I am interested in hearing from any Ericson 32 owners who may have already converted their range from CNG to LPG. I recently purchased this boat and I am trying to figure where to put the gas bottle (locker etc). I havn't bought anything yet, just inquiring for some ideas. If anyone has gone through the process I would appreciate hearing from you.
LPG Conversion
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Please take time to talk to your local
LPG supplier. I don't mean the corner store that fills tanks. You will have to change the jets in all of the burners because there is more heat per unit volume in LPG than in NG. You will also have to change the regulators.
LPG supplier. I don't mean the corner store that fills tanks. You will have to change the jets in all of the burners because there is more heat per unit volume in LPG than in NG. You will also have to change the regulators.
Thank for the reply
I see you have an Ericson. Can you tell me, that is if you have the lpg setup. Where is your tank located. Did you build a locker or did you purchase one of the ready made setups. Rick
I see you have an Ericson. Can you tell me, that is if you have the lpg setup. Where is your tank located. Did you build a locker or did you purchase one of the ready made setups. Rick
Rockets 1, I have an Islander. I rebuilt the
entire ship so what I did will be very hard to make work else where. If you give me detailed questions I can give you good answers or tell you that I don't have an answer. Those things I told you in my first post are valid. If you don't have experience in this work seek help from a gas service worker.
entire ship so what I did will be very hard to make work else where. If you give me detailed questions I can give you good answers or tell you that I don't have an answer. Those things I told you in my first post are valid. If you don't have experience in this work seek help from a gas service worker.
CNG lighter than air; LPG heavier than air
We love cruising the Great Lakes and Canadian North Channel and Georgian Bay in our '87 Ericson 32 which came outfitted with CNG. We too have been tempted to convert to LPG because of the much more economic refueling ($15 vs. $75) and much easier availability of LPG as compared to CNG but every time the thought comes up, we remind ourselves that CNG is lighter than air whereas LPG is heavier. A boat's hull is a relatively gas tight container from the gunnels down to the keel but not very gas tight from the gunnels up to the cabin top with its dorades, openable port holes and hatches and a sliding companionway lid. We feel much more comfortable sleeping with the knowledge that should a gas leak occur with CNG, the natural gas will rise to the ceiling and find its way out through the vents rather than hang low down in the hull near the floor and berths posing an asphixiation and potential explosion hazard. For this peace of mind, we are willing to pay an extra $60 per season (or two) and put up with the hassle of having to schedule delivery of our replacement gas bottles, with the local marina, ahead of time (most marinas don't carry a CNG bottle inventory). On our 32, the SCUBA tank like configuration of the CNG tank packages neatly and out of the way on its own rack on a shelf just under the outer deck, adjacent to the starboard side of the cockpit, handily accessible through the starboard lazerette. For cruise departures with the main CNG tank pressure already getting low, it would seem that an extra CNG tank would be easier to stow safely on board than an LPG bottle. We're staying with CNG.
We love cruising the Great Lakes and Canadian North Channel and Georgian Bay in our '87 Ericson 32 which came outfitted with CNG. We too have been tempted to convert to LPG because of the much more economic refueling ($15 vs. $75) and much easier availability of LPG as compared to CNG but every time the thought comes up, we remind ourselves that CNG is lighter than air whereas LPG is heavier. A boat's hull is a relatively gas tight container from the gunnels down to the keel but not very gas tight from the gunnels up to the cabin top with its dorades, openable port holes and hatches and a sliding companionway lid. We feel much more comfortable sleeping with the knowledge that should a gas leak occur with CNG, the natural gas will rise to the ceiling and find its way out through the vents rather than hang low down in the hull near the floor and berths posing an asphixiation and potential explosion hazard. For this peace of mind, we are willing to pay an extra $60 per season (or two) and put up with the hassle of having to schedule delivery of our replacement gas bottles, with the local marina, ahead of time (most marinas don't carry a CNG bottle inventory). On our 32, the SCUBA tank like configuration of the CNG tank packages neatly and out of the way on its own rack on a shelf just under the outer deck, adjacent to the starboard side of the cockpit, handily accessible through the starboard lazerette. For cruise departures with the main CNG tank pressure already getting low, it would seem that an extra CNG tank would be easier to stow safely on board than an LPG bottle. We're staying with CNG.
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