Out with CNG, in with Propane

One of the last items on the “To Do” list was to exchange or refill the compressed natural gas tanks that we use for cooking. This was a task I had never done before due to the tanks last a while, and we don’t cook all that much on the boat since we aren’t living on it yet. I had read that exchanging the tanks was becoming non existent and had never really looked into refilling. Well, it turns out you have to go to an unmanned fill station made for city vehicles that run off CNG and use an adapter that you make yourself from watching a youtube video to fill to near 3000 PSI. Given all that and that my tanks are old and expired, I felt the chance of blowing myself up was high. So, buy new tanks, build my adapter, and still risk blowing myself up or switch to propane which is the norm these days?….

A little background: in the 70s/80s when Holiday was built there was a push to normalize CNG use on boats for cooking, etc instead of propane. CNG is lighter than air and relatively safe. A leak will simply dissipate. Propane is heavier than air, poisonous, and will turn your water tight boat into a death trap bomb if not handled carefully and correctly. Heavier than air it settles into the bilge with nowhere to go if not contained and vented, add a spark, and KABOOM! Unfortunately, CNG never took hold and any convenience of continuing to use the systems has slowly fizzled. Add to that, if we want to leave the US, CNG is absolutely unavailable most everywhere else in the world while propane is available everywhere, even remote islands.

Snap back to reality, I’ve ordered a new propane stove and oven as well as all the systems and safety equipment to build a vented locker so as to not become a statistic. The tasks are a bit daunting. Hopefully, all the equipment will arrive next week, and we’ll get started. In the mean time, I burned off all the CNG in the two tanks so I wouldn’t be transporting bombs around as I figure out how to get rid of them and also removed the oven. This project should take us just long enough for Hermine and all her brothers and sisters to exit the area, and we’ll be ready to shove off! I’m super ready to start making cruising posts instead of boat work posts…

A little cleaning from where the dinosaur used to reside. All ready for the Force 10 Euro Compact to assume the throne! Stay tuned!