LPG Conversion Anyone Done It?

[Paulkarlsven]

Hi All,

Anyone converted ttheir gas guzzler to LPG? I am intersted in hearing from people who have done this. I see this as being a way to extend the life of power boating with gas prices going through the roof.

 

[fwebster]

There are 2, maybe 3 problems I see with this, right off.

LPG requires a pressure tank. They are big and heavy. Where would you put it? What would it do to performance?

LPG is pressurized, have you thought about safety concerns? Here in the US most people who use LPG for heat/stove/cooking mount the tank outside the boat so fumes would not accumulate in a closed boat should a leak occur.

You would create a one of a kind that would be scary for most boaters.....What would that do to your resale value?


If fuel cost concerns you, you might be better off and money ahead to sell your boat and buy one with diesel engines.

 

[skibum]

Haha... This is funny. I jusk had a conversation with the admiral that ties in nicely with this thread. I fell asleep on the couch watching TV last night, and "How Its Made" was having a marathon. I woke up at 4:45AM, turned off the TV and went to bed. The admiral just asked what time I came to bed, and I told her that it was 4:45, and that "I slept through about 6 episodes of How Its Made. I'll bet I can tell you how anything is made. Sleep learned it all."

Ok... Lightweight LPG tanks. First, the robotic arms take 12 strands of twisted fiberglass yarns, and wraps them over the mold....

 

[Paulkarlsven]

There are 2, maybe 3 problems I see with this, right off.

LPG requires a pressure tank. They are big and heavy. Where would you put it? What would it do to performance?

LPG is pressurized, have you thought about safety concerns? Here in the US most people who use LPG for heat/stove/cooking mount the tank outside the boat so fumes would not accumulate in a closed boat should a leak occur.

You would create a one of a kind that would be scary for most boaters.....What would that do to your resale value?


If fuel cost concerns you, you might be better off and money ahead to sell your boat and buy one with diesel engines.

Our Fast Cat ferry services and Sydneys water taxi fleet are already using LPG conversions and have been for many years.

I did not check the address of the company in the link I provided as I wrongly assumed that they were in the USA but they are in Malta.

I wonder what will happen when the gas price in the USA reaches $7 per gallon, it is already at that price here in Australia and before you say switch to diesel, diesel is more expensive than gas here. not long ago we were over $2 a litre for diesel.

 

[fc3]

i understand that a lot of guys in Europe who collect old American cars sometimes convert them to LPG since it's much less expensive to run the cars that way. A consideration when feeding an Imperial's 440 or a Mustang's 427.

On the other hand, they are collector cars, so they don't get driven that much. Propane has a significantly lower energy density than does gasoline or diesel. Not a big deal for a car you're not going to drive much. A heck of a big problem for a boat especially when compounded with the problem of tankage. Might be easier just to kill your politicians and repeal the heavy fuel taxes. (That's a joke.)

probably

Best regards,
Frank

 

[Stray Cat]

I had a lot of experience running a 391 Ford Industrial gas conversion in a field sprayer (a gvw of 12 ton) in the late 80's. Transfer of the fuel from the bulk tank to the 80 gal tank mounted on the sprayer was a pain in the ass when the bulk tank level went below 25%. When refueling, you have to bleed off the vapor as your filling it. Back in the day, we refeuled until LPG came out of the bleed off valve. Today, that would be a no-no here. Capturing the vapor would be critical on a marine refueling anyway.

While the LPG was lower cost and there was plenty available back then. I didn't think it has as much power as the equal machines running on gasoline. During refueling on a hot summer day, it would sometimes vapor lock.

 

[Paulkarlsven]

It would seem that LPG is not something that is done on a large scale in the USA, most likely due to gas being relatively cheap compared to the rest of the world barring UAE where it is somthing like 1 or 2 cents per litre.

In many other countries the LPG conversion market is very large, all our gas stations here provide LPG pumps and have done for decades. The government here provides rebates to convert cars to run LPG and it is a pretty solid industry in Australia. I suspect that it will flow on to the marine sector soon due to the rising fuel costs. A lot of diesel engines are now being given LPG injection too.

 

[MonacoMike]

With LPG's natural tendency to accumulate at the lowest point and a boats lowest point being below the waterline seems a dangerous combination.

Gasoline prices are the sum of market price combined with each countries taxes etc. Country to country comparisons are difficult to calculate because of this.

MM

 

[320Bob]

CNG (compressed natural gas)!would be a better choice since the distribution is more pervasive in this country and natural gas is lighter than air so it is not as much of a safety issue as propane. Still because of tankage issues I don't see it as a very attractive recreational boat fuel.

 

[fc3]

algore invented that, Scott.

 

[SCORPIO]

I think any kind of pressurized fuel, especially one heavier than air, in a confined boat engine compartment is going to be an explosion waitning to happen. The cost of the conversion would be very high and getting an insurance company to sign off on it likely would be impossible for the reasons mentioned above.

 

[Paulkarlsven]

This is not ground breaking stuff that I am talking about as it is already being done and many government fleets of vessels are already using LPG conversions. If you take a look at the link in the first post you will see this is being done on a professional level.

I just checked the fuel dock at one of my local marinas and they have an LPG pump along with an unleaded gas pump and a diesel pump.

 

[SCORPIO]

Availability varies by country I suppose. I have never seen an LPG pump at any marina I've ever been to. In my area, the only choices I have for fuel is mid grade unleaded or diesel, period. Unless the cost of LP is very cheap and supply is not a problem, I stil think this kind of conversion on a boat is going to be costly and possibly dangerous of everything doesn't work perfectly.
My only LP experience is with an old fork lift I use now and then in my shop. It has a nasty tendency to leak at the fuel line attachment at the tank and has had a few pressure diaphrams go bad. Its also testy to start in cold weather. 10 Gal. doesn't go that far either.