Re: Storage safety?
as for the original post about safety.
lpg tanks are far superior to petrol or diesel tanks.
for over half a centuary people have used lpg for cooking in boats ,heating in boats and for running the engines in boats.
the fuel pipe used for lpg is more often much better grade than the fuel pipe for petrol, and in a open boat the fumes of the gas would escape the exact same way as petrol fumes if a leak did arise.
most fuel tanks for lpg also have safety solenoids to shut off the tank if a leak in a pipe should arise too.
I have had a car run on lpg for over 10 years with no fuel pipe problems at all, the fuel tank for the lpg was still 100% safe after 10 years of daily use.
the petrol tank on the same car developed a leak after 8 years and leaked petrol onto the road when I was travelling.
now the petrol leak could of easily caused me to have my car explode if a simple spark had hit the trail of petrol left behind my vehicle.
if on the other hand it had been the gas tank, then the fumes would of evaporated leaving no trace for a following flame to catch the car.
Now in a boat. do we have a bilge full of petrol or a bilge full of lpg ? both would be the same if we through a match into it kaboom.
but the chances of fracturing a lpg tank is almost zero.
Look at the average calor or propane bottle that is around the size of a 5 gallon tank, they are built very very strong, nothing like
a plastic/poly petrol tank, even when made of steel petrol and diesel tanks are very thin and often rust and leak.
we have lots of small under 10hp engines that have their own petrol tank, but today they all seem to be made of some kind of plastic that is not flame proof or even flame retardant.
recently I deliberately experimented on a plastic type outboard fuel tank that was under the lid of a 4hp mercury engine.
a lighted cigarette will go through the plastic, yes not even a flame just red hot tobacco will penetrate it.
Now if there was a fire under the hood that would cause the petrol to explode for sure, so is that a safe source of carrying fuel NO.
I think under extreme stupidity any type of fuel can be considered dangerous, but under normal everyday circumstances the carrying of lpg in a boat is far safer than petrol or even diesel.
lpg is not better on economy as far as miles per gallon, but its better for power low down, and for boats is a perfect solution.
the fuel can be transferred to a boat better and safer than petrol, by either portable tank or at filling from a pump.
its cleaner burning and cheaper to buy.
is it safe ? I would say that if both types of fuel were invented today, the lpg propane method would pass a safety certificate but petrol would not.
like said above plastic petrol tanks ???????
I think the more people look into lpg, the more they would realise its a good fuel. and ideal for us boaters around the world.
plus remember its better than the ethanol and benzene rubbish we are all getting now at the pumps instead of good old petrol.
just my opinion ,
but like I say I used it every day in a large 4x4 every day for 10 years with NO problems of safety at all.
anyone who wants to run a 4 stroke engine it very easy to convert ANY 4 stroke to lpg (propane)
and also some fuel injected 2 strokes.
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