Propane Boat

[bustermin]

Here in my area there is a person advetising a propane conversion for boats. I was just wondering if anybody has tried it with sucess. here is the text from the ad along with his photos and a link to it.

USE PROPANE AS FUEL ON YOUR BOAT AND SAVE HALF THE COST OF FUEL $$$$$$$$$$$ MY BOAT HAS A 30 GL.TO FILL THE TANK IT WILL TAKE $ 90.00 TO FILL UP TWO DAY OF USE WILL COAST ME $ 180.00 FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NOW PROPANE COST IS $ 1.45 A GL AND I USED ONLY 30 GL. IN TWO DAY WHAT WILL SAVE ME $ 150.00 FOR BEER, BAIT, SHUM, MORE BEER AND SOME FOOD...................



http://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/boa/1267909247.html

 

[south texas]

Re: Propane Boat

I work in Mexico and it's very common for small commercial trucks to run on propane. I was talking with one of the drivers and asked if there was a big savings and his response was that the cost per gallon was much less, but his truck was less efficient. He said that it is cheaper to operate the truck on propane, but not much less than gasoline. Who knows?

 

[bustermin]

Re: Propane Boat

I work in Mexico and it's very common for small commercial trucks to run on propane. I was talking with one of the drivers and asked if there was a big savings and his response was that the cost per gallon was much less, but his truck was less efficient. He said that it is cheaper to operate the truck on propane, but not much less than gasoline. Who knows?[/QUOTE


I have seen many trucks and forklifts run off propane, never seen a boat though. I know it can be done, but is it really worth it?

 

[BWR1953]

Re: Propane Boat

Propane has about 1/2 the energy of gasoline, which is what drives the cost up to get the same level of work done.

 

[mla2ofus]

Re: Propane Boat

In a boat, unless it's a large one, you need to consider the weight of the empty fuel tank. IIRC propane weighs 3.5 lb/gal, so it's about half the weight of gasoline, but that tank is really heavy unless they make aluminum propane tanks.
Mike

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Propane Boat

Propane has about 1/2 the energy of gasoline, which is what drives the cost up to get the same level of work done.

This sounds about right.
During the 80's there was a big todo about changing over you passenger car engines to propane. And they made a rather good kit to do it with, but you still had to run it on gas every so often to keep things lubed up. probably had to do with the lead in the gas and the softer vavle seats of the time.
That was when propane was around .50 cents per pound. I dont know waht it is around you now but where im at its just about the same as gas, if not a little more. So i really dont see the point in doing it.

 

[slasmith1]

Re: Propane Boat

My first question would be is it coast guard approved?

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Propane Boat

Whats the fuel/oil ratio for propane

 

[Bondo]

Re: Propane Boat

Ayuh,... That motor in the picture looks like a Bomb....

It's running a gasoline carb,+ some sort of forced induction propane....

 

[mphy98]

Re: Propane Boat

Isn't propane heavier than air? If so, I wouldn't want that near my boat. Can you say KABOOM!!!!!!!!!!

 

[rbh]

Re: Propane Boat

LPG, liquified propane gas-
great for taxis, delivery vehicles (around town) but boats NO!
We would run our cable splicer vans on propane, e350, but you get into the mountains with a full load and your sucken hind ***.
you can run into the 13/1 compression ratio, but you dont have the same ummf and still expect to get utilize the cheap price per liter/gallon price.
extremly high octane but low BTU's (great for diesel engines on the hills, boosts the octane, better burn)
the unit we used was imco, I think same as picture.
extremly vollitile, if your leaken into the bilage area BOOM.
rob

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Propane Boat

Propane is heavier than air and will settle in the bottom of a boat if you inadvertently get a tiny fuel leak. With the slightest spark.......boat gone....boat go boom.
Advantage......you will save a lot of money on haircuts in the future.

 

[scottcooney]

Re: Propane Boat

I did look at the pictures of the retro or conversion kit, I would have to agree with the author>>>> it looks like a bomb!

With that said, in the late 60's and early 70's my family had a bulldozer and a tractor that ran off propane. They were not conversions, they never had a gasoline tank, they had a 25 or 30 gallon propane tank mounted in the area a normal fuel tank would have been mounted. Both tractors were extremely reliable and both had plenty of power to push (dozer) or to run some fairly wide cultivators. Point is, they had propane motors, not conversions. It was very convenient to refuel both, we had a 200 gallon tank on wheels from the propane supplier. Much safer than hauling around 500 gallons of gasoline, there were not that many diesel tractors around in that region during those years. There was a filler line similar to the one on a propane service truck. No spills and no waste.

The fittings were never a problem from the tank to the motor, because they were not a retro or conversion. I never remember having leaks or problems at all. And if you did, the gas has the indicator (smell) so you shut down quick.

I understand and I am investigating; there are supposed to be some very nice 2, 3, and 4 cylinder propane engines on the market now. They are being used for irrigation pumps in remote locations. All self contained and supposed to have plenty of power.

Interesting thing is that you would have a more contained system than a gasoline motor (for the fuel), and not gasoline spilling or waste into the environment.

If it was a specific application and not a retrofit, it might be a really interesting concept!

 

[Mr. Florida]

Re: Propane Boat

It would work really great on a 4 stroke outboard. No ethanol, water in gas or stale gas worries on boats used seasonally. Propane is 91,500 BTU per gallon vs gasoline at 116,000 BTU per gallon. (Diesel is 139,000 BTU per Gallon BTW).

Yes, they do make aluminum tanks, I have 2 30# upright tanks, myself.

A conversion to a carburated engine would not be that complex. EFI engines, may be to complex to consider.

With all the advantages of propane, I am surprised no one has come out with a propane 4 stroke outboard. But then no one has a diesel outboard either, except Yanmar. Good luck trying to find one of those in the US.

I have converted my Honda EU2000i to run on propane. Works great!

Here are a few pictures. The second picture shows how the fuel bowl was removed and main jet replaced with the propane jet.

 

[cobalt79]

Re: Propane Boat

There is a reason that most larger boats don't even have propane on board as a cooking fuel. It is extremely dangerous because as previously stated it is heavier than air and will pool in the bilge. Bilge pumps are not that successful in voiding the bilge of propane therefore large power boats tend to go for electric cooktops and sailboats still tend to use alcohol for cooking. As a matter of fact it is considered so dangerous that sometimes if propane is used for a BBQ on a boat there is a separate sealed compartment that drains overboard for the propane tanks.

 

[madurodave]

Re: Propane Boat

propane is a great motor fuel. Check this out. http://blog.roushperformance.com/blog/2009/06/ferrellgas-and-roush-join-forces-to-promote-new-alternative-fuel-vehicle.html

And the 1/2 the power comment is totally false.

 

[tboltmike]

Re: Propane Boat

Arn't Gasoline vapor heavier than air too?

Upper and Lower explosive limit ranges need to be compaired too. Gasoline has a fairly narrow range, not sure about propane.