Salt in propane locker

[jviss]

My 1984 Catalina 36 has a propane locker for 2 11 lb. steel propane bottles. I don't know if the locker was factory installed. It is vented overboard out hte transom. I get salt water in this locker, which rusts the tanks. It seems like quite a lot of salt. I can only assume it is being splashed into the vent, but it really seems like much more salt than this would explain.

I'd like to figure out how to keep the locker dry, probably by repositioning the vent.

Has anyone any knowledge of or experience with this phenomenon?

Thanks much,

jv

 

[Ross]

Flush it with hot water on a regular schedule.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Remember that Propane is heavier than air and that is why the vent runs down rather than up. LPG can kill you so you don't want it finding its way down into your cabin. You can also get aluminum tanks which don't rust, but they are very expensive in comparison. Any steel tank will rust in time in a salt water environment just like any mild steel will. You might also try painting an epoxy water barrier paint on the tank too to help prevent rusting. Never did this myself or for anyone else, but just thought of it.