LPG

[Labrador]

Came across a Dory with a Mariner outboard and it's powered by LPG. A GRP box at the backend houses the tank, probably eqivalent to 4 or maybe 5 gallons. I imagine the tank can be removed for refuelling. There is a GRP 'blister on the side of the outboard, I assume something to do with the conversion. Not knowing anything about LPG my questions are:

1) What sort of cost would the conversion be?

2)What would the running costs be compared to petrol, LPG is still a lot cheaper, but how would consumption compare?

3) There was also a conventional petrol tank in the boat with fuel line. Can the out board still run on petrol as well?

[Antares_9]

LPG conversions were very popular for a period on large engined petrol boats and there was an explosion (no pun intended) in marina refuelling points in conjunction with Calor in an attempt to promote it’s use. That has now dwindled with more refuelling stations closing and the network is now a shadow of what it was two or three years ago. The economy was found litre for litre to be a little below petrol boats but the overall cost was of course cheaper, the conversion costs were anything IIRC from about £1200.00 to £3000.00 which of course had to be recouped before any cost benefit could be felt which meant only boats doing high hours could really justify it. The dory you have seen may fall into that category as they are of course very popular work platforms. The issue with using them on the broads as I see it is that they normally need to start on petrol and then switch to LPG and though the BSS would accept LPG as a fuel source they were not so accommodating to duel fuel engines so unless they have changed that rule it’s a no go anyway. Other advantages of LPG are longer engine life due to fewer acids, extended oil changes due to less contamination by the fuel and of course lower pollution.

[Stranger]

hi i guess depending on the size of engine and as a diy job parts are easly come by to convert to lpg the engine needs to be water cooled as the engine coolant warms the gas unit to stop it freezing up i will add a link when i find it for parts

http://www.wtv-uk.co.uk/normal.htm

http://www.hkl-gaspower.co.uk/default.aspx

this last link is the cheapest arround for all gas parst for engines we have found they have offers on as well

[Stranger]

hi i guess depending on the size of engine and as a diy job parts are easly come by to convert to lpg the engine needs to be water cooled as the engine coolant warms the gas unit to stop it freezing up i will add a link when i find it for parts

http://www.wtv-uk.co.uk/normal.htm

http://www.hkl-gaspower.co.uk/default.aspx

this last link is the cheapest arround for all gas parst for engines we have found they have offers on as well

im guessing at around £100 as a diy job

also i think you should be able to use a gas bottle from a forklift truck to save having to install a new tank