Propane Locker Install

Piratenorm

Piratenorm

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Jun 21, 2009
119
Catalina 30 Mk 1, #3335 Midland, Ontario
Has anyone retro-fitted a propane locker into a Mk 1 30 Catalina? I'd like to make my own, commercially available ones are a bucket full of money. I believe a 10 lb tank could easily fit inside my rear lazarette and plumbing it would be straightforward.
Can anyone tell me why a heavy-duty bucket similar to what restaurants get their cooking oil in wouldn't work with a tweek her and there? Thanks.
 
M

markwbird

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Nov 26, 2012
1,654
C&C 40-2 Berkeley
Propane retrofit

I have been looking into do the same thing. I agree. It seems like a good size bucket with a sealable lid would do just fine. I will be installing a gas detector with an alarm as well. As long as you understand why propane systems and their safety measures are done the way they are you should be able to replicate it. Research.
 
Hayden Watson

Hayden Watson

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Apr 5, 2009
3,102
Catalina '88 C30 tr/bs Oak Harbor, WA
markwbird said:
I have been looking into do the same thing. I agree. It seems like a good size bucket with a sealable lid would do just fine. I will be installing a gas detector with an alarm as well. As long as you understand why propane systems and their safety measures are done the way they are you should be able to replicate it. Research.
Click to expand
One of the primary requirement of a propane locker is that it have overboard vents at the top and the bottom.
 
Piratenorm

Piratenorm

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Jun 21, 2009
119
Catalina 30 Mk 1, #3335 Midland, Ontario
I understand all the requirements of a propane locker and the dangers of LPG gas on a boat. What really amuses me is I am making a retrofit to an old boat without a locker, will use all new equipment and lines, solenoids, gauges and detectors and ensure all is ABYC compliant. But what about all the old boats out there using original equip? Just musing...
A dedicated propane locker from West Marine is about a grand. And for the life of me (no pun intended) I cannot see why my plan won't work. Thanks. Further discussion welcome, if anyone can prove otherwise.
 
Piratenorm

Piratenorm

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Jun 21, 2009
119
Catalina 30 Mk 1, #3335 Midland, Ontario
Yea, a thru hull to the bottom of the plastic bucket, hose to a thru hull just above the water line.
 
Hayden Watson

Hayden Watson

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Apr 5, 2009
3,102
Catalina '88 C30 tr/bs Oak Harbor, WA
Piratenorm said:
Yea, a thru hull to the bottom of the plastic bucket, hose to a thru hull just above the water line.
Click to expand
This was my point in mentioning the need for a vent. Without reading the specification for the "approved" propane lockers I do not see any reason you could not make a serviceable locker from a sealable bucket. At a minimum you would need to permanently mount the bucket to the boat and install vent hoses into the bucket at the top and bottom. These hoses would need to be connected to above water through hulls. Note that the through hulls need to be above water while motoring and all angles of heel.

I have a dock mate that has done something similar but he mounted the bucket to the stern rail. There was a hole in the bucket near the top for inlet and a hose out of the bottom that was wire-tied to the stern pulpit post and extended several inches below the combing so that any gas leaks could not get into the cockpit. He covered the whole thing with a Sumbrella bag and it didn't look half bad.
 
woodster

woodster

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Sep 15, 2009
6,243
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
if you have full coverage insurance it might be best to get an ok(on paper) from your underwriter...otherwise if something were to happen related to the propane causing loss you may not be covered.......
 
Piratenorm

Piratenorm

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Jun 21, 2009
119
Catalina 30 Mk 1, #3335 Midland, Ontario
Hmm, the insurers nowadays are so anal they'd probably refuse the claim if it wasn't a manufactured locker from an approved source. Good point. Of course, what would I care, it would be my estate that would suffer, seeing as I'd likely be a crispy-critter and all...
 
hvbaker

hvbaker

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Oct 5, 2010
322
Catalina 30 mkII St. Augustine
Piratenorm said:
Hmm, the insurers nowadays are so anal they'd probably refuse the claim if it wasn't a manufactured locker from an approved source. Good point. Of course, what would I care, it would be my estate that would suffer, seeing as I'd likely be a crispy-critter and all...
Click to expand
It may blow up when you are not there, may cause damage to neighboring boats and sailors.
 
B

BrassRat

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Aug 3, 2014
11
Catalina 30 Old Saybrook
Brass Rat has a 5 pound tank in a locker in the aft cockpit locker. Drain fitting at the bottom goes down to through hull opening. Top is not vented, have never head that's a requirement.
 
hvbaker

hvbaker

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Oct 5, 2010
322
Catalina 30 mkII St. Augustine
BrassRat said:
Brass Rat has a 5 pound tank in a locker in the aft cockpit locker. Drain fitting at the bottom goes down to through hull opening. Top is not vented, have never head that's a requirement.
Click to expand
Vent in top is to let air in. You are probably too young to remember using a can opener to open soda cans. One hole on each side. One to let the fluid out and the other to let air in. Same principle for having vent at top.
 
Piratenorm

Piratenorm

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Jun 21, 2009
119
Catalina 30 Mk 1, #3335 Midland, Ontario
BrassRat said:
ABYC standards. See section 1.12.
Click to expand
Good to know, printed and will ensure I follow the guidelines. Thanks for the heads-up on the exact section of the ABYC Standards. Curiously, they hadn't written it in legaleez gobbledy-goop!
FYI, called my insurance company and my broker admitted I know far more about it than she does, but said if I get a marine surveyor to sign off on it they will not dispute it should something LPG related cause damage to or the loss of the boat. Thanks for all the input.
 
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