Do not store propane bottles inside your boat.
Never sleep with a coleman heater on, catalytic or open flame. Propane is a heavier than air gas. On any kind of leak, it accumulates at the bottom of the boat.
The heater you speak is an open flame.
Moreover, if you are asleep and for any raison the flame or the catalytic reaction flames out, the propane supply will continue and the gas will accumulate in the boat, from the bottom up. These heaters have no pilot flame.
Any spark will then cause the air-gas mixture to explode, burning the boat and your body.
It happened on the Saint-Jean lake last year. Both people survived with third degree burns on more than 50 % of their body.
I do not use these catalytic heaters anymore. They are stored pending destruction. I use an alcool heater (methylic hydrate). This fuel is usually used as paint thinner.
It is non explosive, non toxic, the fire can be extinguished with water, and the combustion generates 50 % less water than propane per oxydized molecule.
If drank, this alcohol will cause blindness and death. I have been in larger older boats that used alcohol to cook with and it adds way more moisture to the boat than propane And propane burns hotter. The alcohol flame is almost invisiable so that when lit it is dangerous. Alcohol fuel has been used by world cruisers because of availibility but now that propane has become more common more are switching.
As for any combustion, it generates CO2 that takes the place of O2. Just keep the place vented. Il you experience a headache, vent a little more.
CO2 is the same as dry ice that will cause drowning from lack of oxgen.
CO is the result of combustion and is poison and keeps you lungs from absorbing oxgen.
http://www.tentipi.se/index.php?id=165
I have the extra tank. I put 2 cups of fuel in each of them, which represents a 50% fill. That way, the alcohool won't boil and hence alcohol vapors won't irritate eyes if I extinguish it before it is empty. I let it burn itself out. More comfortable. I can change tank after 3 hours, without having to fill the tank in the middle of the night.
But the main advantage is sleeping in total safety, without second thought.:naughty:
You can buy the fuel at the paint department of any hardware store. They have it in 1 gallon canister ou 1 pint plastic bottle. 7 $ CAD per pint. 1 pint = one Canadian September night !
Do not purchase it in marine stores: much too expensive. The hardware version is guaranteed 99.9% pure.
No smoke, no smell, no trouble, NO WORRY![/quote]
I would not bet my life on that.:naughty:
