Gas for an Out Board

[Roy Smith]

I noticed an add to day about Gas conversations for cars
I wondered if with the cost of petrol going up and up
Is it possible to convert an out board to LPG (local garage as it at the pumps)
and would it be worth it, Costs etc.

[Neil Harvey]

Is it possible, yes. For outboards? yes.

The question will be marine availability of LPG. there are only about 8 filling stations around the coast, and you need one of these because the marine valves are I think different to car valves, stopping you from filling up at land based petrol stations.

I guess you might be able to have the system fitted with car valves, but not sure about that. this would then stop you filling up at water side pumps but may not be an issue if you still have petrol tanks to fall back on.

Cost depends on the amount of tanks you have fitted and the capacity. Finding the space can be an issue as they have to be cylindrical somehow (I think you can also get doughnut shaped tanks to fit in spare wheel spaces in cars (but these are still kinda cylindrical if you get my point...). Guess you are loking at at least a couple of grand, but that was a few years ago based on inboard conversions and a fading memory.

[Rogue Wave]

yuk

calarific content of LPG is something like 70% less than petrol so you gonna need a big tank of Fkkn explosive gas strapped to your bote or you convert your old tank space and get less range.

obviously four strokes can in theory be adapted but so far I haven't heard any sucess stories. If you want to go LPG wy not get a boat with an inboatd petrol fitted and convert that. (you wouldn't get an inboard petrol engine coded however.

[Roy Smith]

I know nothing about LPG Etc, it just looked like a good idea

[codprawn]

There is an easy source of LPG - it even comes with it's own tank. They tend to be big and orange/red. Usually have the word Calor on the side. They work great on the back of forklifts so why not?

i know Honda do kits for their Petrol gennies and I bet some of the smaller outboards are the same carbs...................

[9D280]

Surely the extra weight of lugging a tank of gas around is going to kill off any savings you will get by burning the gas in the first place?

And then add the cost of the conversion.......

[codprawn]

Not really - a calor gas bottle empty is not really any heavier than an inboard tank. You would probably need 2x tanks feeding at the same time as outboards are a bit thirstier than a forklift.
You could have 2 bottles under the floor in cradles - the valve at the stern as you need liquid to flow not gas.

[9D280]

Aha! I knew there was a reason I used those lightweight plastic ones.......

[bernithebiker]

I would think you'd be far better of going with ethanol, E85, assuming you can find it. It's just over half the price of petrol here.

All you need to do is apply a small ECU control box thingy to your engine to adjust timing and air/fuel ratios slightly, and Bob's your uncle, that's it.

Consumption will increase by about 10% but you're paying 50% less for the fuel. And it's bio!!!

I am currently using it in our Audi A2, completely standard, at a ratio of about 60% petrol to 40% E85.

(Don't forget normal petrol has up to 5% ethanol in it already).

[Limey Linda]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Not really - a calor gas bottle empty is not really any heavier than an inboard tank. You would probably need 2x tanks feeding at the same time as outboards are a bit thirstier than a forklift.
You could have 2 bottles under the floor in cradles - the valve at the stern as you need liquid to flow not gas.

I think you will find that instaling gas tanks under the deck without a drain hole for fumes at the lowest point is illegal and highly dangerous. Just how would you do that? It certainly is illegal in the US.