Early in the morning a few days ago here on the Rio Dulce, a cruiser was killed when a propane leak caused an explosion.

Either the hose leading to his stove was chafed or was bitten through by a rat causing a leak.

At least in this part of Central America, propane is odorless. It does not have the added smell we all associate with propane. Since the cruiser was a smoker it is thought he probably woke up, lit his first cigarette of the day and BOOM!

The explosion peeled the deck off the blue water boat, the mast collapsed onto another boat snapping their wood mast in half. The boat in the neighboring slip suffered damage to their hull with holes punched in their kayaks stowed on deck. Another further away had holes in their dodger from 'shrapnel'. There were pieces of the boat spread over 1000 sq ft.

The owner was blown out of the boat into the water.  He was immediately rescued and discovered to be badly burned. He died 3 days later in the hospital with 2nd and 3rd degree burns over 80-90% of his body.

Helluva lesson to remind everyone to inspect your propane system thoroughly from A to Z. 

There are many risk-benefit safety trade offs on a boat.   Most of us are very capable of making rational choices and safely maintaining/operating our equipment.  We are probably less good at updating our choices when personal circumstances change.

Age, health, work time/free time ratio, guests on board, alcohol/drug use, budget, location ...   There are a large number of circumstances that can change that should cause us to reevaluate our choices; but few of us do.  Choice of a stove is a premier example.

I suppose that is why insurance companies force those obnoxious surveyors on us.  They sometimes force us to change things against our will.

Propane, being heavier than air will settle into the lowest cavities of the hull and collect there. Propane also does not degrade with age. A collected pocket of propane will sit for long periods waiting for a source of ignition. Outboard storage of propane needs a positive downward sloping vent to the exterior of the boat. NEVER, repeat: NEVER stow propane below decks! If properly respected and carefully maintained, propane gas on board can be a useful fuel. If neglected or mis-handled, it can result in serious injury or death!
We still use propane gas onboard Sea Gypsy, but we have a healthy respect for its potential.
Y'all be careful out there!