We’ve Got a Leak

Why have propane on a boat?

Propane is a very common fuel source.  It’s used to power many things – from forklifts and trucks to the backyard grill.  And it’s often utilized as home heating for remote locations where natural gas infrastructure is not available.  It’s easy to find refill locations for propane, and we found that refilling a propane tank is often cheaper than purchasing a propane exchange tank.

On SV Zeke E Boy, we use propane for 2 things.  We have a saloon space heater for heat in cold weather and a stove / oven combo for cooking.

What we discovered

Last year, we found that the range leaked.  One burner was never able to light but it still leaked propane.  We also discovered that the install was not completed properly, more on that later.

Propane is heavier than air, which means that any propane leaking will gather in the lowest possible spot (the bilge) until the leaks stop or an explosion occurs.  This is very, very dangerous.  By no means am I an expert in propane, but I know and have learned enough about it to make this project a priority. 

We also had a rusted out solenoid valve, which is the ‘on/off’ switch that is triggered inside the boat to shut off the gas outside in the locker.  There were hose connections inside the boat, which is explicitly not good, because each hose run should be one continuous line from the propane locker to the appliance.  

Because the appliances were not installed properly, we could not isolate the heater separately from the range.  In order to make coffee in our percolator on the stove, we had to turn on the leaky propane system for the whole boat.  Yikes! 

We do have a propane alarm that will / should alert us if there is a propane leak.  Thankfully this was never triggered during our use of the propane system.  Our leaks were small but still detectable. 

So rather than waiting until really bad things happened, we tackled this project over the winter while SV Zeke E Boy was out of the water.

Here’s a short video tour of our propane system that I put together BEFORE the project was tackled: 

What was accomplished

First, I cleaned up the propane locker and made sure that the drain was clear – so if there was a leak it could dissipate out.  I then replaced the solenoid valve with a new one, added separate valves for each of the appliances,  and a new regulator and gauge to test and operate the new system. 

Next, I ran two new propane hose runs directly to each appliance and installed proper through bulkhead hose gasket fittings for each hose and electrical connection.  I also added a new propane control system switch in the saloon to operate the solenoid valve in the propane locker.

The last item is still pending and on our list of spring commissioning projects, which is to refinish the woodwork and install a new stove / oven.  However, this is technically not a requirement for launch but a nice to have.

Updated Propane Locker – Picture Diagram

Products Used

Propane Valve Assembly

2 Appliance Fittings, Shut-offs & Solenoid Kit

2 Appliance Fittings & Shut Offs use with 2 stage regulator part# 19-162 to run more then 1 propane appliance with a manual shut-off for each appliance.

Available from: Dickinson Marine

Bulkhead Hose Fittings

Straight-Thru LPG Bulkhead Fitting

Meets ABYC Standard for non-abrasive, non-pressurized, vapor-tight seal for a continuous length of LPG supply line passing through water tight bulkheads and decks, including LPG locker wall.

Available from: Fisheries Supply

Propane Hose

Trident Marine LPG Propane Gas Supply Line Hose

Trident Marine’s LPG Propane Gas Supply Line Hose lets you run propane from your propane tank to your boat’s gas system.

Available from: Defender Marine

Control Panel

Trident Marine Propane On/Off Control Panel

12 V DC L.P. Gas On/Off Control Panel and 12 V DC L.P. Gas Solenoid (3/8″ FPT Ports) Kit with 2 Brass Connection Fittings.

Available from: Amazon

Range

Dickinson Marine Caribbean 2-Burner Propane Gas Stove with Broiler

The Mediterranean 2-Burner Propane Stove has heavy duty stainless steel construction with efficient, powerful 11,000 and 7,000 BTU burners, all equipped with safety ‘flame-out’ protection. It also has an oven and broiler.

Available from: Defender Marine

Tell us what you think

There was limited information on boat propane systems that I could research and find, so if you have more details to share, I’d love to hear it!

Let us know what you think of our sailing adventures by sharing your feedback in the comments below.  We’d love to hear from you!

– Kyle from Zeke Life

Live like Zeke
You’re such a good boy!