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Just something I've been wondering about for no particular reason.
The LPG tanks on my Land Rover are outside the body.
If they were inside, I would have to fit a sealed cap over the valves with a drain pipe to the outside to vent any possible leakage.
Caravans have to have high and low level vents to allow any CO to escape.
What happens on boats ?
Any LPG or CO will accumulate in the bottom of the hull.
Does the bilge pump clear it ?
If so, doesn't that mean the bilge pump has to be left running night and day ?
external tanks must be above the water line and be vented to the outside. Occasionally people just have mounts on the back of the boat and place them there.
One flexible rubber hose from the regulator to solid copper from there on.
All appliances must have a seperate isolation valve - these are a pain for leaking actually - an be labbelled as isolation valves if they cannot be seen.
Test point must be fitted and tested for leaks - you can also fit bubble testers
Inboard pipework at gunwhale height - more likely to smell it.
Boats have stringent rules re fixed number of air vents including mushroom vents [high level]for the roof and louvre type in doors- low level.
The gas would stay in the living area of a narrow boat due to bulkheads but it has such a strong smell I assume you would notice it.
The bilge vents water only = most have a float switch and are wired direct to a battery- and gas is not permitted in the engine bay iirc.- seperate area to contain all engine water or oil so no dirty oil it for the water that gets in vai the stern gland - where prop goes outside.
Petrol requires a zero spark ventilation air bilge prior to starting but only a madman has an inboard petrol engine on a boat
full guide for the boat safety certificate - MOT but safety only
http://www.boatsafetyscheme.com/site/GettheGuide_7.asp
will be some thrilling sections on batteries, wire size, fuel pipe types etc.
You might like to read about maranising engines as well - see Bowman converter /header tans as they cool the exhaust - old from wooden boats due to risk of fire. They cool them via keel tanks , using water from whatever it is floating on or running a cooling run under the swim.
Thanks Junkyard, interesting stuff.
Gas alarms ? I didn't know such a thing existed, but now you mention it, it does sound like a good idea.
I guess you could fit a CO alarm as well.
I was just thinking of the risk of someone sitting in the boat gradually being overcome by the CO from a faulty cooker or heater.
Bilge pumps clear water out of the bottom of the boat. In our waterski boat the big V8 engine is situated in the centre of the boat hull for better balance for getting the boat quickly up on the plane. We have a Bilge Blower which extracts fumes from the engine compartment out of the back of the boat, so the engine is not starved of air. Alot of ski boats have the LPG conversion, but like the car conversion, they don't require extra ventilation, the bilge blower pumps fumes out during use only.
If left sitting for a while its good seamanship to pump the bilges before turning on batteries/starting engine, even when dry to exhaust any low level gases. Keeps the bilges sweet too. A good hand pump moves enough air to do this.
Bigger craft may have dedicated bilge blowers and a gas detector is a good bit of insurance but remember the detector head is in a hostile place!
The Shotover Jet boats in NZ run on LPG.
gas alarms get set off by farts so not great for a vegan 😉
Bubble tester are much better as if it bubbles you have aleak so is really easy to check.