07/21/2010 07:01:47 PM
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Forkliftking
Member
Posts: 59
Joined: 02/11/2008
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I have used 3 way, 120 volt, 12 volt, or lp gas refrigerators for years, with good realiability. The lp gas will run about 3 weeks on one 20# bottle. This is a pontoon houseboat. Why don't they install them on bigger boats?
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George Allard
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07/21/2010 07:49:04 PM
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Ej
Admiral
Posts: 507
Joined: 05/15/2005
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Does it run on 12v or just use the 12v to control the LP?
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07/21/2010 09:03:42 PM
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OLD HOUSEBOATER
Super moderator
Posts: 1236
Joined: 10/18/2002
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Your unit is what is normally used on RVs. We have had them in our motor camper and 3 travel trailers. We found them reliable and cold.
EJ
They are true 3 way units.
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OLD HOUSEBOATER
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07/22/2010 03:37:21 AM
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Bamby
Member
Posts: 104
Joined: 07/30/2008
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In reality propane is a "big safety hazard" in any hulled boat. Propane should there be any kind of leak will settle to the lowest point available in the hull and accumulate, then should there be any source of ignition you could see either an explosion or fire, neither or which would be actually desirable in a boat.
I also have a pontoon houseboat that we do use propane on because it is safe enough because of it's lack of a hull. One day I was under her cleaning the pontoons and could actually smell propane under the boat. I had the wife searching inside for the leak and she actually couldn't detect it or even smell it inside the boat. I later found the leak behind the stove/oven at a connection joint. But a person couldn't actually smell it in the enclosed cabinet the leak was actually at. The propane gas was sinking down through a plywood seam or joint and dissipating away under the boat. Had I had a hull and it had accumulated inside it instead, the act of starting an inboard motor or and insidious spark could or maybe would have made for a "real bad or interesting day" I hope to never experience.
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Respect Our Outdoor Recreational Resources
Only Leave "Your Footprints in the Sand"
2003 5.3 Chevy P/U
1972 35' Crest Pontoon Houseboat
2007 90 hp. Yamaha
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07/22/2010 05:00:13 PM
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Forkliftking
Member
Posts: 59
Joined: 02/11/2008
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We never pipe it in with copper tubing. We always use high pressure, LP gas hose.
We service a lot of LP industrial equipment, forklifts, cranes etc, and have had very few problems with the hose. It is good when you have a lot of vibration.
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George Allard
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07/26/2010 02:45:13 PM
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EastTNBoater
Member
Posts: 44
Joined: 11/27/2002
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Most of the bigger boats are used as floating condos always in the slip. You can have a very nice household type fridge that is twice the capacity for the same price as a three way unit. That is the biggest reason - not safety or anything else.
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07/26/2010 04:24:30 PM
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campo5474
Member
Posts: 136
Joined: 05/09/2007
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I have installed an LP Refrigerator, LP Fireplace, and LP Stove on my houseboat without incident. It does take a little common sense and added safety when installing. For instance, I used 1/2" Stainless Steel Tubing with Socket weld fittings. I have has propane sensors installed in the hull wired back to a Solenoid on the Propane tank. As a result, if any propane is ever present in the hull, the tank is closed off. I have used this setup for over 5 years without ever having an incident.
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Sincerely,
Jason
Miss Sandi
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08/18/2010 08:54:20 PM
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DaleHollow
Admiral
Posts: 509
Joined: 06/27/2007
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boats ( Houseboats) built this day an era wont run a propane line in the hull the tanks are normally on the top, but the porpane line cant go into the hull an come back to that applance it is intended for......
must be a code issue
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"Come OOON Back............
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08/19/2010 10:31:23 AM
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FranticallyRelaxing
Admiral
Posts: 235
Joined: 09/10/2006
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Below is a pic of our living room, with my son & grandson. Behind my grandson is our fridge, a typical Dometic RV fridge (which replaced the typical Norcold RV fridge that was bad when we bought the boat)...
Also in the picture is our typical RV style 3-burner propane stove.
This is how Skipperliner built the thing back in 1988. (but note that nearly all Skipperliners were built to order, so I'm assuming these were the original customer's choices).
I haven't traced the propane lines but I'm pretty sure they run under the floor, and they're copper...
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1988 SkipperLiner 53x14 1995 Tracker Party Cruiser 32 1987 Sea Ray Seville MC 21 2007 Bayliner 175 BR
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08/19/2010 06:17:14 PM
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harvrbt
Member
Posts: 91
Joined: 08/07/2009
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We have a pontoon houseboat and of course the main line runs under the floor. The laterals are copper. We have a Norcold fridge we installed when we did the refurb, we are on the boat almost every weekend and leave the fridge going while away. It uses very little propane and works perfect. It is a 2 way 120 and propane. We have 535 dc watts of solar and I am about to install an inverter. I am going to try running the fridge on electric during the week when we aren't on the boat. Should be plenty of power with our 6 - 6 volt golf cart style batteries.
Fred
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Yesterday was the best day of my life..... I bought a Houseboat!! Check out our blog of our houseboat refurbish!! http://fredsfriendlyblogspot.blogspot.com/
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