T&T: Propane Tanks On My Nordhavn 35 Trawler

[Faure, Marin]

>One of our two 12 lb.(?) propane tanks ran out yesterday. The marina at
Coeymans Landing would not refill it because it is not one of the new
tanks with the anti overfill device. It does have such a device but, not
the type required by current law in the US. Is it possible to have it
refilled in Canada?

If the tank is a vertical-mount tank, it must have the approved OPD.  If
the tank is a horizontal-mount tank, with "feet" permanently attached to
the tank, it can legally be re-filled even if it has the old non-OPD
valve.  The propane supply company near my place of work provided me
with a copy of the rule that says this as well as put a "no overfill
protection device" warning label on our old-valve horizontal tank. (Our
second, identical but newer horizontal tank has an OPD.)

As of a year ago you could get a non-OPD propane tank filled in Canada,
or at least in BC.  However we were told it was just a matter of time
before the same requirements that are in force in the US would be
adapted by Canada--- I don't know if this has happened yet.

You can get an old-valve tank retrofitted with a new OPD valve.  We had
this done to one of our (expensive) narrow vertical barbeque tanks that
sits in a rail mount on the flying bridge.  We had it filled once in BC
with the old valve but when we learned the old valve could be replaced
with an OPD valve for about $25, we went ahead and had this done at a
welding shop in Seattle that specializes in this.  Way cheaper than
buying a new $100-plus tank.

______________________________
C. Marin Faure
GB36-403 "La Perouse"
Bellingham, Washington