Hello everyone, My first post! I have looked in wiki and searched this forum. I am a new owner of Falkor, a 1989 Catalina 34 (Mk 1) here in Victoria, BC. She appears to have to original stove, but converted to propane. Insurance requires propane cut-off valve for each burner (and oven). There must be a fairly easy retrofit. If you've done this, can you send specifics? We've just 'upgraded' from a 1975 Grampian 28. For 15 years Rhapsody took us everywhere, with 2 kids and 2 dogs, but not exactly 'in comfort'. Really looking forward to summer adventure on Falkor. John
Welcome! I don't know specifically how to address your issue but I suggest you contact Sure Marine in Seattle. They specialize in stove repair parts.
https://www.suremarineservice.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21865446407&gbraid=0AAAAADu3qs1FtaNDSSrhdBX6ojyDlh9oo&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsNnCBhDRARIsAEzia4BVGlzjfyN3ngQzQDRiO-qEYGCvYiN3jBtipVxoFz1W8XpnhT4E42YaAilJEALw_wcB
Thanks very much. I have contacted them. Their website gives me the impression they'll have what I need. John
Sure marine is a good resource. That said, thermocouple retrofit might not be easy. Those types of safety devices are integrated into the stove's engineering.
Give Sure a call as they will know.
Guys : I believe that the only thermocouple on the Seaward stoves is for the oven.
A thought
Thanks Ron, Having a propane cut-off value (if the flame goes out) is a requirement for my new insurance (and a good idea I think). I doesn't seem like something that should be too hard to retrofit, but maybe I am wrong. Seems like a shame to have to discard a stove because of this. I will post an update if find a solution. JT
Are they looking for a valve that senses the flame and automatically shuts down when the flame is gone?
Hi Jon, Yes, that's what I need. But the reply I just received from 'SureMarine' isn't encouraging:
"John,
Unfortunately there is no way to add thermocouple protection to the stove to make it compliant with modern safety standards."
Do you have a solution?
Too bad. If your insurance Co. requires thermocouples on all burners then you may be forced to purchase a new stove with that feature, such as a Force 10:
https://youtu.be/j99up8JlOXs?si=XxcOBep1_RQ3Rod6
https://www.westmarine.com/force-10-two-burner-euro-standard-gimbaled-propane-range-1987965.html?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=GGL_PLA_Galley%20%26%20Outdoors_X&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22685590524&gbraid=0AAAAAD_lEeoTFaFtlNPgcNS2Dw77F9-oG&gclid=CjwKCAjw9uPCBhATEiwABHN9Kzvo_qKZ3TU_h0E2FyFHMMRO0uyAUJR0HpdP3cvypM7FjqQdg3winRoCB8AQAvD_BwE
Who is your insurance company? There are propane fume detectors you can install in the cabin that sound an alarm to notify you that propane is leaking. Would they accept that?
If they're requiring you to bring your 36 year old boat up to current standards for the propane system, they may require the electrical system to be brought up to current standards next. It doesn't sound reasonable.
I'm with Sure Marine... retrofitting thermocouple protection just isn't a thing. The thermocouple is part of the actual burner control knob so unless the stove was built that way, it is just not possible to retrofit.
I'll second Jon's comments here that adding a propane sniffer that in addition to a horn, shuts off the propane solonoid is a resonable upgrade if missing, but asking someone to purchase a new stove seems pretty unreasonable. A quick note, the propane sniffer that controls the propane solonoid would evenually shut off the gas flow in the event a flame when out unanttended, but it would take a bit of gas before that happen.
This is the one Sure sells that I bought.
https://www.suremarineservice.com/Galley/Propane-Fume-Detectors/P-1BS-R_3.html?srsltid=AfmBOorvVKBx-9TVtJFlobtzGRjeJxXozdK2kbaAvhS94Qd5KpOQx6Oc
Alex- that is the one that I have (and I believe Jon used to use). However, we both had various issues with the sniffer/sensor.
1. I ruined one sensor getting it wet in the bilge. They are not water waterproof nor even water resistant.
2. I moved it to under the sink at floorboard level then had constant false alarms from battery gas fumes. It was ok if I kept the little door open. So I did that for a year or so.
3. Finally, last week. I moved sensor to the middle forward bilge section, just below floorboard level boards. So far no false alarms.
3. I believe Jon's issue was it would alarm when his neighbor ran his smokey diesel. So I believe Jon just quit using his.
Noah,
Interesting data. I know of a buddy of mine who has the same unit and he hasn't had trouble with his and he was a full time liveaboard. That would seem to be a good teat case. He had his sensor located durectly under his stove in the galley. With propane being heavier than air, your choices of location do seem prudent.
Have you known of any other brands or models to be more robust/less false alarms?
Hi again everyone. Thanks very much for the replies. I made a mistake. The surveyor report included this statement: "As the range lacked flame-out protection on the burners it is considered an attended appliance." My wife, who was dealing with the insurance company, asked me if I'd dealt with the propane issue. But, at the end of the survey (I just noticed this) under Recommendations was the note that an 'approved propane detector/alarm must be installed in the galley area.' It turns out that this is what the insurance company requires, not flame-out protection. My fault for making assumptions. So sorry for wasting your time and thanks for the most recent posts on the topic of alarms. John
No worries. Interesting their recommendation must be installed.
Quote from: taylorjs on June 23, 2025, 09:54:36 PMSo sorry for wasting your time...
No such thing!!
We all learn from those type of scenarios.
tay : Go to a Gas log fireplace store and see if (from their spare parts) you can't rig one up for the top side burners!!
A thought