How do you store your propane canisters on board?

I am worried about the fact that they can leek.

Any homemade storage ideas to contain?

One thing to remember is propane is heavier than air. If one does leak, you need the bottom area to be vented or open.

Onboard our sailing yacht we carried propane in a locker that was vented at the botttom of the locker overboard. Any leaks and it flowed out the vent.

Nowdays you can get sniffers to detect any leak.

Mark

The problem with the $3 propane cylinders as stated is that they can leak.

And as stated, since propane is heavier than air, its just as dangerous as having a gasoline leak, as fumes will collect in the bilge.

I have seen home-made containers, made from 4" or so PVC with a screw-on top. I don't know how well they work.

I don't use propane on the boat. If I did, I'd store the cylinders on the swim platform outside in a container such as I described so there would be no way it could get into the bilge.

You can store them among the life jackets to act as a cushion. If you don't trust the disposable green tanks there is also a small refillable 5 pound tanks available. You just have to buy the hose adapter for it.

I wonder if the carbon monoxyde detector that came with the boat can detect propane. I'll have to check.

Well, since my new boat has a factory installed propane stove and system I can tell you how it's supposed to be done.

The tank is in a propane locker in the cockpit, outside of the cabin. There is a vent hole in the bottom of the locker that leads overboard so any propane leak will be to the atmosphere and not an explosion hazzard. There's a gauge that allows you to check for leaks and there's a solenoid in the locker that's controlled from the galley so propane is only available when you are actually using it. And there's a "sniffer" much like a smoke or CO detector to warn of leaks. Oh, and the stove burners each have a thermocouple so if the flame goes out, the propane turns off.

Small cylinders? You don't want to try to contain a leak, you want any leaking propane to vent to the atmosphere, not in the cabin or bilge. And it's heavier than air so keep that in mind when designing any storage system.

Any good to store them in an ice chest and close the lid?

NO !!!! They must be stored in a well ventilated area.

What is "well vented" in a boat? The hull is enclosed and is the lowest part for the heavy gas.

Swim deck.

Have you seen them lashed to the swim platform?

As I posted above, my propane locker has a hose from the bottom of the locker to a through-hull located a few inches above the waterline. Any propane that leaks out of the canister exits through this hose and outside of the boat. The propane locker is outside of the boat's cabin.

This could be adapted to many boats with a little thought.

The swim platform would work as well.

That would contain any leaks, but it would be a bomb if there was a leak and a spark or open flame.

If the cooler has a drain in the bottom and you can plumb the drain overboard below the deck without a rise in the hose, this should be an acceptable propane locker.

I've seen dive tanks and other unidentified tanks lashed to the swim platform. Not sure why you couldn't bracket a propane tank back there. Just wouldn't want a dark on sitting in the sun.