one! (Unless the rules have changed)

A tank lasts a long time. On our Alaska trip which was 77 days and mostly anchoring out, the first tank lasted until we were almost home! And that, by the way, included numerous sumptuous salmon dinners by the Admiral. Ahhh .... what memories!

Richard19068 · Oct 22, 2018

genec said:
Oddly, CNG is very available in California... oh well.

Actually it got to be such a pain for me I went this route.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sail-Boat-CNG-Tank-Refill-Adapter-/183493604069?oid=183275993795

Mark Maulden · Oct 22, 2018

I keep two 1.8 gal propane tanks on the stern pulpit. One continuous hose through the combing routed to the stove. Lasts me about 3 months of almost continuous use. I like the small tanks as they are outside and no vents to worry about. And you can walk to a service station if needed without a lot of weight. Almost all service stations have propane.

John Nantz · Oct 22, 2018

Thanks for checking out refill sources. Just tried calling Cascade Natural Gas in Bremerton where I stopped years ago to find out about refilling. The thought was that things may have changed ... and they did! Got transferred to a person in Idaho and she said they no longer fill anything, not even vehicles. However, the internet search showed other places nearby in Bremerton that supposedly do vehicle CNG filling so that much is good.

Based on past experience with the CNG tanks I have to say they are nice to use, except for their weight of course. Our boat does have an excellent location for a propane tank should it come to that. The Starboard aft cockpit seat was apparently designed for a propane tank to be placed under it but I'd prefer to stay with CNG.

Having never had to deal with "current Hydro" because all one had to do was exchange the tank, this is something else to find out about. Sure Marine was always a nice place to stop in at because of all the various things they had for sale. A huge inventory of anything gas related including stoves and heaters.

Richard19068 · Oct 22, 2018

genec said:
Wow, uh, that seems like a real kludge item... it does not "regulate" in any way... there are just two gauges tied together with a manual valve...

And from my experience filling 72cu.ft. SCUBA tanks... those tanks should be cooled as they fill... as in a tub of water.

I shouldn't complain, as I am running out of solutions myself... but I hate to see something that is patently unsafe being used like this.

You regulate the flow through the valve with the red handle. Can go as slow as you want so you don't heat up the cylinder too much. Yes, it is manual regulation and you wouldn't want to f up but it is very easy to keep the flow down.

Richard19068 · Oct 22, 2018

genec said:
BTW I just exchanged emails with a sales rep in the CNG industry... "oh yeah we get lots of calls like this..."

Um, hello... those are potential customers folks... maybe having a solution for "those kinds of calls" would be prudent.

I think the problem is that nobody in the CNG "industry" wants to bother with a boat owner who wants to buy what is about one dollars worth of gas every few months or a year.

Richard19068 · Oct 22, 2018

genec said:
OK, that makes sense... what however doesn't make sense is that there ARE CNG filling stations around, and that these exist without provision for filling older cylinders.... with the exception of some kludge "adapter." (and yeah, at $150, it is vastly cheaper than the several thousands of dollars to "upgrade" to propane.)

If there is an existing CNG market... why don't they support all CNG users?

I assume it is because the volume of business, at least from what I see here in the Los Angeles area, is in busses, shuttles, trucks and cars that take a lot of fuel. Selling small quantities of CNG in portable tanks for cooking just doesn't pay, especially when the bulk of the "portable" gas market is taken up by propane. It appears that CNG as cooking fuel for boats and RV's is a dying business.

Cheers.

smokey73 · Oct 23, 2018

genec said:
And just looking at conversion prices... $1000-$1500 for a new safe* oven/stove, $400-$600 for a propane locker... another $300 or so for hose, sensors, switch and alarms... and unknown miscellaneous stuff. IE a couple of boat bucks to go to propane.

So, if you can find source of current hydro'd full tanks for $175 each you could easily buy 5 tanks for $875 and just keep them stored safely ashore tilll you need them (within an area with a vent so that a leak doesn't accumulate since it is lighter than air). This should last a long time consdering the usage that most have indicated. Wish I could find a source of filled tanks here on the East Coast. Sounds like a solution to me!

Richard19068 · Oct 23, 2018

genec said:
My point is that the CNG market is not dead... just the ability to fill certain portable containers has died... the market and the actual "stuff" are still there... in a different delivery form. If I had a CNG vehicle, I could get the gas.... at several locations. So it seems to me that there should be a way to "extend" that delivery system to accommodate the old style tanks... apparently the ebay "adapter" is the only solution.

I guess I have to convert to propane... sigh.

You are right but it's like entertainment is still available but the delivery systems have changed. Video tape, cassette tape, CD's on the way out...

Mark Maulden · Oct 23, 2018

I’ve been sailing the PNW and BC waters since the 70s. CNG is not dead..It really never evolved after it’s inception. Propane regulations/systems evolved such that propane aboard vessels is considered safe and is much more convenient as long as it is installed and used correctly. I don’t remember any CNG availability in BC..Going further north to AK, I’m pretty sure nothing was up there (CNG)..CNG just never really caught on around here...

Rodsails · Oct 24, 2018

I purchased an adapter 2 years ago for filling my tanks and friends. Kind of scary the first time. There's lots of utube videos explaining how to do it. I just set my tanks in the back of my car and put 70 cents of fuel in each of them. My caution is to make sure the tanks are still in the safe date for refilling. If not you can take it to a dive shop and have them check it & recertify it.