Propane availability in Caribbean?

[silverheelsIII]

Many cruisers have benefitted from the warmth of fuel-powered cabin heaters when cruising the ICW in the spring and fall. My choices are diesel or propane fueled. We cook and BBQ with propane. As we're going to be cruising the Caribbean for a few seasons, could anyone comment on the availability of propane gas to refill out two 20lb tanks?

[capn_dave]

I know the Virgin Islands was no problem and Puerto Rico no problem, the Bahamas depends on where you are. Grenada I could find it also. You might have to do some looking around but I have found propane just about everywhere there is a big town, I was in Bocas del Toro about 15 years ago and had to take a ferry to Panama to get it.

I might have to hire a taxi or catch a ride to get it but I usually had no problem.

Fair Winds

Cap'n Dave

[gc]

My experience pretty much all over the Caribbean in 1995/6 was that propane was always available, even in some pretty small backwaters. You might have to go somewhere away from the dock to get it, but just ask almost anyone (sailor or local) and they will know where.

Note that US fittings are not always what locals use, but they will know how to deal with your tanks.

[camaraderie]

No problem all the way down island. All have propane and a way to get it to where boaters hang out ...generally through some enterprising soul!
Never had a problem with fittings even on the French islands as they were prepared with adapters at the fill places.

[IslandHop]

You can get small propane cylinders in Bocas del Toro now days.

[J36ZT]

Thanks everyone. I was wondering about propane issues as well. It sounds like there shouldn't be a problem when going from Calif to Florida or visa-a-versa. I have my own 1.5 gal tanks and was somewhat concerned about how I'd get them filled south of the US.

Skipper, J/36 "Zero Tolerance"