Propane Refit

[waterdog]

I see some talk of propane on another thread and realized I never did post pictures of my refit.   It's completely untested at this point - there are only 1250 sea miles on it and it hasn't been in any seas much over 15 feet.    Given this very limited shakedown, I have to say I'm delighted with the conversion.   

The new style bottles give me huge capacity.   They are light weight for the cantilevered platform.  Easy to check the levels.  Most importantly they aren't in the aft locker.   

Construction is 3/4 plywood, epoxy laminated to 1.5 inches, with wooden locator blocks.   Shelf is cantilevered off the stern with support line of amsteel to the rail.  I reused the through fitting from the old box to bring the line through the deck.   Old scraps of sunbrella were stitched together for a cover with an opening flap on top to access the valves.   

I've refilled once in two months of cruising. 

The only upgrade I want to make is a T fitting to run the grill and stove off the same bottle.  Right now I have a dedicated bottle for each application.  Running them off one bottle will allow me to completely drain one so I'm not dragging half full bottles off for filling and messing with bottle swaps and green cannisters.   

[Mike and Joanne Stimmler]

Where did you install the tap for the beer?   

[Lance Jones]

Steve,
I know, off topic, BUT!!!!!!
In the lower picture, you have two "steps". One on either side of you ladder. What are these and their use?

Cheers!

[waterdog]

I couldn't easily access the fasteners on the cover for the propane, so I added in an access platform.   I put one on the other side in case I need to service the prop on the dingy outboard.

That and they were tens of thousands of dollars cheaper than a newer MKII with a proper swim platform.  No acrobatics required to get in and out of the dingy.   Scupper can climb out of the water from a swim with a one hand assist.   

Very handy.   

Plus I can tie 4 beer kegs on them, or if I'm careful with the lashing, 8 cases of 2 Buck Chuck.

   

[Bobg]

waterdog, nice picture, where did you get the access platforms and any trouble mounting them?  Thanks, bob

[waterdog]

Bob,

I got the idea for the platforms from this site.   Someone had a picture, perhaps in the old projects page. 

I bought them at Steveston Marine in Vancouver.   These were "Victory" brand.   No problem installing them apart from the unnatural feeling that comes from drilling 16 holes in the transom.   

I love the platforms.   They are fabulous for access and have worked out really well.   

However, do not buy the "Victory" brand.   Rust.  Rust.  And more rust.   Would have taken them off and returned them, but there is the small problem of 16 holes in the transom.  So it's polish, polish, polish.