For peace of mind, let me see if I have this straight: Propane - very volatile, heavier than air I disconnected the main bottle and removed it since I don't use the stove or oven at this time. I keep 3 of the small disposable bottles in the propane locker for use on the BBQ (Propane locker is vented, of course) Gasoline - very volatile, fumes heavier than air I keep gas for the dingy outboard in the propane locker Diesel - not volatile, fumes heavier than air? Tank and engine all in large stern compartment. Blower installed to keep compartment free of fumes. I'm not sure how the blower works, whether it's on whenever the engine is on or what. I do know I can manually turn it on from the main switchboard if I want to. I have a small can of extra diesel in the propane locker but don't really need it. Alchohol stove and fuel - as far as I know, considered less volatile I'm currently keeping both under a seat in the cabin. Does any potential leakage evaporate and dissapate? Or is this a bad idea? I could empty the extra diesel and make room in the propane locker for the spare alchohol which is currently in a small plastic jerry can like you would use for gasoline. Appreciate comments from those more knowledgable than I. M Paxman Victoria, BC
Various fuels and their storage
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Parnoid?
I think you have it right, but are you paranoid? Water is dangerous if not handled properly and propane is safe when handled properly. Funny to me that some sailors that are nervous about propane have a cigarette in one hand, beer in the other, and drive without seat belts! Gotta light mate?
I think you have it right, but are you paranoid? Water is dangerous if not handled properly and propane is safe when handled properly. Funny to me that some sailors that are nervous about propane have a cigarette in one hand, beer in the other, and drive without seat belts! Gotta light mate?
Alchohol goes boom too!
Don't let your guard down for a moment around any fuel... even alchohol. http://www.news-journalonline.com/special/bethuneblast/frtHEAD01011206.htm
Don't let your guard down for a moment around any fuel... even alchohol. http://www.news-journalonline.com/special/bethuneblast/frtHEAD01011206.htm
Suggestions
Suggest you treat alcohol same as gasoline, both from point of view of volatility, fumes and very low flash-point. Makes just as big an explosion too. Diesel has low volatility and, unless heated, fumes are unlikely to ignite. So it is a relatively safe fuel and doesn't normally need venting overboard. Engine compartment blower normally serves to eliminate smells in the boat and is more commonly found in gasoline/petrol installations where it is necessary to ensure a spark does not ignite any residual vapours. Provided the engine has plenty of venting to feed it fresh air to run on then blower can run whilst engine is running, but, if engine air supply is poor - many boats rely on air entry through bilges and other cracks - then blower is best not run whilst engine is on.
Suggest you treat alcohol same as gasoline, both from point of view of volatility, fumes and very low flash-point. Makes just as big an explosion too. Diesel has low volatility and, unless heated, fumes are unlikely to ignite. So it is a relatively safe fuel and doesn't normally need venting overboard. Engine compartment blower normally serves to eliminate smells in the boat and is more commonly found in gasoline/petrol installations where it is necessary to ensure a spark does not ignite any residual vapours. Provided the engine has plenty of venting to feed it fresh air to run on then blower can run whilst engine is running, but, if engine air supply is poor - many boats rely on air entry through bilges and other cracks - then blower is best not run whilst engine is on.
Thanks
Thx all, Donalex for the blower explanation, Andy - yeah, sounds paranoid, but actually it's just that insurance required that a regulator be added, per the surveyor's suggestions and it hasn't been important enough to get around to yet, so I took the tank home. I think I'll get the can of alcohol out of the cabin, though and keep it in the propane locker until such time as I hook the propane back up. After that, I guess I'll keep the 2 small plastic cans on the deck next to the mast with velcro straps around them or something like that. Oh, and I don't drink or smoke so the only thing I ever light is the BBQ (after tying the dinghy well fore
Thx all, Donalex for the blower explanation, Andy - yeah, sounds paranoid, but actually it's just that insurance required that a regulator be added, per the surveyor's suggestions and it hasn't been important enough to get around to yet, so I took the tank home. I think I'll get the can of alcohol out of the cabin, though and keep it in the propane locker until such time as I hook the propane back up. After that, I guess I'll keep the 2 small plastic cans on the deck next to the mast with velcro straps around them or something like that. Oh, and I don't drink or smoke so the only thing I ever light is the BBQ (after tying the dinghy well fore
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