CNG vs. Propane

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Craig Coffman

I've got a Stove/Oven combo on my '93 hunter that has a sign above referencing the fuel as CNG. The previous owner had a propane tank that he apparently used to power it... I was able to light the burners with propane... but I'm wondering.. is there enough of a difference between CNG & propane to require a burner change out to be safe? -- Craig Coffman
 
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Frank Pratt

safety above all else

Be sure your conversion is a safe one. Propane will sink into the bilge and collect, The propane locker needs special venting and seperation from the rest of the cabin. Consult a professional
 
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Craig Coffman

propane safety

right on the propane safety. My tank is rail mounted & gets disconnected after use... so I really don't have an issue with propane settling in the bilge (unless I left it hooked up & had a leak of course). But what about the burners... propane seemed to burn OK. Does anyone know if there is any substansive difference between CNG & Propane?
 
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Don

Yes,there is. But does any one know...

how to convert it back? There is a conversion required to the burners in a switch from CNG to propane. My '93 37.5 was converted previoulsly. My question is how can I go backwards. I want to use CNG rather than propane. Ideas?
 
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Ed Schenck

Don, why?!

Just when everything points to a propane conversion from my present alcohol you say CNG! There is the obvious safety advantage but what else? Most of the posts here on HOW are the same, "where can I find CNG in your area"? And what about offshore?
 
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Don

Ed...my reasoning

Safety is my No. 1 concern. I sail on the Chesapeake and CNG is readily available here. For my present use (a floating condo that I get to take out occsaionally) safety is more the issue. If I ever get time to consider long/blue water cruising I might reconsider. I would, at that point, still have the propane equipment and could easily make the switch again. I considered switching my previous boat (31') from alcohol to propane or CNG, and was looking for used CNG stoves. When I bought this 37.5 I thought I'd be getting CNG. The previous owners did some pretty extenisive cruising and probably wanted the propance availability.
 
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gene

spare cng bottle

hello,i have cng on my p42 and love it.i am leaving houston for key west on the 15 th.---a friend has a spare cng botle for $100.00 is this to much for a used bottle
 
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Rodney Kidd

All, The major difference between CNG and propane is the CNG is lighter than air and will escape if there is a leak. Propane, as everyone knows, is heavier than air and can collect in the bilge or other low areas and may cause and explosion. That is why propane installations require a remote control cut-off solenoid at the tank and a "sniffer" to detect fumes and CNG does not. CNG is readily available in the States. If you are to cruise offshore or to Mexico, CNG is generally not available but propane is plentiful. CNG stoves are available from Force 10 and Seaward Products. The difference between propane burning stoves and CNG burning stoves are the burner metering orifice sizes. Force 10 and Seaward sell conversion orifices to switch their stove between one fuel or the other. CNG is the same gas piped to your house but compressed into the CNG bottle using a special compressor. BTW, on my Catalina 38, I use CNG. Rodney Kidd C-38 #297, Flying Bear SF Bay
 
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Craig Coffman

Thanks, Rodney

for the clarification, I wondered if in fact CNG was the same as what we burn at home (now very expensively, thankyou CA!) Does anyone know anyway to tell which burner is installed (i.e, can I go to the boat & look at the burner & see an etched "for propane" or "for CNG"???) I suspect they may have been changed already despite the remaining CNG sign, but I don't know of anyway to be sure short of ordering the right ones & comparing. -- Craig Coffman
 
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Les Murray

CNG Burns Hotter

The biggest benefit to CNG (beyond safety) is it burns hotter than propane and provides a better cooking flame. Same reason that CNG is best for cooking in your home over propane and gas. Alcohol has the lowest cooking tempurature. Les Murray C-36 Ceilidh #560
 
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