Rusty propane cylinder threads

[Chief RA]

Scott: That is why you do not place these bottles inside as they can even leak when new!
None of us are telling you specifically to refill these cylinders, but some people do. If I were selling these things at 3 dollars apiece I would not want anyone to refill them either!

Chief

 

[zeehag]

i stored mine in ziplok baggies. never found any to leak and never got them rusted as long as in the baggies. refill??? with the price of those lil green boom gas bottles being over 6-8 usd per each, you bet your sweet donkey we refilled em.

 

[Gunni]

I gave up on the 1 lb steel bottles because the threads rust, the rust ends up in the cheap disposable valve, and it leaks. Got a six foot brass-fitting tank to regulator hose and use my backup 10 lb bottle as my grill gas supply. Good for about 100 grilling adventures YMMV. Don't get blowed up!

 

[nautikaljeeper]

Something that has not been addressed is the fact that to get the bottle completely refilled it is necessary to pull up on the valve core type pressure relief valve to expel air. Just use long nose pliers to do this. Chief

You might try to freeze the empty bottle and then you will get a complete fill.

 

[chuckwayne]

yes! the vacuum sealed meal bags work well - I store the tanks for my magna and Lehr outboard that way and they keep rust free

 

[firehoser75]

Scott B gives Good Advice!

He is quoting US DOT regulations not the wishes of some manufacturer. Is your safety worth only saving a few pennies (or even dollars)?
According to these regulations, it is very dangerous (as defined by the very large fine and prison time for transporting them when refilled, as in on your boat) to refill and reuse these small cylinders. I use a 10 lb. (spare) tank and hose to operate my BBQ, and it works great. One tank lasts almost the whole season, is very cost effective, and most importantly is mounted on the outside of my boat where any leak will go directly overboard.
I am guessing, that if an accident investigation discovered that you had used refilled cylinders of the type we are discussing, that your insurance would be null and void...... assuming you survived said accident. I have seen explosions resulting from propane leaks (20 lb tank) and they flattened the whole house in one case and took the neighbour's off it's foundation. Granted these bottles are much smaller, but still nothing to be trifled with (more than enough to destroy most boats).
My advice, worth what you are paying for it , is don't take unnecessary chances with this.

Best of the Season to everyone and stay safe,
Tom

 

[Chief RA]

firehoser75: Who do you think writes those Dot Regs, and who do you think they are written for, us, industry or government? Chief

 

[Chris Patterson]

Found this a short while back while working on this boat.

Probably not enough to hurt anything..

 

[Chief RA]

Chris: People who are so careless are the very reason our government writes so many directives. Proper care when using, and outside storage of these tanks is far more important than whether or not a person refilled it. Chief

 

[Gunni]

What 2 lbs of propane exploding can do to a boat. The fun starts at 5:50
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxm3uMy6MPI

 

[Chief RA]

Gunni: You must be a retired marine. EOD guys I served with loved to blow up stuff! Different kind of people out here. I was nuclear disposal EOD certified. Chief

 

[Apex]

Chief is right on: PROPER STORAGE. read up on the regs, gas is heavier than air, so a dedicated means of drainage overboard. We will be redoing the PO installation and currently store in the cockpit.

 

[troutman]

When I go on wilderness canoe trips I gather my own wood, it makes me feel ------ insert your favorite word for manly. I understand doing things the hard way and or cheap way. It gives some of us a satisfaction that we can't get from a job. Maybe refilling your own tanks is less about saving a few dollars and more about a feeling of satisfaction. I have some pony oxygen bottles that I have had recertified and refitted for other uses, scuba. They can be safely refilled and are legal, IMHO this is a more prudent way to go.

 

[firehoser75]

firehoser75: Who do you think writes those Dot Regs, and who do you think they are written for, us, industry or government? Chief

Chief,
Yes I do know how these regulations and standards are developed (usually with representation from all affected/interested parties). They are written for everyone you mentioned. Unfortunately they are also written for us, because common sense is not very common (for example Chris's photo). Also, most people don't have the time, resources, or inclination to investigate every aspect of all possible safety issues (in our lives), and therefore, are often blissfully unaware of the potential problems their actions could bring about.
I come from a safety background and my industry was one that had many, many (different) regulations, standards, and rules to follow. At times, I didn't always agree with them (all), but for the greater good of all involved, they are followed.
In this case, everyone can take whatever chances they are willing to accept, however, their unsuspecting neighbours could also be put at risk, as evidenced in the video of a gas explosion on a sailboat. If I was to take you literally as inferred in your reply (which I don't), I would not have a solenoid with remote switch on my on board propane system either as it is a requirement of a "standard, regulation, etc." and was probably developed by some solenoid manufacturer.
My advise still stands, safety first! But of course, each to their own.

 

[Ken Cross]

Here ya go

We had the same issue because on our first sailboat we put them in a bag in the outboard motor well. I found a cotton swab so smear Vasoline worked great. It doesn't take much. If you are concerned about petroleum products, don't use propane. It's petroleum.

Ken

 

[damauney]

Gunni

Does your 6 ft hose go directly from 10lb tank into a Magma regulator. If so where are they available. I like the idea of using the spare tank.

Thanks
DaveM

 

[Ken Cross]

Most RV supply stores sell the hose adapters.
They work almost anywhere the disposable cylinders work.
Ken

 

[Rich Stidger]

Here is a safe method of storage for these 16.4 oz propane tanks. Buy a 2-foot piece of 4" PVC and two matching end caps. Also buy a pair of rail clamps - available from WM. Glue one end cap on and drill a 1/4" hole in the center of it- this is the bottom drain vent. Drill a hole in the other cap for the top and attach a stainless eye-bolt. Tie the top cap to the rail so it can't be lost overboard. Mount this tube vertically to some convenient spot where you BBQ. The tube will hold three propane cylinders. I use the cylinder on top and exchange it for one on the bottom as they get used.

After building and installing this storage tube, I realized that I could store 2-3 more cylinders in the top of my overboard retrieval system. In the event of needing to use the man-overboard float, the cylinders may be lost , but so what?

 

[Apex]

Rich the cylinder cylinder looks like a nice solution!

 

[firehoser75]

Great solution for small cylinder storage Rich!! Neat, clean, protects the cylinders, and above all safe. I got tired of paying the high prices some places charge for these cylinders and the inconvenience of storing and disposing of them. I now use a 10 lb cylinder attached to my pushpit rail, with the six foot hose Gunni uses. It attaches straight into my Magma grill. One fill lasts me almost all summer (and the wife and I are out for 2 months).
Merry Christmas everyone,
Tom