Need Help with Fuel for stove!!

[Bluewater4us]

In my new to me sailboat I have a Regal Stove/Oven. I went to light it and found out the tanks were empty. I pulled out the tanks on the boat to get them filled. I went to a place because they seemed different. They are slightly bigger than scuba tanks and have a european fitting on them. That is what the guy at the gas place said. He also said the tanks are marked methane. This doesn't make sense to me. Could this be right? If so can I change it over to propane without harming the Stove/Oven and not much cost?

Thanks for any help or guidance

[sailingdog]

BW4-

What you've got is probably a CNG stove. CNG is comprised mostly of methane. If you convert the system over to propane, you will have to change the burners on the stove and oven, as well as the fittings at the tank end.

IIRC, ABYC requires that gas lines have fittings that are permanent—not using hose clamps.

[hellosailor]

Did you buy the boat in Europe?

I'd check with a CNG filling station to see if those fittings will work with a US CNG refill, and if they do, see if the gas burns acceptably well. Or, they may be able to change the fittings. This is not just a matter of screwing in fittings, they are limited by law regarding tank marking, pressure ratings, and fittings so conversions may be problematic.

There are a lot of PITA rules about gas tanks and fittings, but they are there because folks cleverly manage to blow themselves up every year, I can't argue in favor of common sense when the "booms" are so big.

In most of the US CNG is relatively hard to find, even though it is safer than propane (it floats out of the boat instead of pooling in the bilge) so consider that as you look at your options. A stove will usually work with the "wrong" burners and jets--it just won't work well. It is worthwhile making your system all "correct".