Planning to use propane during your Northwest Passage voyage? Make sure you load all that you need for your voyage because there is no propane in the Arctic - no one has adapters between metric and standard - if you don't bring it - it doesn't exit. I recommend buying several extra steel propane tanks and having them filled for your voyage. Good storage would be in a vented locker but you already have your regular propane tanks in that locker - so what to do? I recommend buying several ice chests, large enough to hold the propane tanks - which offers good insulation and protection from the environments. Lash the chests on the stern swim step and don't forget to lash the tops closed. When you are finished with an empty tank dispose of properly else stow marked "MT". Now you have a good ice chest for additional storage left over - one of the handiest things on the boat - add an insulated cushion top and its a great seat too.
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Website data:
Igloo 70-Quart Marine Ice Cooler $90
Int Dims: 24.1" x 12.0" x 13.0" (WxDxH)
Ext Dims: 28.4" x 15.8" x 17.5" (WxDxH)
Igloo 120-Quart Polar Cooler $58
Ext 38.3"L x 17.4"W x 17.8"H
Igloo Quick and Cool 150-Quart Cooler $85
Ext 41.63"L x 18.69"W x 20.25"H
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https://www.morganscloud.com/2015/06/29/propane-tank-gotcha-take-two/
![JHH5II-10014-Edit.jpg]()
BTW - now you see why I recommend a natural draft drip diesel heater (i.e. Refleks) for the cabin with a stove top - if and when you run out of propane you can still cook using the heater - a bit slow but extremely effective to warm up foods.
Website data:
Igloo 70-Quart Marine Ice Cooler $90
Int Dims: 24.1" x 12.0" x 13.0" (WxDxH)
Ext Dims: 28.4" x 15.8" x 17.5" (WxDxH)
Igloo 120-Quart Polar Cooler $58
Ext 38.3"L x 17.4"W x 17.8"H
Igloo Quick and Cool 150-Quart Cooler $85
Ext 41.63"L x 18.69"W x 20.25"H
Igloo Marine 94-Quart Cooler $101
Ext 34.5 x 16.75 x 17.63
Coleman 150 Quart $176
Ext 43.1 x 19.2 x 19.0
Aluminum Propane Tank, 20 lb (4.6 gal) vertical, with Gauge
4.6 gal/20 lbs propane 20.678" height x 12.5" diameter
Aluminum Propane Tank, 30 lb (7 gal)
26.5" height x 12.5" diameter
Steel Propane Tank, 20 lb (4.6 gal), Vertical, with Gauge
4.6 gal/20 lbs propane 18" height x 13.9" diameter
Steel Propane Tank, 40 lb (9.2 gal), Vertical, with Gauge
9.2 gal/40 lbs propane 29.4" height x 19.6" diameter
Ext 34.5 x 16.75 x 17.63
Coleman 150 Quart $176
Ext 43.1 x 19.2 x 19.0
Aluminum Propane Tank, 20 lb (4.6 gal) vertical, with Gauge
4.6 gal/20 lbs propane 20.678" height x 12.5" diameter
Aluminum Propane Tank, 30 lb (7 gal)
26.5" height x 12.5" diameter
Steel Propane Tank, 20 lb (4.6 gal), Vertical, with Gauge
4.6 gal/20 lbs propane 18" height x 13.9" diameter
Steel Propane Tank, 40 lb (9.2 gal), Vertical, with Gauge
9.2 gal/40 lbs propane 29.4" height x 19.6" diameter
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https://www.morganscloud.com/2015/06/29/propane-tank-gotcha-take-two/
Propane Tank Gotcha–Take Two
I wrote the first tank gotcha post back in 2011 when we tried to fill our aluminum propane tanks, only to be told that they needed re-certification as they were over 10 years old. Since at the time I couldn’t find anyone to do the re-certification, we had to buy new tanks.
Imagine my dismay when I found that the replacement tanks we got were already long dated–by 6, 5 and 4 years–meaning we only had 4 years before the oldest “new” tank would need re-certification.
Well, that day arrived this spring and so I once again began looking for a place to get the tanks re-certified. Which wasn’t really all that hard–I just went to a company that specializes in propane services. (Why didn’t I think of that last time?)
Anyway, it turns out that finding a recertification guy (RG) is actually the easy part. The hard part is that getting the bronze valve out of the aluminum tank is, at best, a 50-50 proposition, with stripping the threads, thereby rendering the tank useless, the negative outcome. And replacing the valve is exactly what is required by law, at least in Canada, to get a tank re-certified.
So what happened, you ask? Yup, you got it, the threads stripped and we are now on the hook for a new tank after only 4 years of use from the old “new” one. Which is not even slightly financially or environmentally funny or friendly. We asked RG if he could source it but, sadly, his suppliers don’t carry the type we need (sigh).
Now, interestingly, RG told us that manufacturers actually pre-date stamp the tanks by 6 months to ensure that the tanks aren’t long dated before they reach the buyer. And, if they are long dated, they are usually sold at a discount. Which makes me wonder how we got a tank that was already 6 years old? It also makes me wonder why we were charged full price? Do you think that maybe marine suppliers are getting the tanks at a discount because they are long dated and selling them on to ignorant mariners for the full price?
Whatever the answer to that last question, we have no choice but to source these tanks through a marine supplier; however, this time, older and wiser, we are going to have a chat about date stamps before we order the tanks–and then refuse to accept them if they are long dated.
We suggest you do the same.
After years of similar frustrations [mostly with finding what we need when we need it…] we switched to the [latest generation] of composite tanks by Viking. [I don’t know if you can acquire/use them in Canada…]
http://www.vikingcylinders.com/support/faq/
http://www.vikingcylinders.com/support/faq/
They weigh less than aluminum, have a 15 year life, and are translucent so you can see the liquid content.
The one gotcha I have yet to experience is they must be ‘visually’ inspected every 5 yrs by a ‘qualified’ source [and no valve replacement required.] Being in the vicinity of an authorized ‘Requalifier’ when the time comes may be an issue in itself…
So far so good, however…
Best wishes finding your ideal solution.
Why bother with aluminum in the first place? Steel tanks are a fraction of the cost. They can easily be maintained with a little paint now and then to keep them protected and when they do reach end of life you aren’t looking at $300 replacement per tank. It’s more like $40. You could afford to replace them every two years and still be ahead of the aluminum. As for the composites, they are VERY large and don’t fit into many standard propane lockers.
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FYI - LPG TANK RECALL
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has issued an emergency order mandating a recall of cylinders manufactured by The Lite Cylinder Company, Inc. (Lite Cylinder). PHMSA also terminated the company's authority to re-qualify and manufacture DOT cylinders.
The emergency order was issued after a PHMSA investigation of Lite Cylinder of Franklin, Tennessee, revealed unsafe conditions and practices. The emergency order mandated more than 55,000 two-piece fully wrapped fiber composite cylinders be removed from service. These composite cylinders are commonly used as portable fuel tanks for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
In accordance with the emergency order, Lite Cylinder must immediately contact all cylinder owners and provide instructions about how to safely discharge, purge and remove the valve from the cylinder and how to safely return those cylinders to Lite Cylinder.
Cylinders manufactured by Lite Cylinder with any of the following markings are subject to this recall:
DOT-SP 14562
DOT-SP-13957
DOT-SP 13105 (Only if manufactured by The Lite Cylinder Company. Cylinders manufactured by Composite Scandinavia [M0408] and marked with this number are not subject to the recall)
Any cylinder requalified under requalification approval H706
Any cylinder manufactured under M5729
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Emergency orders are issued when PHMSA determines that the continued use of such an item would constitute an imminent hazard. Removal and recall of these composite cylinders is a serious safety matter that should be promptly addressed by cylinder owners, gas fillers, shippers and carriers of hazardous materials.
PHMSA's Hazardous Materials Information Center stands ready to assist anyone who has questions. The Info Center can be reached toll free at 800-467-4922.
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The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has issued an emergency order mandating a recall of cylinders manufactured by The Lite Cylinder Company, Inc. (Lite Cylinder). PHMSA also terminated the company's authority to re-qualify and manufacture DOT cylinders.
The emergency order was issued after a PHMSA investigation of Lite Cylinder of Franklin, Tennessee, revealed unsafe conditions and practices. The emergency order mandated more than 55,000 two-piece fully wrapped fiber composite cylinders be removed from service. These composite cylinders are commonly used as portable fuel tanks for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
In accordance with the emergency order, Lite Cylinder must immediately contact all cylinder owners and provide instructions about how to safely discharge, purge and remove the valve from the cylinder and how to safely return those cylinders to Lite Cylinder.
Cylinders manufactured by Lite Cylinder with any of the following markings are subject to this recall:
DOT-SP 14562
DOT-SP-13957
DOT-SP 13105 (Only if manufactured by The Lite Cylinder Company. Cylinders manufactured by Composite Scandinavia [M0408] and marked with this number are not subject to the recall)
Any cylinder requalified under requalification approval H706
Any cylinder manufactured under M5729
Emergency orders are issued when PHMSA determines that the continued use of such an item would constitute an imminent hazard. Removal and recall of these composite cylinders is a serious safety matter that should be promptly addressed by cylinder owners, gas fillers, shippers and carriers of hazardous materials.
PHMSA's Hazardous Materials Information Center stands ready to assist anyone who has questions. The Info Center can be reached toll free at 800-467-4922.
