My boat has a CNG stove/oven and I want to replace it with Propane. Anyone done this task and can help me with how hard and what to do including costs.
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About $120...
as I recall. Bought the parts, but have not done the work on the stove yet. It's a series of jets and other fittings, plus you must replace the supply hose from tank to stove. Other issue is isolation of the propane tank. I contacted the stove mfg. for those parts. I can provide more detail on request.
as I recall. Bought the parts, but have not done the work on the stove yet. It's a series of jets and other fittings, plus you must replace the supply hose from tank to stove. Other issue is isolation of the propane tank. I contacted the stove mfg. for those parts. I can provide more detail on request.
Have thought about it ...
I have thought about making this change for my Legend 35, but it looks like, at minimum, it would cost $300-$400 for hoses, regulators, solenoids, shutoff switches, adapters, etc. That doesn't account for trying to find a safe place to store the tank, and for any work on the stove (or possible replacement). Chris
I have thought about making this change for my Legend 35, but it looks like, at minimum, it would cost $300-$400 for hoses, regulators, solenoids, shutoff switches, adapters, etc. That doesn't account for trying to find a safe place to store the tank, and for any work on the stove (or possible replacement). Chris
Need info
If you have a parts list and how to do instructions I'm all for it. The biggest problem I see is how to make an APPROPRIATE storage locker for the Propane tank (sorry I've seen too many pictures of boats blowing up). Does anyone make a slide in for one of the lazeretts? And do you need a sniffer?
If you have a parts list and how to do instructions I'm all for it. The biggest problem I see is how to make an APPROPRIATE storage locker for the Propane tank (sorry I've seen too many pictures of boats blowing up). Does anyone make a slide in for one of the lazeretts? And do you need a sniffer?
Passage 42 conversion from CNG to propane
I have a 1991 Passage 42 that I converted to propane in 1993. We cruised the South Pacific, and CNG was available only in NZ, while propane was available everywhere. It was time consuming, but not particularly difficult or expensive to do. The hardest part is finding a properly sized propane locker and locating it conveniently. We purchased an airtight purpose built plastic propane locker from West Marine in 1993. It has a gasketed top and a vent at the bottom. I can't remember the price, but believe it was around $200 to $300. It holds two of the 11 pound (2.5 gallons each, I think) propane tanks. I truly can't remember whether it came with a double tank hose set-up or whether I bought that separately from West. In any event, that part is very easy to come by. I purchased a solenoid that was very easy to install inside of the actual propane locker. The entire locker fit in the upper starboard lazarette right where the CNG tank used to be located. I cut a small plywood board to serve as a shelf and just laid it on top of the wire support that used to hold the CNG tank. The locker is secured in place by webbed belts secured to footman's loops I affixed to the wall of the lazarette. To refill the tanks I loosen the webbed belts and let the locker fall towards the center of the lazarette, after which I can take the top off and remove the propane tanks for refilling. The bottom of the locker has a nipple for a vent hose. I ran a hose from that nipple to a hole that I drilled in the side of the lazarette, making sure that the vent hole was about one inch lower than the nipple and hose run. That ensures that the propane leaks overboard, if it leaks at all. Running the hose from the propane locker to the galley is a breeze, as you just follow the old CNG hose run. You run the solenoid control switch wires along the same route. I installed the solenoid control on the galley cabinet right above the microwave oven, where the fan switch is located on the older P 42 models. I also installed two propane "sniffers", one in the galley floor area and one in the bilge area, just under the freezer compressors. Your Seaward stove is easily converted to propane by purchasing their standard jet conversion package. The jet replacements are a breeze. During the years we lived aboard and used our stove/oven regularly, we found a single tank of propane would last about 8 to 12 weeks. That provided us with plenty of propane for even the longest island excursions. As an aside, we used to have a charcoal magma BBQ, but charcoal is almost impossible to find in the Polynesian islands. So we converted to a magma propane BBQ. We affix a 1.4 gallon propane tank to a stanchion and run a short line to the BBQ. Since the tank is outside there is no concern about venting or solenoids. Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions about other aspects of the conversion. I was very happy that I did it, and was actually surprised at how easy it was to complete once I found the right sized locker.
I have a 1991 Passage 42 that I converted to propane in 1993. We cruised the South Pacific, and CNG was available only in NZ, while propane was available everywhere. It was time consuming, but not particularly difficult or expensive to do. The hardest part is finding a properly sized propane locker and locating it conveniently. We purchased an airtight purpose built plastic propane locker from West Marine in 1993. It has a gasketed top and a vent at the bottom. I can't remember the price, but believe it was around $200 to $300. It holds two of the 11 pound (2.5 gallons each, I think) propane tanks. I truly can't remember whether it came with a double tank hose set-up or whether I bought that separately from West. In any event, that part is very easy to come by. I purchased a solenoid that was very easy to install inside of the actual propane locker. The entire locker fit in the upper starboard lazarette right where the CNG tank used to be located. I cut a small plywood board to serve as a shelf and just laid it on top of the wire support that used to hold the CNG tank. The locker is secured in place by webbed belts secured to footman's loops I affixed to the wall of the lazarette. To refill the tanks I loosen the webbed belts and let the locker fall towards the center of the lazarette, after which I can take the top off and remove the propane tanks for refilling. The bottom of the locker has a nipple for a vent hose. I ran a hose from that nipple to a hole that I drilled in the side of the lazarette, making sure that the vent hole was about one inch lower than the nipple and hose run. That ensures that the propane leaks overboard, if it leaks at all. Running the hose from the propane locker to the galley is a breeze, as you just follow the old CNG hose run. You run the solenoid control switch wires along the same route. I installed the solenoid control on the galley cabinet right above the microwave oven, where the fan switch is located on the older P 42 models. I also installed two propane "sniffers", one in the galley floor area and one in the bilge area, just under the freezer compressors. Your Seaward stove is easily converted to propane by purchasing their standard jet conversion package. The jet replacements are a breeze. During the years we lived aboard and used our stove/oven regularly, we found a single tank of propane would last about 8 to 12 weeks. That provided us with plenty of propane for even the longest island excursions. As an aside, we used to have a charcoal magma BBQ, but charcoal is almost impossible to find in the Polynesian islands. So we converted to a magma propane BBQ. We affix a 1.4 gallon propane tank to a stanchion and run a short line to the BBQ. Since the tank is outside there is no concern about venting or solenoids. Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions about other aspects of the conversion. I was very happy that I did it, and was actually surprised at how easy it was to complete once I found the right sized locker.
Hi Paul, we still use our CNG equipment that...
came with our 1991 P42. All of our cruising has been in PNW waters and CNG is pretty easy to find around these parts. I carry an extra tank, but usually one 2,500 pound tank is good for a two month cruise even using it every day. If at some point we head out as you did (not likely at this point) a propane conversion makes sense. Thanks so much for your article. I intend to archive it in the event the admiral has a change of heart. Of course we would have to make many other changes to the boat before we ventured beyond these parts. New sails, rigging, etc. Terry
came with our 1991 P42. All of our cruising has been in PNW waters and CNG is pretty easy to find around these parts. I carry an extra tank, but usually one 2,500 pound tank is good for a two month cruise even using it every day. If at some point we head out as you did (not likely at this point) a propane conversion makes sense. Thanks so much for your article. I intend to archive it in the event the admiral has a change of heart. Of course we would have to make many other changes to the boat before we ventured beyond these parts. New sails, rigging, etc. Terry
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