[C320-list] New Propane tank & now need new supply pig tail, regulator & gauge.

[Bob Borelli]

Guy,
Thank you for posting your frightening experience onboard Pleaides.
The thought of a fireball in the cabin with your wife in the aft cabin.
Frightening an understatement.

Based on your experience I've ordered new parts from Catalina Direct including new solenoid valve, pigtail, regulator & gauge.
So from 10lb tank to solenoid all new parts.
Next, as you did, I will replace the propane supply hose from the locker to the stove.
And add a 12 volt propane alarm in the cabin down low by the stove, where exactly I'm not sure yet.

Also the drain line from the bottom of the propane locker to the transom discharge appears to be blocked.
Only a small trace of red food color trickling out of the clam shell cover discharge on the transom.
>From outside I cannot push a rod into the clam shell.
>From inside it's a tight space to remove the drain hose from the fitting on the inside of the transom.
But I intend to replace this drain hose with new & clear the clam shell overboard discharge.

Guy, thank you again!

Bob Borelli   1995 C320 no. 209 at Sailing Associates Inc on the Sassafras Maryland.




________________________________
From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of P.F. Ross <pfrstl at gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 8, 2022 11:46 AM
To: C320-List at catalina320.com <C320-List at catalina320.com>
Subject: Re: [C320-list] New Propane tank & now need new supply pig tail, regulator & gauge.

Thanks, Guy, will talk to CD and order new components.

On Tue, Mar 8, 2022 at 11:32 AM Guy Smith <guyclarksmith at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hey Frank,
>
> The after action analysis was that the regulator failed and sent full
> pressure to the solenoid. The old generation solenoid could not handle the
> pressure and allowed full pressure to the stove (maybe 100 psi at that
> point) go to the stove, even though the solenoid switch was in the off
> position. The stove is designed for something like 3-4 psi, so the burner
> valves seal blew. When I talked with the tech from catalina direct about
> replacement parts, he said they recommend replacing the regulator every 15
> years.
> From the CD website:
> 2) Industry norm for regulator replacement is every 15 years due to
> degradation of internal components including the critical spring and rubber
> diaphragm. Regulator must be replaced immediately if it has been underwater
> or if you smell propane at the vent. Older regulators are potentially
> hazardous, so if your regulator is more than 15 years old, replace it.
>
> On Tue, Mar 8, 2022 at 11:05 AM P.F. Ross <pfrstl at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Guy, thanks for reposting, I don't recall seeing those the first time
> > around.  Really scary.
> >
> > Did you ever determine how the gas got into the cabin?  Do you think the
> > regulator and solenoid failed and allowed high pressure gas to get to the
> > stove where that same high pressure gas overwhelmed the stove valves?
> >
> > I am still running my original setup, although I have had the tank
> > recertified and a current OPD tank valve installed by a qualified propane
> > shop.  Sounds like I should take it to the next step with regulator and
> > solenoid replacement.  In the meantime, I will pay much attention to the
> > pressurizing sound when opening the tank.
> >
> > Frank Ross
> > Beta Wave #206
> > Naples, FL
> >
> > On Tue, Mar 8, 2022 at 10:07 AM Guy Smith <guyclarksmith at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > > Hey Bob,
> > > I had a catastrophic gas failure in 2019 and replaced the bottle,
> > regulator
> > > and solenoid as a result. The new parts are recommended as the original
> > > 1997 gas parts have had failures similar to what my wife and I
> > experienced.
> > > It was a very scary situation that ended without a fireball! I've
> copied
> > > the original emails below.
> > > ~g
> > >
> > > Guy & Liz Smith
> > > sv Pleiades
> > > '97 C320 #452
> > > Worton Creek, MD
> > > ----- Forwarded Message -----
> > > *From:* Guy Smith <smitski2001 at yahoo.com>
> > > *To:* Catalina List <c320-list at catalina320.com>
> > > *Sent:* Thursday, October 3, 2019, 05:51:56 PM EDT
> > > *Subject:* Re: Major LP gas system failure!
> > >
> > > Hey All!
> > >
> > > An update on the gas leak on Pleiades....
> > >
> > > I got the Tank, Regulator, Solenoid and Hose off the boat pretty
> easily.
> > > The Tank, Regulator and Solenoid are available as OEM replacements from
> > > Catalina Direct. Customer Tech Support  was awesome.
> > >
> > > The hose runs through a conduit more or less under the Port cockpit
> > locker,
> > > under the Refer and lower stove shelf and exits beside the Hot Water
> > heater
> > > under the sink.
> > > It slid out pretty easily with a piece of the line tied and taped
> around
> > it
> > > so I can pull the new hose through.
> > >
> > > I took the hose home and connected one end to a stop valve and the
> other
> > to
> > > the gas bottle to pressure check it since there was no obvious blowouts
> > or
> > > damage to it.
> > > Turns out the hose was not the leak... :(  ...I plan on replacing it
> > > anyway...
> > >
> > > So now I need to rig up a temporary connection to the stove with my
> > > portable compressor and pressurize it to see what's leaking in it's
> > > components....
> > > I don't see any obvious rubber parts in it, so I'm baffled as to what
> > might
> > > be the culprit. Might be a threaded fitting that blew out?
> > >
> > > The hose is not directly available via Catalina Direct, but he said he
> > > could get one made for me. It's 17 1/2 foot long. I'm thinking I can
> find
> > > one or get one made local.
> > > I'll call around tomorrow to see what I come up with.
> > >
> > > Anyone have to replace parts in their stove?
> > >
> > > Best Regards,
> > > ~g
> > >
> > > Guy and Liz Smith
> > > sv Pleiades
> > > '97 C320 #452
> > > Worton Creek, MD
> > >
> > >
> > > On Tuesday, September 3, 2019, 07:24:43 PM EDT, Guy Smith <
> > > smitski2001 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > 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 out
> > > into 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 Smith
> > > sv Pleiades
> > > '97 C320 #452
> > > Worton Creek, MD
> > >
> > >
> > > On Mon, Mar 7, 2022 at 8:57 PM Bob Borelli <cassattc22 at hotmail.com>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > > Holy Smokes!  I did it!  Thank you!
> > > >
> > > > You know my wife rides horses & I sail boats.
> > > >
> > > > We are getting there, computer wise.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ________________________________
> > > > From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> on behalf
> of
> > > > Jeff Smith <svsailmates512 at gmail.com>
> > > > Sent: Monday, March 7, 2022 8:44 PM
> > > > To: C320-List at catalina320.com <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
> > > > Cc: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
> >
> > > > Subject: Re: [C320-list] New Propane tank & now need new supply pig
> > tail,
> > > > regulator & gauge.
> > > >
> > > > Bob,
> > > >
> > > > The photos are available where you uploaded them.
> > > >
> > > > Cheers,
> > > > Jeff
> > > > Fledgling Webmaster
> > > >
> > > > > On Mar 7, 2022, at 4:27 PM, Bob Borelli <cassattC22 at hotmail.com>
> > > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > I replaced the original 1994 10lb Aluminum propane tank with a new
> > > > Worthington Aluminum LPG Cylinder 10lb (2.4 gal) Vertical from West
> > > > Marine.  The new tank is about 3/4" shorter than the old tank so I
> used
> > > > 3/4" Starboard to raise it up in order to connect the Supply
> Assembly.
> > > > >
> > > > > I would like to replace this assembly, the regulator, gauge,
> pigtail
> > > and
> > > > assorted threaded fittings.
> > > > > It is a very tight space inside the propane locker.
> > > > > No room for an inline Acme threaded connection and valve.
> > > > >
> > > > > Has anyone replaced this assembly with new parts?
> > > > > One email on the list states a local propane shop used this
> existing
> > > > assembly as a template to put together a new one.
> > > > > I like that idea!!!
> > > > >
> > > > > Any suggestions, experience most appreciated.  Please help!
> > > > > I have attempted to upload a picture of the top of the tank in the
> > > > locker with the supply assembly.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thank you!
> > > > >
> > > > > Bob Borelli  C320 no. 209 'Elusive'  SAI on the Sassafras River, MD
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>