[C320-list] Seward 2 Burner Stove Not Lighting

[John Frost]

I have to share my used boat story. My rich neighbor was having heart surgery and wanted to get rid of his "things", one of which was a very lightly used 5 year old C270. It had about 50 hours on the engine and some of the cushions were still wrapped in plastic. Before our first overnight, I made sure the stove top worked. When I turned on the solenoid and turned the knob, I could hear gas escaping but it would not light, even with a big gas flame lighter. Finally I removed the tank and got it to vent. No rotten egg odor. I took it to my supplier who tested it and found it was full of dry air  from when delivered new. It had never been filled in 5 years!

                                         +
Happy Sailing!          /||\
John                           / ||  \
                                  /    ||    \
                                /      ||      \
                              /        ||        \
                            /          ||          \
                          /            ||            \
                        /              ||              \
                      /                ||                \
                    /                  ||                  \ 
                  /                    || Hull 1118 \ 
                /                      ||                      \ 
              /                        ||                         \
            /     Catalina     ||                           \
          /     C320MKII    ||                             \ 
        /            2007         ||                                \ 
      /                                ||_____________\ 
    /_____________||____ 
    _________/__________\_____|__ 
     \              Lake Guntersville, AL                    l_
      \________________________________) 
                                  \       |                              |  | 
                                    \__|                               |_|

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Dave Hupe
Sent: Tuesday, June 6, 2017 2:40 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Seward 2 Burner Stove Not Lighting

Thanks all for the input.  I'm now not sure how much propane actually is in my tank.  I may have been swayed by the apparent/misleading gauge pressure. 

I talked to the previous owner (he bought the boat in 2008) who said they never used the system.  So, it is a definite possibility that I may just need it filled (provided someone will fill it for me, but that may be a problem in itself if the tank is original, as Guy just mentioned as a dilemma).  

If I can get it filled this will be a good, relatively inexpensive (if anything is cheap when it comes to boats) way of working through the multiple possible sources of the problem. Next might be a regulator and/or solenoid. 

Thanks, Dave Hupe
'94 (hull #32)
Holland, MI