Getting gassed.
Jan.5, 2000 Dear Debra, You've read Chris's reply and in my opinion he did very well getting about 6 months out of a single 20 lb. bottle. Here is our experience for comparison. We've lived on board for a little more than 4 years now and when we change propane bolttles we note the date in the log so I have a real good record of actual propane consumption over that period. The other thing you need to know is that we rarely eat out in restaurants - usually only once or twice a month. Both She Who Must Be Obeyed and I love to cook and in addition I love to bake bread - we make over 30 different yeast breads for example. Our cooking is done on a Force 10 stove which we feel ( based on anecdotal evidence from other cruisers) is reasonably efficent. We usually only buy bread products when we are in port at a dock, and since we spent three years on the hook before coming to St. Lucia for a break we have done a lot of baking. The Legend's propane locker is only big enough to hold one 10 lb. propane bottle at a time, and a single 10 lb. bottle lasts 42 to 45 days when we are at anchor. This happens to correspond to how long we can go between filling the water tanks, but I have never been able to co-ordinate the two fill ups perfectly. On the other hand we catch rain and so have only had to hump water a few times in the last four years. On propane tanks themselves, not withstanding Chris's opinion to the contrary do have a second tank. I get downright cranky if I can't have my morning coffee because their is no propane. At this time we actually carry three propane tanks, 2 for the stove and 1 for the barbecue, also a Force 10. The spare tanks are carried on deck. For what it's worth I would suggest that in your case you will find that 2 ten pound tanks are enough and I would further suggest that you set up a manifold that also allows the barbecue to be run off of the same supply as the stove. Run one bottle at a time and when that is exhausted, switch and get the empty filled right away for a back up. the bottles themselves should be aluminum not steel. You won't believe how fast steel tanks will rust in the marine environment and they are a safety risk when that happens. On a propane run in Costa Rica one boat had a piece of the bottom of a steel tank blow out during a fill up. Even among men who swear the reaction from the Costa Rican filling the tank at the time it happened was regarded as impressive. Fair Winds, Brian Pickton of Beneteau Owners.net Aboard The Legend, Rodney Bay, St. Lucia
