Proud or Scared?

Vero Beach (wikimap)
27 39.646N 080 22.224

Yesterday I was working on a project when I needed our propane torch. I fetched the tank from its storage spot in the lazarette compartment in the stern under the tiller. When I picked it up I realized that it was empty. Huh? That tank should be almost full. I looked closer and I found a spot on the bottom where the tank had rusted all the way through.

Wow, that could be serious. Leaking propane on a boat could be a serious or even a fatal event. Propane is heavier than air. Leaked propane can go down in to the bilge and sit there indefinitely until ignited by a spark. I've heard stories of boats exploding years after the leak occurred.

On the other hand, I stored the propane in this special lazarette compartment. The compartment is sealed off from the rest of the boat and it has it's own open drain. Therefore, anything that leaks in there simply spills overboard. That's where we also store our two 20 pound propane tanks for the stove.


So, should I have been scared about a near disaster missed or proud of Tarwathie and myself for stowing it safely? A little of each I suppose.

What I would really like is to find a dead simple and foolproof way to block salt water from splashing in to that compartment without hindering the exit of anything inside that wants to leak out. Does anybody have a suggestion for that?

We heard tell of our friends Don and Margaret on their W32 Heron today. They are from Maine. We met them in Maine last year. They are coming south on their first extended voyage on Heron. They wanted to take their time and enjoy the local sights as much as possible. However, as the cruisers know, this is the time of year when the cold nips at your heels if you are not south enough early enough. Don and Margaret are in Charleston today, reportedly freezing.

Head south you two, you can't depend on being warm until you're south of Melbourne Florida.