[C320-list] [C320

[Joe Luciano]

Wow.  Glad we don’t have UK rules here in the States for propane systems.  Replacing every 5 years with engineeed testing and certification is about as ultra-conservative as it comes.  The biggest threat to the rubber hoses is likely chafe from the outside somewhere in the boat where you can’t see it.  But, if you test your system by pressuring it up and watching the gauge to see that it stays at a given position for several hours, likely you are tight.  And with a properly working solenoid in the locker and the fact that you turn the system on to cook and off afterwards, the hose is only pressured up for brief periods of time.  Also, it’s downstream of the regulator, so it is a low pressure hose.  This is why many people have had their systems in use well over 20 years.  I have a crab cooker at home with a rubber hose on it to a propane tank.  I’ve probably had this cooker for almost 40 years.  Never had a problem with the hose on it.  But, I also worked around propane systems in a refinery for the past 35 years.  While their are known risks, common sense is a a good guide…..

Joe Luciano
Second Wind
#1044

> On Mar 15, 2021, at 7:31 AM, John morrison <sail-ability at sympatico.ca> wrote:
> 
> I’m in the process of replacing all the propane hoses on my 23 year old boat. From the propane locker I’ve taken the complete assembly, 2 short hoses plus the gauge, solenoid valve and regulator, to a local propane dealer to have it all replaced except for the gauge. I will replace the long run hose inside the vessel. I can buy the hose and fittings from our local chandlery. I’ve also read that these hoses should be replaced every 5 years, but I’m thinking 10 is probably safe. Perhaps there is a gas engineer out there who can confirm this?
> JohnM
> 1999#574
> 
> On Mar 15, 2021, at 8:27 AM, kendgb <kendgb at aol.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Hello Dennis.  Thanks for your info.  Can you tell the outside diameter of the copper tube used and where the copper was run to to attach to a rubber hose.  In other words where are the copper to rubber joints located.ThanksKen GeigerNorthern Dream #765 2000Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
>> -------- Original message --------From: Dennis Cookson <dennis at cooksons.net> Date: 2021-03-15  08:10  (GMT-05:00) To: C320-List at catalina320.com Subject: [C320 There’s not a lot of information about this topic in the C320 discussion history, so I’m posting this as an advisory which might be helpful to other owners.We finally got around to replacing the rubber hose that runs from the propane gas locker on the aft port side to the gas stove in the galley, as an essential upgrade strongly recommended by our surveyor a while back. Although the existing hose still works fine and appears to be in good shape, it is well past its recommended lifetime for propane use of just 5 years.  This is because propane attacks the rubber from the inside, and it is impossible to see the internal stress and damage that may have occurred. Should you be unlucky enough to have a leak while the hose is pressurised, the escaping gas will sink to the bilges of the boat, being heavier than air, where it will stay until ventilated, creating a potentially disastrous hazard.It is usually a condition of insurance policies that gas installations are maintained to meet local regulations, and here in the UK, certified by ‘Gas Safe’ registered engineers.  The regulations state that the replacement must deploy copper pipe (typically 10mm thick wall) from the isolation valve in the gas locker all the way to a termination point with shut-off valve at the stove, with just a metre of flexible hose at each end for the connections.  The hose behind the stove should be braided for additional protection. So we can’t simply replace like for like.Although in theory you could perform the work yourself to the appropriate standards, it would still need to be checked, tested, and certified by a registered engineer to meet the insurance requirements. So this is an expensive job, and one that owners naturally prefer not to think about. But if your current installation is well over five years old, which many will be, it’s something you can’t really afford to ignore.The good news is that Catalina Yachts did make provision (at least from 1999, the year of our boat) for replacement of the hose run from underneath the gas locker to the cupboard under the galley sinks. There is a glassed in plastic conduit tube through which it is possible to pull through a new pipe, whether copper or rubber, using the old rubber one. It requires having one person in the port lazarette and another in the galley for this part of the job, which only takes a few minutes. The rest of the installation can be done by one person.  To avoid the expense of paying for a second contractor, I offered my services to act as the engineer's assistant for this task, then left him to complete the work alone.Dennis CooksonCatalina #577
>