Safe Gas

[Rodney]

My Catalina came with a Safe Gas (CNG) stove. I don't use it all that much and haven't had occasion to fill it since I purchased the boat a year and half ago. I've heard tales that CNG can be hard to find.

The stove works fine and I'm about to start using the stove more often. Am I going to run into problems or am I good to go? I currently plan local San Diego bay cruising with cruising in the Northwest eventually.

[Mark Elkin]

Rodney,

In San Diego Bay, there's a marine fuel dock on Shelter Island that sells CNG -- I forget the name but check the yellow pages.  The (only) fuel dock in Oceanside also sells CNG.  Be sure to bring in your empty cylinder.

On Yorkshire Rose, I have an extra CNG cylinder stored in the forward most settee bin.  When the in-use cylinder empties, I can just switch with the spare.

I don't know any sources of CNG as you head to the Northwest, but our fellow owners can probably chime in.

Mark Elkin
Yorkshire Rose, #133

[mitch brown]

Rodney-

   I think the relative safeness of CNG warrants keeping it vs. replacing it with propane. I haven't experienced any problems with getting it in the LA area. The only time I had a problem was in Mexico, but if you are doing any extended cruising, then I'd also suggest getting a spare tank.

[Stu Jackson]

We have a backup CNG tank, too, in the same place!  There's a chandlery just next door to our marina that sells the bottles, $15.16 including tax.  No problem gtting it here in San Francisco (east bay).

[jentine]

"SAFE GAS"
Well, that is an oxymonon.  How can an exploding gasseous substance be safe.  The only safe thing about CNG is that the explosion will occur at a higher altitude in your boat than propane.  CNG is lighter than air and it won't sink into your bilge (eventhough the gas lines run through the bilge).  Your stove is in the cabin and the gas will be trapped if a leak occurs.
I remember an explosion in Boston some years ago that reconstructed a city block and several buildings.  Cities have, for many years used CNG, i.e. natural gas to heat homes.  It is known to be explosive.
Common sense, a detector and a good gas system make propane as safe as CNG.  Propane also is readily available, is not contained in a cylinder that must be pressure tested every 5 years, in not presurized to 2500 psi and one tank can last several months on a live-aboard.
I think that the conversion to propane is more sensible that staying with the "SAFE GAS".

[Gary Wilson]

Our boat has a a CNG stove and we carry two cylinders.  We have had no complaints about the way it cooks and have had a reliable local supply in Olympia, WA ($25/bottle).  However we are going to convert to propane now because of supply problems.  

Starting next year our supplier (a small marina)will discontinue the cylinder exchange service and the closest supply will be Seattle.  We were unable to obtain cylinders in the San Juan Islands last month (last year we were able to get one).  We had left on our 4 week cruise with two full cylinders and were empty at the end.  I think propane will require less frequent and less expensive refills