[C320-list] Major LP gas system failure!

[Stephen Cox]

Here in Australia we now need a gas two stage regulator for caravans, boats,
etc.  I believe the Catalinas used to come with a single stage one.
Apparently the two stage regulators are safer as they are less likely to
suffer complete failure.

My understanding is that the gas line in the boat is a flexible one.  Given
that it is now 22 years old it really should be replaced.  There well could be
insurance implications in the event of a loss due to failure of an old
flexible gas line.  Also in Australia you would not get a gas certificate for
such an old flexible line and you can't sell the boat without a gas
certificate.  Finally our local regulations also require all gas work to be
done by a licensed gas fitter. Your local situation may be different but given
that you have already experienced a failure . . .

Regards,

Stephen Cox
C320 MKII Tegwen #1141


> Hey All!
> Had some excitement on Sunday morning, on the hook in Still 
> Pond!I got up first to start the tea pot on the stove in the 
> galley.(My wife was still snoozing a bit...) As I usually do, 
> I ventured outinto the cockpit and turned the LP tank on... 
> instead of the normal 1/4 second "psst" of the gas bottle 
> charging the gauge up to pressure, I (we actually) heard a 
> POP! and the gas bottle continued to "pssssssssssss..."! I 
> immediately turned the valve off and headed into the 
> cabin.There was a heavy oder of gas in the galley area. 
> Needless to say, no stove valves were left on.The I realized 
> that I hadn't switched the gas solenoid switch on, so I was 
> amazed that gas made it into the cabin!
> Some friends that I've been talking with think that the 
> pressure regulator failed and the gas valve solenoid (down 
> stream of the regulator) was a low pressure solenoid and 
> couldn't take the pressure (which was about 30 psi at the 
> time, if you could believe the gauge).
> I can't help thinking that if I would have got a burner 
> started and *then* the system failed with the burner lit, it 
> coulda been really BAD! Especially since my wife was in the 
> aft cabin and couldn't egress very quickly!I think my first 
> reaction would've been to go to the control panel to turn the 
> solenoid switch off, loosing precious time getting to the 
> bottle valve.
> So I was wondering:
> -Anyone else have this happen to them?-Could the Stove be 
> damaged after getting a jolt of hi-pressure gas? (obviously 
> *something* leaked in the cabin)-Since I'm gonna replace the 
> tank (it's  a '97 original), regulator and solenoid, should I 
> also pull a new gas line or just pressure check it? It seems 
> pretty involved to fish a new one but probably a good thing 
> to do?-How would I pressure check the stove components? Is 
> there recommended pressure to set and monitor for leaks in 
> the stove's components?-Am I technically allowed to do this 
> work myself without certification?
> I'm a pretty capable mechanic and have run and repaired gas 
> lines in my home, so I'm not against doing the work myself.I 
> can imagine the yard would charge me an arm and a leg to 
> diagnose and repair the system before they were done.
> Thoughts?~g
> Guy and Liz Smithsv Pleiades'97 C320 #452Worton Creek, MD
>