Use of gas and heaters on the boat

Use of gas and heaters on the boat

Use

When cooking with gas, first of all, good ventilation is necessary. Always open hatches when getting started. There is normally quite limited ventilation in a boat, and burned gas will otherwise linger in the boat. When heating your boat, you obviously prefer not to have hatches open, but in normal operation, a heater has an outlet to the outside. However, this can become clogged, causing carbon monoxide can accumulate in the boat. This is a silent killer! You can't see or smell carbon monoxide, but it prevents the uptake of oxygen into your blood, eventually causing an oxygen deficiency. If you sleep while this is happening, chances are you won't wake up. Therefore, only use heaters in a boat equipped with a carbon monoxide detector. In addition, it is good if you know how to recognize the symptoms of carbon monoxide. Do you get dizzy, tired or get quite a headache when using incinerators? Then find a well-ventilated place immediately! These symptoms can also occur when engine exhaust leaks.

When cooking with gas, it is further important to use it safely. Visually check the gas hoses every time, and only open the gas bottle just before you start cooking. Are you done? Then close it again to prevent gas from accumulating if there is a leak.

Installation

It is best to have the gas system inspected every 5 years by a certified company. The entire system will then be checked for leaks, defects and hazardous components. Think of it as a standard part of boat maintenance. Apart from that, it is good to pay close attention yourself. Pay particular attention to the following points:

• Visually inspect the gas hoses for age. Bend the hose at a sharp bend and look for hairline cracks. Replace the hose if so.
• Gas hoses have a limited shelf life. They must be replaced after 5 years. The production or replacement date is on the hose. Can't find it? If so, replace the hose immediately.
• Pressure regulators are also not good forever. Watch the date, these should be replaced after 5 years as well.