fuel fumes in the locker

[atles]

do you worried about fuel fumes in the cockpit locker ?
i was thinking the other day if i could have a small gas burner bolted on the cockpit rail
on the opposite side of the outboard fuel locker
but maybe it is not a good idea ? how have you done some cooking on your sail boat

[snoopebj]

Funny you should say that Atles - I have the petrol tanks in the port cockpit locker and it is a worry. I'm putting a s/s circular vent on the locker same as I have in my forward v-berth lockers. These can be rotated shut in rough weather should the cockpit fill with water.The stove debate has been covered many times on these sailing websites but this last one fed my anxiety :-
http://www.trailersailerplace.com.au/ph ... 66eeeef4d3

I cannot advocate any one type of stove atles - whatever is safest and most convenient for you.
Cheers

[Yara50]

For stove solutions see:
http://www.investigator563.com/forum/vi ... tion#p2321

Note also that a lot of boats have the cockpit lockers sealed from the main cabin. Not sure if this was as-built or a later glassing in of the gap at the aft end.

[atles]

ok so i see cooking has been look at
how about getting rid of the fuel fumes that can build up in the locker then
what worked for you ?

[no way]

I don't put my fuel tank in any locker. Its a 25L tote tank which fits tight across the aft end of the cockpit. It's strapped in and the fumes, if any, can go straight overboard thru the cockpit drains (the lowest point)

[Ozzie]

Good question atles, this the general advice I'd give to anyone reading. I have consistantantly wrestled with this problem. I first raised cooking, boat fuel and butane vs others on Tsp many years ago and found deep polarization on the subject ( something of a pattern over there).

In regard to venting.My fuel tank is in the port locker but generally when sailing I leave the bung out so the lowest point is ventilated. My lockers are not sealed off from the cockpit air wise but I have never smelled petrol fumes in the cabin.

The big question of stoves. I agree with Emrys, its hard to recommend as its all up to personal risk assessment. First a few facts . When cooking you are trapped on a 19 ft boat with probably a minimum of 10 to 20 liters of fuel in a vented container ( many carry a lot more flammable stuff than that ) and an open flame. Fact... the furthest you can get away from that flame on  an Investigator is 19 feet. Fact...you are a long way from the local brigade.

So really my point is its not what your using to create a flame but how and where you do it that's probably important. I used a twin burner metho on my old cruiser for 14 years and had my share of flare ups . In that situation the stove was always in the cabin and there was not much choice . You had twin 40 litre built in petrol tanks in the cockpit sides with breather vents. I'm still here. 

When I bought the Investigator I had nothing so I bought an explodo butane Primus brand as I thought the quality control was probably better. Truth is they probably all come from the same factory . Having a portable fuel tank gave me the option of moving it up to the anchor locker when cooking in the cockpit  or at times putting it in the tender and letting that out on the painter so it was well away from the boat . Opened canisters went home in the sailing bag but then I started leaving them in a long screw top container stored on the vented anchor locker between uses.

Then, I got the jitters with the articles I'd read on them, and bought another two pot Maxie. Used that for a while but it's too big and still flares up. So I'm now carrying an explodo again for cockpit and beach cooking. The metho was used for inside cooking for a while but now it's out on the bench at home.. For the odd inside cuppa's I'm thinking of resurrecting my old metho camping stove . A primitive smaller form of the origo very much like a Trangia but with an open top that's stores very compact. I may add some mesh and something in the tank to stop spillage.

Butane as you know is heavier than air and will inhabit the lower regions of the boat . Like petrol fumes and LPG get the right amount of air fuel and ignition and you will get to view your 563 from above mast level. Spilled metho can also catch fire and ignite other flammables which may get to your fuel supply. Read all the warning advice on butane stoves in the referenced posts . Don't use big frypans as they reflect heat onto the canister. I never use canisters thar show any rust. Don't store canisters in unventilated lockers. Air the boat before cooking.

No matter what stove your using before you create a flame make sure your boat is well ventilated. That includes I guess cigarettes, connecting batteries and even flares if your unfortunate enough to have to use them.

Going back to my first few paragraphs . People not being careful with flame on boats will get their goose cooked . And not the one your having for lunch with potatoes and peas.

[Ozzie]

Interestingly you can make a small metho burner from a soft drink / beer can . If fact it's one of the most DiY things posted on the net. These are just a homemade Trangia stove. Also called a penny stove

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverage-can_stove

I note at the bottom of the article they have been banned by the Boy Scouts of America for legal reasons. My brother in law and sister in law were backpacking around the world with just a small trangia metho stove when they got to the US and tried to buy methylated spirits they were looked at funny . Over there they call it denatured alchohol. Note in the wiki isopropyl alcohol has the best heat output . Wonder if you can use that in a metho stove.

Speaking of legal reasons. Im a cynic so trust no one. I have no actual knowledge of this but I imagine if you used a butane stove inside a boat and it caught fire you may void your boat insurance if the stove you use is not recommended for boats. Similarly if you have LPG gas installed then as per a caravan I think you need to have it certified by a licenced gas fitter.

After all that ... take a thermos of hot water from home and have 3 minute noodles nd a cup of tea

[snoopebj]

get to view your 563 from above mast level

Love that one Ozzie
I guess one way or another beforre we know it we'll all be viewing our boats from above!
So make the most of it shipmates

[Steve]

I would have thought that the amount of petrol fumes coming from a tiny vent an outboard motor tank would be a non issue. I very much doubt that the rate of fuel escaping from the vent could maintain a combustible mixture of the volume that would fill the boats bilge and /or locker
To me the danger would be spilling fuel in the locker while your cooking down below

[Yara50]

If the locker is sealed, the petrol fumes stay in the locker. Fire hazard aside, they are not pleasant. I find that with plastic fuel tanks and even slightly leaky hose connectors, even a few drops of petrol can make a lot of stink.