"Skip Gundlach" <SkipGundlach@gmail­.com> wrote in message

news:ab8909df-f2a5­-4e84-89ed-dfcb7cca0­0f4@a23g2000hsc.goog­legroups.com...

Thanks but , no thanks.

I will stick with steel which does not burn and has a high melting point.

So what if it rusts a bit? I'll get a new one in exchange when it becomes

empty.

And what kind of boat owner cares if his propane tank weights half of a

steel one?

I have 4 tons of lead in my keel so lightening a propane tank, even though

it is above the waterline, is a low priority for me.

Some of you may be aware of, or, perhaps, already own (in which

case this may not be of interest to you at this time!) composite

Propane tanks. Briefly put (and follow some of the links I put

next if you don't already know about them), composite tanks won't

rust, won't corrode, are lighter than aluminum and way lighter

than steel. Minor size and capacity differences exist between

composite and steel or aluminum tanks, but are minimal in most

cases. They're taller by a bit, so if clearance is an issue for

your application, they might not work. Do a google on fiberglass

or composite tanks for an education - I think you'll be as taken

with this technology as I am. Also have a look at these links:

Here's just a few sources and prices, most of which are for the

"Lite" brand, and the 10 and 20# sizes...

http://www.ragasco.­com/files/documents/­brosjyrer_2006.pdf (a

maker's comments)

http://www.myboatsg­ear.com/mbg/product.­asp?prodID=1163 (info about

Ragasco - another maker - on a boat)

http://www.buytikit­orches.com/gas-torch­es-accessories/lc20 102, 10=130

http://www.lpgastan­ks.com/propane-tanks­/lc10 130, 20=130

http://www.rvsupply­warehouse.com/produc­t/detail.cfm/pid/358­7 20=86

http://shop.sailboa­towners.com/detail.h­tm?fno=400&group=108­2 all 100

http://shop.sailboa­towners.com/detail.h­tm?fno=400&group=108­2 Ragasco,

different maker - 100

http://www.tridentm­arine.com/stage/Trid­entMarineNewProducts­.htm -

but the cylinder looks and specs exactly like the Ragasco

Only places I could find the Trident was in Canada. Here's a

couple of sources:

http://www.pridemar­ine.com/index.cfm?ca­tegory=10202|10880&p­roduct=2287231

http://ca.binnacle.­com/product_info.php­?products_id=6300

Now, on to my story:

I had to get a replacement for my old-style valve on my 10#

aluminum tank. I brought it with me when we came ashore for

family stuff.

Fortunately for me, I was directed to Blossman Gas in Clayton,

GA, where it was accomplished in short order, inexpensively ($25

all-in) and refilled.

However, on the way in I'd noticed one of the composite tanks

sitting at the entrance door, and pointed it out to Lydia.

So, I casually inquired as to how much they were. $65!!

Needless to say (well, maybe not needless, but in any event) I

took one, filled. The circumference at its widest part is 3/4"

less than a steel tank, so it will drop right in where my barbie

tank is now.

Significant differences between it and a steel or alumiumum tank

are that it's slightly taller in the collar, and that it doesn't

have a tiny ring bottom, but, instead, is functionally flat.

That flat also results in its not being "rounded" at the botttom

of it, in the event, such as we, for our barbie mount, your

receiver is shaped like the ball-shaped base of most tanks. In

our case, it will just result in its sitting higher, which is of

no concern. It's a Ragasco, in the event that you feel the Lite

brand is critical to what I'm about to say:

Conversation with the manager, Sanford Thompson, revealed that

they had not had any success in moving them. That's cuz, of

course, they're more expensive than steel tanks, and most

landlubbers have no interest in tanks which won't rust,

particularly in this exchange-a-cylinder­ refill market, at about

double the cost of a steel spare/replacement.

When the comment about their lack of success, and the likelihood

of other branches being in the same non-boat, came up, I

immediately thought of this list, and other sailors, too, of

course (I'll be publicizing this on all the mailing lists and

forums I annoy).

So, they have, and can lead you to other branches in the event

the supply is gone after the word is out to the cruising

community, 17# (the nominal 20# size) Ragasco tanks available,

while they last, at $65 plus shipping, which they think would be

~10 or less. FWIW, it's quite lighter than my 10# aluminum tank,

even with both filled!

Contact info is slthompson@blossman­gas.com, local phone

706-782-8305 or toll free 800-369-8305. Other locations may be

found by visiting the website, www.blossmangas.com­.

I have no financial interest in this - just an excitement at

being able to find a tank at a price I'm willing to pay when I

already have a sufficiency of aluminum tanks. The technology

really tickles my fancy. That I'm able to pass along a deal is

small payment for the learning I've received here :{))

L8R

Skip

Some of you may be aware of, or, perhaps, already own (in which

case this may not be of interest to you at this time!) composite

Propane tanks. Briefly put (and follow some of the links I put

next if you don't already know about them), composite tanks won't

rust, won't corrode, are lighter than aluminum and way lighter

than steel. Minor size and capacity differences exist between

composite and steel or aluminum tanks, but are minimal in most

cases. They're taller by a bit, so if clearance is an issue for

your application, they might not work. Do a google on fiberglass

or composite tanks for an education - I think you'll be as taken

with this technology as I am. Also have a look at these links:

"Skip Gundlach" <SkipGundlach@gmail­.com> wrote in message

news:ab8909df-f2a5­-4e84-89ed-dfcb7cca0­0f4@a23g2000hsc.goog­legroups.com...

Thanks but , no thanks.

I will stick with steel which does not burn and has a high melting point.

So what if it rusts a bit? I'll get a new one in exchange when it becomes

empty.

And what kind of boat owner cares if his propane tank weights half of a

steel one?

I have 4 tons of lead in my keel so lightening a propane tank, even though

it is above the waterline, is a low priority for me.

If you had a fire hot enough to burn through a fiberglass propane tank, I

think the gas release would be the least of your worries by the time it

happened. Having a fire start because a steel tank rusted through would

worry me a lot more.

--

Roger Long

Don't know, but the nmaker states that "UV protection Both the

pressure vessel and the outer casing is protected by using UV

additives in the material"