"Lite" Propane Cylinder

[Joe Kern]

Has anyone with a Mark II bought and used one of the new see-through lite propane cylinders?  I need a new one and forgot to measure the size of the existing one to see if the new one would fit in the locker.

Joe

[Ken Juul]

Couple of comments copied off this thread.
http://forums.cruisingworld.com/showthread.php?t=1248

I have looked into these too. I am sold on them. I have a few years to go before I cast off so I am holding out right now, and doing other projects. I am an officer in the Fire Service (Fire Department) so the safety of these tanks was my first question. It seems that when tested the resin burns off and lets the gas escape slowly and they do not have rupture failure (BOOM) like with a metal tank. Think of the old Colman gas lantern mantel glowing as gas escapes it. The Hydro test is every 5 years. I got that from the only North American manufacturer of them. An Aluminum tank is every 12 years, 3 times max. Here are some links about them.

http://www.nfpa.org/publicJournalDet...ookie%5Ftest=1

http://www.firemarshals.org/docs/Com...FINAL%2007.pdf

http://www.rvsupplywarehouse.com/pro...l.cfm/pid/3587

Dan
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................
Hytech2k 
New Member   Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1 
 
 Advise against it.....

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I have worked in the propane field for over 8 years now here in sunny Florida as a service tech. I work for the 3rd largest propane company in the US.. There are 2 companies in the US licensed to manufacture fiber wrapped tanks and one just lost their permit... We have had 2 instances in the Miami area of tanks blowing the bottoms off.. These were both fiber-wrapped forklift cylinders left in the sun during the middle of summer.. The Dept of Agriculture is currently investigating the cause of the rupture.. Keep in mind these tanks have pressure relief valve to vent off excess pressure in order to protect the cylinder from rupturing, apparently these exploded before the relief valves were able to vent... In my opinion it is too early in the manufacturing and testing phase to determine the safety of prolonged exposure to the sun and high temperatures.. Better to be safe.. Anyways hope this helps....

Gerald
 

[Joe Kern]

Thanks Ken.  I am going to see whether they would even fit and then consider it despite the contrary opinions.  I might wait until the Practical Sailor review though as they usually look at safety issues.

Joe