Reading a lot of article here on this website seem like folks aren't fond of having propane on the boat. I was looking for a small refrigerator that uses AC/DC/LP. Is having lp gas on a boat a bad thing. I know the stove on the boat right now is gas. Do you think a refrigerator that uses gas would be a bad idea. I was thinking of building it in underneath the nav desk.
... to my knowledge, a gas-powered refrigerator will not function satisfactorily unless it is stationary and fix.
But I'm not a specialist on the subject.
Holger
I wouldn't go that route simply because if you are cruising and your propane runs outs all your food will spoil. I bought a Dometic Fridge and have solar panels, so it runs basically forever. It uses like 50w when cooling and is heavly insulated.
MQ
Fire and boats don't mix well. Having one of the DC/gas fridges in a camper there was big warning to turn off gas while moving. I'm curious what the fridge manufacture recommends.
Jim
Dan : If the "gas" on you boat is propane? there are thousands of boats/campers so equipped!! You just need to turn OFF the propane AT the BOTTLE when not in use!! The reason that most boater switch from Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) although safer, is because propane is easier to find when you need a refill! Your vented enclosed box make it safe for propane on your boat.
A few thoughts
Propane refrigerators (common on RVs) need to be level, or nearly so, to function. Along with the safety issues, this precludes effective use on boats.
Craig
Having to be level was something that I didn't think of. I had one in a camper and the thing worked awesome, but you are correct it was always somewhat level. I assumed my stove was propane as it isn't alcohol. I never heard of CNG, how would I know if its one or the other.
Dan : CNG is a about a 2ft? long tank stored under the seat in the aft cabin. Propane is a small bottle stored in a small locker in the aft cockpit.
A thought
Different shaped tank and it should be labeled for CNG vs LPG.
I know there is a fitting for a what I assumed was a propane tank under the seat in the aft cabin. If it was propane would it be in a different location on the boat? There is no tank just a hose with a fitting, where would you by a CNG tank or get one refilled. I don't suppose you can run down to uhaul and get it refilled.
https://www.practical-sailor.com/belowdecks-amenities/hunting-elusive-cng-refill
Craig
Quote from: melp64 on February 20, 2023, 04:18:01 AM
I know there is a fitting for a what I assumed was a propane tank under the seat in the aft cabin. If it was propane would it be in a different location on the boat? There is no tank just a hose with a fitting, where would you by a CNG tank or get one refilled. I don't suppose you can run down to uhaul and get it refilled.
It would help if you told us where your boat is located.
A skipper who I know has found a CNG refill place near Seattle:
https://forums.sailboatowners.com/threads/cng-filling-station.1249934842/?highlight=cng
Otherwise, CNG is getting very, very rare.
Dan : In your production year Catalina made the storage under the aft cabin seat for a CNG tank!!! A Propane tank in 1987 C34 was in a outside vented box stored in the aft transom hatch!!
It sounds to me that your 1987 C34 is set up for CNG and your stove/oven is setup to burn CNG -- NOT Propane
A few thoughts
Dan,
Ron is correct that's where the CNG tank was originally stored that's where mine has been since I got the boat. A propane tank won't fit in that locker. CNG is more difficult to find but once you find a supplier that's a problem solved. The first place I'd look is at your marina boat fueling station, that's where I get mine. They swap the empties like propane. I also carry a spare tank which I can swap with the one in use if it runs out on a trip and also doubles capacity.
To be sure CNG is more expensive and harder to source but being lighter than air it's also safer than propane.
I guess I will have to figure out something else to cook dinner on because according to the marina there is only one supplier in Michigan and its in Detroit, across-ed the state. And the marina is not sure they carry it anymore because of the small demand.
I did ask if the stove would be able to convert to LPG but a propane locker with fittings and solenoids would be close to 1,000.00. I'm thinking maybe a barbecue grill and marshmellows
Take a look at jon W's dual propane locker project:
https://c34.org/wiki/index.php?title=1987_MK_1_Catalina_34_Dual_Tank_Propane_Locker
Quoteaccording to the marina there is only one supplier in Michigan and its in Detroit, across-ed the state.
I for one would not trust "according to the marina", would do my own research. There's a lot of 70s 80s boats out there that were built to use CNG. You may try calling around to welding gas and commercial suppliers. Around here some city busses and school busses use it, so it's not that rare. Although sure to use different fittings.
On a different note, I've had many a fine meal on a rail mounted barbeque or electric frying pan.
Jim
Guys : Many years ago 1990?? I wrote an article for the Mainsheet tech note where I made a new propane box BOTTOM - so it would accommodate a 10 lb. propane bottle. I used all of the same parts the were in the box for a 1 gallon (4#) bottle. Still using that same box today!!
Dan : There is a new orifice that can be installed in your stove so it will burn propane instead of CNG. Contact your local propane dealer and they should be able to help you. Look over Propane Boxes on the internet and you should be able to find one that can be vented thru your aft transom.
There have been many C30s/C34s/C36s that converted to propane (from CNG) when they decided to travel south to the Bahamas for a year!!
A few thoughts
Many of the city buses and fleet vehicles here in San Diego use CNG.
The link that Craig provided takes you to a Practical Sailor article with an imbedded link to a cng location/price map across the country for trip planning. Michigan has more than one, check it out there may be one closer to you. I went though a similar process last year when I needed a refill and tank retest. The marina I used to source from stopped doing tank swaps. Luckily I found a gas supply company that also does testing and they also pointed me to refill site along a major highway in MA, not far from my house. Just needed to make an appointment as it is not manned. Someone travels to it on a schedule to do refills.
Good luck,
Ed
Thanks Noah when you said that the buses where CNG I remembered that Grand rapids has buses that are CNG, Pacific pride which is owned by DTE has a filling station just outside of the city. I haven't been able to talk to them yet but I will this week, as I am wondering if they have the adapter to fill a tank. My next thing I need is a tank from the videos I've seen it looks like a welding tank so I'm thinking I could by one from a welding store. Some of the videos I watched said that a tank would last between 20-30hours of cooking. I'm really glad as I really like the looks of the stove that is on the boat, I don't think it was hardly ever used. It looks brand new.
Outside of the challenges of refilling, CNG is a great choice on a boat. It lasts way longer than LPG and the lighter than air effect solves a number of safety concerns. Once you get it set up and you get used to the filling routine, I suspect you will like it.
Update I spent the week calling all the places that said they were CNG refilling stations, every place that might have CNG and any place that would carry a tank that could be used FOR CNG. I came up with a big fat zero. If its that hard to find a tank let alone a place to fill it, that system has to go. This is definitly not something I was planning on changing as the stove looks like it has never been used. Maybe it never was used because they never found the gas to run it.
So the next question I would ask is what type of stove do most of you guys have on your boat. Propane or electric. I like the idea of electric as someday I plan on putting solar on the boat. I think Propane would be the easiest but probably the most costly.
Unless you're in the tropics with a ton of solar and a wind generator or plugged into a dock all the time, I can really advocate going with an electric stove. The propane stove option might be the best way to go. You could also get a butane gas burner and use that as a temporary till you can sort out your plan.
On my 1987 I have the Hillerange model 2122 propane oven/stove combination which I believe is original. Ron had a great point about changing an orifice to convert CNG to propane. If you are able to do that you'll have avoided the biggest cost item in the system. If you build your own locker and buy your own tank(s), the cost for the switch, solenoid, regulator and hoses isn't that much.
QuoteI've had many a fine meal on a rail mounted barbeque or electric frying pan.
I stand by that. Maybe add an electric or butane hot plate to heat soup and make coffee. Sometime in the future you may decide a stove is necessary, buy it then. For now make a good cover for your stove top to use the hotplate on. Adds good counter space. I found a walmart cutting board just the right size, fastened 3 legs to the bottom to hold in place on my stove. I use my Keurig coffee maker on it, stove gimbled, plugged into inverter, while underway. It's great.
Your boat, your choice.
Jim
Contact Sure Marine Service in Seattle, WA. They sell/provide the service of converting a range from CNG to LPG. Last I checked (about 2 years ago), they still had the ability to provide this service.
I will probably be in Seattle between thanksgiving and christmas. maybe I could check that out.
Dan : What came OEM from the Catalina factory is a stove w/oven that either burned CNG or propane.
Like I said the only stove/oven modification to change over is different orfices .
a few thoughts
Ron... it is more complicated than that. The oven valve has to be completely replaced from one to the other. I bought a CNG stove as a donor to replace my damaged stove. I had to switch over the orficases as you said, but also the entire oven control and its associated bits and pieces. It wasn't terribly hard, but it isn't as simple as you make it out to be.
Alex- Love the shout out but...wrong guy to direct comment to. Must be Ron you are referring to. I have not given any "advice" on difficulty of CNG retrofitting. I have propane and works well for me.
Sorry Noah... it was indeed intended for Ron. it is fixed now.
Alex :Like I posted before many East Coast people have switched over tto propane from GNC to go south down the water way and over to the Bahamas!!
I thought I said orfaces (plural), but I didn't understand that there was more to the oven, Thanks
A few thoughts