Mounting a propane tank to a stanchion

Ross · Mar 9, 2010

Just make it very strong and secure and shield it from the sun.

sailingdog · Mar 9, 2010

The problem is that a full steel tank is going to be fairly heavy and put a lot of strain on the stanchion base. You would be better off mounting the tank to the transom of the boat or to the pushpit railing, and running a hose from it to the grill.

Ideally, you'd get a composite tank, since they are considerably lighter and far more boat friendly. However, I have not seen any composite tanks smaller than the 17# ones I bought.

Ross · Mar 9, 2010

We have a local hardware store that sells propane tanks that look to be about gallon or two gallon size. The smaller one would be equal to 8 of 9 throw away cylinders. I wouldn't hang a 20 pound capicity steel tank on a stanchion, when full they weigh nearly fifty pounds. However the tank gets attached, it should take the attachment point with it if it leaves the boat.

Bill1565 · Mar 9, 2010

PO put a six pound aluminum can in a bracket on a stanchion. I don't like it. Six pounds is not a lot of propane, but a spare can would cost me $180. I am going to go to a fiberglass tank on the transom with a cover.

Snotter · Mar 9, 2010

Would 50# be too much weight for a stern rail? That is where I want to mount my tank. I see davits that attach to the rails and those corner seats. I agree that 50# might be too much for a single stanchion. It would make a large tempting target for a green horn to push on from a dock.

sailingdog · Mar 9, 2010

Go with a composite LPG tank. They're about half the weight of the steel tank the same size when filled. They're also less expensive than the steel tank in the long run, since they don't corrode. About $58 on-line.

Snotter said:
Would 50# be too much weight for a stern rail? That is where I want to mount my tank. I see davits that attach to the rails and those corner seats. I agree that 50# might be too much for a single stanchion. It would make a large tempting target for a green horn to push on from a dock.

Seattle Scott · Mar 9, 2010

Danny, I did a rail mount for an aluminum tank, it was the spare tank for the galley stove. When I hooked it up to grill, the regulator on the grill doesn't work very well, meaning the flame is barely adjustable and I have tried a couple of hoses without any change in result. I bought a clamp on mount from Sure Mariine in Seattle http://www.suremarine.comhttp://www.suremarine.comhttp://www.suremarine.comhttp://www.suremarine.com and the bottle straps to the mount. Mount works great - secure etc.

jansan · Mar 9, 2010

here`s a photo of mine, Danny -------- it`s a bit lacking in detail but if you`re interested I let me know and I`ll email you some better pictures.

It`s on a Catalina 28 ( which is a bit short on cockpit locker space ) so moving the bottle to the back of the boat frees up the port locker which was where it previously lived. It used to be in a sealed ( but vented to the outside ) wooden box with an electric solenoid controlled ON/OFF valve.

The new box has a front opening door, plus a slanted hinged lid, made out of marine ply ( with space to hang the outboard motor to the starboard side)

Total cost was minimal ( provided you discount the cost of personal labour ! )

Honeyman · Mar 9, 2010

Danny...use the link to "SureMarine" provided 2 posts above. Then go down to "propane accessories" and click on "propane tanks", go down to page 19 (of 32) and I think you'll find a good version of what you were asking about.

Snotter · Mar 10, 2010

The SureMarine people should work on their web page. What misserable software. They didn't even bother to put a price on the rail kit. How much are they charging?

Bill1565 · Mar 10, 2010

If you clik on "on line store" on the left, and enter the part # you get prices. Their 6# tank is about $50 cheaper than WM. I have their rail bracket , 6# tank. Works fine.

Benny · Mar 10, 2010

It is not clear if your need is defined by ease of usage or for not having to throw empty cannisters away. We do not use our grill that often so for us the 1 lb bottles work fine. We have other uses for the bottles off the boat so for us they are convenient. I found an adapter to be able to refill the bottles from our home grill 20# tank. There is also a pouch that you can hang from the stern pulpit to keep bottles handy and out of the cabin. If convenience is the issue I see no safety nor weight problem to hang a 5 lb tank on the stern. I would paint the tank silver or a reflective white. Just keep the valve closed when not in use and check the hose periodically.

Seattle Scott · Mar 10, 2010

here is the rail mount

http://www.suremarineservice.com/railmountbracketassembly.aspx

Anyone else having trouble running a grill off of a big bottle without a regulator?

sailingdog · Mar 10, 2010

should be fine if you have a hose that will allow you to attach it to the grill. The grill is designed to run off of high-pressure 1 lb. unregulated propane bottles, so why would it have a problem with a bigger unregulated bottle???

Seattle Scott said:
http://www.suremarineservice.com/railmountbracketassembly.aspx

Anyone else having trouble running a grill off of a big bottle without a regulator?

Sonya · Mar 12, 2010

Hi DannyS
We like you BBQ alot on board. We looked at many different ways to mount the tank securely. My husband and his son decided to notch the aluminum toerail one day and set the tank into the two notches, I was sitting in the cockpit and suggested that instead of notching the $35,000.00 toerail, maybe they should notch the $35.00 lip on the bottom of the tank to fit over the toerail and let it sit outboard. This is what we did, and secure it to a staunchion with a stainless band, it has rode there eversince and never budged even in pretty severe weather. If the tank ever should leak, no problem it already outboard and well vented. Just a thought for you
Sonya

sailingdog · Mar 12, 2010

Just curious as to how a $35,000 toe rail can exist on a 25' boat. Is it made of platinum???

Sonya said:
Hi DannyS
We like you BBQ alot on board. We looked at many different ways to mount the tank securely. My husband and his son decided to notch the aluminum toerail one day and set the tank into the two notches, I was sitting in the cockpit and suggested that instead of notching the $35,000.00 toerail, maybe they should notch the $35.00 lip on the bottom of the tank to fit over the toerail and let it sit outboard. This is what we did, and secure it to a staunchion with a stainless band, it has rode there eversince and never budged even in pretty severe weather. If the tank ever should leak, no problem it already outboard and well vented. Just a thought for you
Sonya

Sonya · Mar 12, 2010

Doesn't...
It was on a 33 hunter that we did this
LOL Sonya

Mounting a propane tank to a stanchion

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