propane stove question

[mitiempo]

Butane seems to be much safer since it doesn't pool in the low areas.

Incorrect, butane is heavier than air - twice as heavy. It has the same dangers as propane.

 

[kito]

Incorrect, butane is heavier than air - twice as heavy. It has the same dangers as propane.

Butane is lighter than propane is my understanding......

Edit. I just looked up the SG of air,butane and propane. You are correct....butane is heavier.

 

[Alan Gomes]

Has anyone converted a propane stove to butane using the butane canisters?. I have a portable one burner butane stove that works well. Not sure if there is an adapter though. Butane seems to be much safer since it doesn't pool in the low areas. Only thing I don't like about butane is that it burns so cleanly and makes it hard to see the flame especially during the day.

Butane is heavier than air, so it would carry the same risks as propane in that regard.

 

[Bob 04 H260]

Our H260 galley came with a factory installed butane stove using the small cylinders. The stove sat in box built into the counter that had a drain overboard. As far as I know it was ABYC compliant. It worked quite well.

Bob

 

[redhead78]

I just bought a 5lb tank from manchester on amazon, 12"tall, 8" diameter at widest point, there once was a gimballed stove in gally long gone I installed a 2 burner stove top setup, and used old supply, which is 1/4" OD copper, with 12" rubber line at tank end and appliance end, I leak checked with soapy water solution, all connections ok. Just as a precaution, I secure the propane valve outside in the locked when done ccoking, let burner flame out the shut off all valves inside and out. Just as a precaution I always run the motor/bilge exhaust fan when using the propane.... Red

 

[thinwater]

That is a larger problem than the stove in my opinion. The lazarette probably will not drain overboard. Your insurance company would very likely not pay a claim if anything happened. There isn't a surveyor in North America that would pass this either.

There is not a propane instant water heater approved for marine use.

While I generally agree agree with the first statment, in my opinion the stretches grow, and by the last sentense has moved into legand.

a. There are no aproved units? I've found a few.
http://www.precisiontemp.com/showermate-m-550-marine-tankless-water-heater

b. There are many things on a boat not specifically aproved for boats, including most of the electrical system.

c. My boat came through with one factory. There are 3 sensors on the boat and the heater has a separate, closable, deck vent. It is in a separate bulkheaded compartment, not joined to the cabin and vented overboard. Whether all of that is needed is a fair question. I would not vent one into the cabin or into a house under any circumstances; I dislike CO2 build up and CO risk.

d. Has been through at 4 surveys that I am aware of. Noticed, like everything else, but never a comment.

It does need to be done properly, but it can be. If there is a specific reason it cannot, please provide the link.

 

[mitiempo]

A tankless water heater has to have both an outside vent and a closed combustion chamber to be ABYC approved. I don't believe this one does or the ABYC logo would be all over their website. If a surveyor says it isn't approved, no insurance generally.

I have owned a tankless heater in the past and like them. I think one installed in a way to be outside the living area of the boat would be safe certainly. But not in a lazarette as the op stated.

I have yet to meet a surveyor that has approved any tankless water heater - they stipulate removal if there is one present.