05/14/2012 08:36:16 AM
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TonyB
Admiral
Posts: 218
Joined: 09/05/2011
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Although this question is really being directed toward houseboaters on fresh water and not sea water, you salty folks are still welcome to join in.
Do you use marine grade appliances and hardware or do you use home or house grade stuff on your boat?
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Never wrecked a boat while awake or sober
Kemah, Tx. - Galveston Bay
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05/14/2012 09:22:38 AM
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OLD HOUSEBOATER
Super moderator
Posts: 1520
Joined: 10/18/2002
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Depends on the value/size of the boat. RV units are popular on many models and full size home appliances on larger units.
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OLD HOUSEBOATER
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05/14/2012 09:22:58 AM
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Coolbreeze
Member
Posts: 156
Joined: 07/16/2004
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Just about everything in the house section, appliances etc, on my boat are household. Wiring being the exception.
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Rick
1994 Sumerset 80'
Lake Lanier, Ga.
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05/14/2012 10:15:21 AM
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Amelia
Admiral
Posts: 522
Joined: 02/03/2007
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This is mighty tempting. I keep looking at the marine stoves- Force 10, Dickinson, and others, and they seem to want $1300+ for a basic three-burner SS stove-with-tiny oven. Yikes. I understand the significant value of auto-cut-off-if-the-flame-blows-out, but oh, my, an RV range would save us hundreds of dollars. (Now remembering, oh, yeah, huh? It's a wooden boat... kaboom..... duh....)
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Amelia
Edenton, NC
Edited: 05/14/2012 at 10:16:20 AM by Amelia
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05/14/2012 10:25:47 AM
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TonyB
Admiral
Posts: 218
Joined: 09/05/2011
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Amelia
Marine Grade goes far beyond just the safety issues. It has a lot to do with longevity also, especially if you are in a salt water environment. As a matter of fact, marine stores in coastal areas sell various grades of marine grade. There is for fresh water and there is for sea water.
Take some stainless steel knives you own and put them in a salt water environment for a few months and they will begin to corrode in your cabinets. So will appliances. So will galvanized items.
Salt water and salt air is extremely corrosive.
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Never wrecked a boat while awake or sober
Kemah, Tx. - Galveston Bay
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05/15/2012 08:44:33 AM
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clarencio5
Admiral
Posts: 229
Joined: 09/03/2006
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Beware of using too many House Grade item's---because---it could turn your boat into this picture.
I built this Houseboat in my front yard and from all 32 points of the compass---it is Ugly. It did not even have a galley or head ( It had a kitchen and bathroom though.) Notice the storm door, (Hatch) Big windows, (portholes)
and the Oak posts on the sundeck I bought for $1.00 each at the Railroad Salvage yard, which made the second floor look like a French Bordello.
Just be careful, very careful.
Click for full image
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05/15/2012 08:56:44 AM
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Amelia
Admiral
Posts: 522
Joined: 02/03/2007
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Oh, I think the Lil Hobo is adorable. But then, I'm half-owner of <-------(see avatar)<---- THAT. Not exactly a blue-water sailor's dream yacht.
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Amelia
Edenton, NC
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05/15/2012 08:56:45 AM
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EastTNBoater
Admiral
Posts: 226
Joined: 11/27/2002
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My appliances are all electric and all household - most of them came from Lowes when we redid the interior.
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05/15/2012 10:34:48 AM
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endurance
Member
Posts: 135
Joined: 11/01/2005
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Amelia,from what I can see in your avatar, your boat's a pontoon. If so, I wouldn't worry about using RV or even household appliances. Sealed pontoons have no way for propane to settle into the low spots. If you had a full hull under you, the heavier-than-air propane could settle into the low part of your hull and go ka-boom. But your pontoons make you just like an RV. A propane leak disperses into the air where it causes no problem beyond wasted propane.
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05/15/2012 11:54:32 AM
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clarencio5
Admiral
Posts: 229
Joined: 09/03/2006
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Is there anyone else on the forum that has built a houseboat from scratch,
other than us two???
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05/15/2012 11:56:08 AM
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OLD HOUSEBOATER
Super moderator
Posts: 1520
Joined: 10/18/2002
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How many propane related fires have been reported on boats and RV's in the last 5 years?
Haven't heard of any, has anybody?
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OLD HOUSEBOATER
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05/15/2012 12:21:12 PM
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TonyB
Admiral
Posts: 218
Joined: 09/05/2011
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Originally posted by: OLD HOUSEBOATER
How many propane related fires have been reported on boats and RV's in the last 5 years? ......q]
Only in FEMA trailers. 
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Never wrecked a boat while awake or sober
Kemah, Tx. - Galveston Bay
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05/15/2012 03:02:43 PM
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EastTNBoater
Admiral
Posts: 226
Joined: 11/27/2002
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I saw the results of one years ago. It was a rental boat. They had turned on the gas on the stove top. They were not sure if there was a leak or someone had left a burner on or what, but when they went to light it - big boom.
I guess the explosion blew out the flames. The boat was not burned - sort of singed inside and a bunch of the windows were blown out.
The person was hurt - not killed.
I put that one off on user error.
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05/15/2012 04:45:19 PM
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Forkliftking
Member
Posts: 141
Joined: 02/11/2008
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Clarencio5, I have one that I built from the ground up including the trailer. I would never do it again. Everybody should try it once. All it takes is a lot of money, time, and beer.
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05/16/2012 12:30:10 PM
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stmbtwle
Admiral
Posts: 2142
Joined: 04/22/2003
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Somewhat MORE than 5 years ago I had a propane explosion on my first homebuilt houseboat... it was a minor one and only took the hair off my arm and my eyebrows, and didn't damage the boat at all. However it COULD have been a lot worse and it COULD have just as easily have happened in an RV.
I learned my lesson; the RETREAT has a MARINE stove with auto-shutoff. Yes I know they're pricey but the peace of mind is worth it to me. More than once I've had a gust of wind blow out the flame... no problem.
My water heater IS an RV type, but it too has auto-shutoff.
There is no simple answer, you have to look at each item on it's own merits.
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Willie She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! http://s71.photobucket.com/alb...p;current=ef324993.pbw
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05/17/2012 08:59:03 PM
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potis
Member
Posts: 83
Joined: 08/07/2007
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All mechanical and electrical components are marine grade. Other items are RV grade
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05/17/2012 11:55:00 PM
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OLD HOUSEBOATER
Super moderator
Posts: 1520
Joined: 10/18/2002
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I don't believe you can buy a current RV stove without auto cut off. CAN YOU? My Jayco 31 TT had auto safety on the stove back in 01
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OLD HOUSEBOATER
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05/18/2012 06:23:53 AM
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Bamby
Admiral
Posts: 226
Joined: 07/30/2008
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In researching options concerning this thread I encountered a propane alarm that's available with an automatic shutoff that in effect cover the entire system if installed properly. Can't state any hands on experience with the product but if it works as stated it seems a no-brainer solution for actual propane appliance safety. One of the units I found is Propane Alarm W/Solenoid-Br 70-742-R-Br-Kit but I'm sure others are available, and maybe even at a lower cost.
At the same site they also have this 22 Stainless Steel Gas Range w/Glass Door that they state that the ovens actually big enough in it to cook a turkey. 
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Respect Our Outdoor Recreational Resources Leaving Only "Footprints in the Sand" 2003 5.3 Chevy P/U 1972 35' Crest Pontoon Houseboat 2007 90 hp. Yamaha
Edited: 05/18/2012 at 06:31:20 AM by Bamby
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05/18/2012 10:20:58 AM
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TonyB
Admiral
Posts: 218
Joined: 09/05/2011
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Here is another propane alarm from West Marine.
This is similar to what we had about 6 or 7 yeaqrs ago.
We would turn on the unit when we needed it and shut it off again when we were through, just as an extra precaution.
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Never wrecked a boat while awake or sober
Kemah, Tx. - Galveston Bay
Edited: 05/18/2012 at 10:21:38 AM by TonyB
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05/23/2012 07:39:34 AM
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CaptMark
Member
Posts: 174
Joined: 07/23/2007
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I have some home-made auxillary pontoons to boost up the tail of my boat made from plywood covered with a coat of fiberglass epoxy.
I painted them with 100% acrylic primer and two coats 100% acrylic housepaint.
After 5 seasons immursed in water there is not a blister or peeling anywhere.
Skip the marine paint and just use acrylic housepaint.
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Mark
1979 Crest
Brookville Lake, IN
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