Life is Like Sailing - Propane Systems

[@lesterburnham6174]

Another great production. Would love to see more of your "A day in the life of" videos.

[@lifeislikesailing]

Thanks Lester! I will see what I can do for another day in the life video. :)

[@SailLife]

Awesome video, Alfy :) Very cool that you have to separate tanks - one for the stove and another for the heater. If I had chosen to go with a gas heater, I'm sure I would have done the same :) Your safety seems top notch. Much better than mine that's for sure (on my todo list)

[@lifeislikesailing]

Thanks Mads! I have no doubt that anything you will do to your boat will be top notch as well! Yes the separate tanks make propane management much easier! :)

[@darados]

Excellent video, once again.your boat is beautiful.

[@lifeislikesailing]

Thanks Rob! :)

[@nikolaychekan9861]

Excellent video and thanks a lot for sharing it! It is nice to see that you have installed a 2nd gas leak detector.

[@lifeislikesailing]

Thanks Nikolay! Carbon Monoxide is a killer so I don't want to take chances with that! :)

[@jeffphan4026]

Thanks for responding with an awesome video!

[@lifeislikesailing]

Glad you liked it Jeff! I hope I covered off most of the things for you. And thanks for the suggestion. :)

[@melee401]

I noticed that when you open your tank valves that you don't keep them up against the open stops. Many of these valves have backseats and when you do not back seat them in the open position they can leak through the bonnet packing/seal.

[@lifeislikesailing]

Thanks for that info Spencer! I haven never noticed a problem, but I will be sure to do that to be sure. :)

[@garygreen8737]

question, do you use a electric blanket or a electric heater ,when at dock side? also i have to say that one nice c&c sailboat !!! thanks for sharing.

[@lifeislikesailing]

Thanks Gary! I use a little electric space heater and if you want to watch my previous video 'How I heat the Boat' I explain the heating systems in more detail. :)

[@donjvalley]

Glad you and others are so safety conscious!!! I am new to sailing and interested in a similar liveaboard boat; since you have done some actual cruising, I'm curious if you have encountered any difficulties in refilling the propane tanks in other parts of the world? I've heard that petrol is more readily available than diesel, so just wondering also about propane valve compatibility....

[@lifeislikesailing]

That is great to hear you have a similar live aboard plan! Well my cruising has mainly been in the Pacific Northwest so the propane thing hasn't been an issue so far. I have actually thought that exact thing for when I plan to sail away one day. Hopefully I will know more by that time from doing some research on it to see what others recommend. :)

[@jeffg3563]

I believe the first "hard wired" detector you showed is actually a propane leak detector, not a carbon monoxide detector. Carbon monoxide is not the same as fumes from unburned fuel. And I suspect the battery operated one is a CO detector only, not a propane/natural gas detector, so will not detect a leak in a fuel line or unburned fuel sitting in the bilge. Most CO detectors from the big box stores are carbon monoxide detectors only, unless they specifically say otherwise, i.e. "Carbon Monoxide, Propane and Natural Gas Detector" vs. "Carbon Monoxide Detector".

[@lifeislikesailing]

+Jeff G Yes I think you may be right...for sure the battery powered one is a Carbon Monoxide detector. I will have to double check on the other one that you have brought that up. :)

[@normanboyes4983]

Excellent and informative video thank you. You are rightly safety minded but you do not mention a bilge level gas detector? You are well covered in the sense of detecting carbon monoxide, quite rightly, and I know you do isolate the tanks after use BUT a gas detector at bilge level is really essential.

[@lifeislikesailing]

Great advice and I will look at installing one at that level as well. :)

[@coolbluetoo]

Did you install your propane heater on your boat or was it already there when you bought it? I'm thinking of installing one aboard my own boat, I have many questions regarding installation, not the least of which is what the safe method is for running the propane lines from the tank to the heater. Are the lines run along the under side of the deck, under the floor boards, or some other area of the boat? You do a great job with your videos!

[@lifeislikesailing]

I was lucky enough to have this unit already installed before I bought the boat. If you want to send me a message on my FB page I will take a couple photos of where the lines run for the wall furnace. :)

[@snakeplisken4278]

Hi. What is the process and tools you use to swop out an empty tank with a full one?

[@lifeislikesailing]

Just a crescent wrench.

[@jacquesmesrine1403]

Good job! But I wish you would also have shown the piping and tubing of the system.

[@robertaderholdt890]

I was thinking about retro fitting my boat with LPG. I was wondering about the electric solenoid shutoff. Should it be outside the box? If the tank leeks and fills with gas and you use the electric solenoid shutoff... then?

[@robertaderholdt890]

btw, I have a 30 ft. camper and it does not have (or require) an electric shutoff. but I do have both co and lpg detectors. (and fire).

[@lifeislikesailing]

That sounds like a nice upgrade. I have seen lots of boats with the solenoid in the same compartment, but I am not an expert and I wouldn't want to say if that is ok or not. Probably best to ask a professional that question. :)

[@jackneff179]

Do you have to pull the tanks to refill them or can that be done at the fuel pier?

[@lifeislikesailing]

I take the tanks to a local propane station. Not sure if there are any propane filling stations at marina fuel docks here in Canada.

[@jackneff179]

Okay thanks for responding to my questions..Take care.

[@juholaatu9563]

Hi, I think the carbon monoxide sniffers should be higher up since carbon monoxide is slightly lighter than air. Check it out. BR, Juho, s/y Aquila

[@lifeislikesailing]

Hi Juho, Well from everything I have read about Carbon Monoxide the recommended location to mount it is outside the sleeping area (which is where mine is) because our bodies are most vulnerable to the effect of Carbon Monoxide during the sleeping hours. The locations I have my detectors are also reasonably close to the fuel sources and in the main cabin area which should protect me throughout the boat. I also read read that the detector will protect you at a low or high position because Carbon Monoxide is virtually the same weight as air. If you have researched and found anything contrary to that I would definitely appreciate hearing about it. :)

[@bird1142]

Do sailboats have any ac?

[@lifeislikesailing]

+Zay TheVlogger Not that common in the area that I live, but I am sure boats in more tropical locations have AC.

[@1958johndeere620]

Propane will seep down to the bilge and kinda stay there. Doesn't vent easily without help from a fan or wind actively forcing air down your vents. To me natural gas would be better in a boat. That will atleast rise up and out even in stale non moving air as long as your vents are open. I would have a propane sniffer in there for sure.

[@lifeislikesailing]

Yes for sure there are options for fuel sources on boats. Mine was already set up with propane so that is what I will stick with for now.

[@1958johndeere620]

LifeisLikeSailing - Vancouver, BC Propane is the most common and for sure the easiest to buy. My boat had propane heat before I bought it when the previous owner used to fish in the winter months. He kept the heater which is fine because my boat sleeps during the winter.

[@tWoforgamenot1]

cool ....

[@biker-dog-poppy]

Not watched yet but be Sure to get a co detector alarm and fit a gas detector in the lowest areas

[@lifeislikesailing]

Oh yes, a co detector is on board for sure. :)

[@gwanthon]

Thanks for the video. Very nice. I would like to discuss a couple of things. I don't know how to private message but if you could get back to me I would appreciate it. Thanks

[@lifeislikesailing]

Hi Gerald, you can send me a message on my Facebook page if you like! Or if you don't have FB you can go to my website www.lifeislikesailing.com and there is a 'contact me' option on the Follow Me page. :)

[@steedharold]

I would like to echo Jeff G's comments. Some misinformation seems to have been provided. A carbon monoxide detector will do nothing to detect propane leaks. You talk about carbon monoxide protection when really your concern would be propane leak detection. If someone followed your advice on this video about propane detection and installed a carbon monoxide detector, I think you might be liable. Careful!

[@lifeislikesailing]

+Harold Steed This video was just showing the viewers what propane systems I had on board, how they work and what safety related items I had on the boat that related to the propane. I totally agree that having a propane leak detector would be a good safety item to have on board, but in my defence at no point did I say a person doesnt need a propane leak detector and would be completely safe with just a carbon monoxide detector. For that reason I dont feel I need to be concerned about liability issues because at no point did I provided advice "that to have propane systems on your boat you should have these (insert list) safety items". Sadly, I'm sure many people have died in relation to propane leaks and likely just as many due to carbon monoxide leaks. Happy New Year and fair winds in 2016. :)