Jay Bietz wrote:
Norm Rhines wrote:Jay: Was your new valve for a horizontal tank? (very important as the new valves for vertical tanks use a float to keep them from filling more than 85% full). The vertical tank valve is a potential disaster used in the horizontal position as it does not have the breather tube that goes to the top of the tank and as such, would have liquid flow through the valve to the line = (a bad bad thing). But if you use the horz tank in the vert with a standard new valve you are ok. To further confuse this issue if they did indeed install a breather tube it would be a disaster to use this type of tank in the vert. Bottom line you only want propane gas (Not propane liquid) for your appliances.
It's a vertical tank -
Jay, thanks but horizontal tanks can’t be retrofitted because of their design and were grandfathered in. Vertical tanks only require the valve to be replaced which the float is built into it. A Horizontal tank would have to have an OPD valve added and that would require adding another welded fitting, which legally can’t be done. All the propane companies we went were fine with changing the valve if they could have found one, but no other modifications. Here’s the complete story and how we solved it.
This problem won’t affect most Westsailors. But if you have a boat with a propane locker that takes the 2.5 gal horizontal propane tank and need to replace them this might be useful. Our Westsail has a propane locker on the Port side and the largest tanks that will fit are two 2.5 gal horizontal propane tanks.
Our problem started in La Paz when we tried to get one propane tank refilled. Until then we had not had a problem getting them filled, but we have a straight or inline valve not a typical 90 deg. Service valve (angle stop valve). Since our last time in La Paz, the Propane station had started using a quick fill gun that used a hook to latch on the valve. Unfortunately it wouldn’t work on our inline valve. Their solution was to change it to an angle valve but without any provision for filling and then fill the tank. Not real safe but it got us home.
We weren’t sure if we were going to be able to go cruising again due to an injury but after two years things are looking good and we are getting ready to leave this fall. The original valve was damaged in the change out so we tried to get it replaced. Actually we wanted to replace both with a 90 deg. valve in case we ran into that quick connect gun again. But our search effort was fruitless so we decided to bight the bullet and buy two new tanks.
We ordered two new Worthington tanks from West Marine. Another problem – The Worthington tanks can only be filled through the OPD valve (over fill protection device), not the service valve which has a check valve to prevent filling through it. This is a different size valve and we’re afraid it’s going to be difficult to get them filled if not impossible out of the States. We then remembered Dave on Mandalla had two new tanks so we went to see them. The label stated not only could they be filled through both valves but the first filling had to be through the service valve. We then called Fisheries supply in Seattle to see if it was still the case, but they said the label no longer stated that you can fill through the service valve. We then spoke to Paula at Manchester tank and she referred me to Jim Summer, the Quality Control Engineer at the plant where the tanks were manufactured. Both were real friendly and helpful. Jim said he was sure the tanks were still that way but wanted to check further. An hour later he called back saying they could be filled through the service valve. That was great service from Manchester tank.
Sorry for the lengthy post but during our research we also heard an unsubstantiated rumor that these tanks may be discontinued by both companies. So if you for any reason you need one of these tanks you might want to act fast./
Jim