[C38] CNG in the SF Bay area

[Tom T.]

I don't know what it would take to make a CNG stove tuned to run on LP but if it's only a matter of safe gas storage, I think maybe the standard precautions for LP would work for either gas type.

I converted my boat from the original alcohol stove/oven to a newer LP type stove.  I made a container for the LP tank that fits in my sail locker and has a vent hose to the forward port cockpit pocket where the thru-hull is out of sight but can still discharge to the atmosphere well above the waterline.

I recently switched from the standard BBQ size 20 lb propane tank to a smaller tank that will fit in the plastic bucket.

I made my newest container out of a waterproof bucket with a screw on lid conversion. I  mounted a twist off inspection plate on the top of the screw off lid making it easier to reach the shut off valve without having to remove the entire screw off lid.

I don't use an electric solenoid valve to control the gas so I have to open the sail locker and remove the inspection plate on the lid to operate the LP but that really isn't much of a problem. 

My vented container cost me:
            One plastic paint/grain type bucket
    One twist off type easy to remove lid
    Two thru hulls and clamps
    One short length of flexible hose
    Two bungie cords to secure the container  in the sail locker
    One hour of time to put everything together

My LP hose  was inserted through the bucket and secured with a generous amount of GOOP making a water and gas tight seal.  The vent hose thru hull is mounted near the bottom of the bucket so if any LP gas is released, it will be forced out the hose to the cockpit pocket where it is harmlessly vented to the atmosphere.

I used to use a home made fiberglass locker but the plastic bucket holds the small propane bottle I now use leaving more room in the locker for other junk.  I still have the larger fiberglass locker if I want to carry the larger 20 lb LP bottle on an extended cruise.  


Tom Troncalli
The Renata #95
St. Pete, Fla


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Jim and Barbara 
To: Catalina 38 Listserve
Sent: 2/13/2006 11:28:35 AM 
Subject: Re: [C38] CNG in the SF Bay area


It's my understanding that the biggest work required to convert CNG to LP is the plumbing required to make sure that the LP gas doesn't get into the bilge.  Some folks just hang the tank from the stern pulpit (pushpit?), but if you want it in the port locker you have to build an enclosure and vent it overboard from the bottom.  You will probably want a gas detector for the bilge as well.

Too bad that CNG didn't really catch on.  Much safer approach.

Jim Williams
C38 #180
Checks in the Mail
Norfolk, VA




From: Listserve-bounces at catalina38.org [mailto:Listserve-bounces at catalina38.org] On Behalf Of Tom T.
Sent: Monday, February 13, 2006 10:46 AM
To: Catalina 38 Listserve
Subject: Re: [C38] CNG in the SF Bay area


What would happen if you used LP instead of CNG?

I've converted many LP appliances to work on Natural Gas and vice versa and I'm wondering if a similar conversion would work on CNG to LP.  With my other conversions, it was just a matter of changing jet sizes, going to larger jets for LP to Natural gas and smaller jets for going from Natural Gas to LP.

In all cases, I just kept changing the jet size and mixture collar until I got a blue flame with no yellow.  A touch of solder on a jet will make it easy to drill to any smaller size you may so you won't need to buy jets.  Don't worry about the solder melting in use, it stays very cool with the gas going through it, even if the jet is very near the flame.

Most good hardware stores sell the tiny drill sets with drill holders that have a chuck collar so you can hand drill the jets held in a vice very easily.

I've never worked with CNG so I don't know if you need a smaller or larger jet size to an LP conversion but if it's close, you may  get away with only adjusting the air mixture collar to get a blue flame but my experience has been it's a combination of the jet size and mixture collar.

(destroy all evidence of this email so the marine insurance fire investigators won't find it! lol)

Good luck,

Tom Troncalli
The Renata #95
St. Pete, Fla



----- Original Message ----- 
From: george suppes 
To: Listserve at catalina38.org
Sent: 2/13/2006 7:58:25 AM 
Subject: [C38] CNG in the SF Bay area


Does anyone still use thier CNG stove around San Francisco?  I have noticed several boats in the area.  I wondered if anone knew where to get the CNG tanks refilled?
Thanks,
George Suppes
Complete Abandon #111


Yahoo! Mail
Use Photomail to share photos without annoying attachments. 


--
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 267.15.6/257 - Release Date: 2/10/2006



--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 267.15.6/257 - Release Date: 2/10/2006
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://catalina38.org/pipermail/listserve_catalina38.org/attachments/20060213/56f383ff/attachment-0001.htm>