Getting compressed natural gas tanks filled is getting harder and harder as more yachts make the switch to propane. Fortunately, Torresen Marina (our home marina) fills the tanks right on the premises. I’m not confident that this will always be the case and wanted to find an option of how to overcome this problem.
I looked into just getting a new stove, but with the cost starting at $1000, I wasn’t in that big of a hurry to go down that road. GSI, the original manufacture of the stove, was purchased by Seaward in the 90s and I wasn’t expecting too much help. I decided to call them about a conversion anyway hoping they had a low cost solution. While they were not able to help, they directed me to the expert on these stoves… Todd of SureMarine.com. Todd was able to set me up with the needed orifices and expert advice on how to make the change to propane. Unfortunately, he has not converted this model and wasn’t sure how it would work.
I still have to install the tanks and get a new regulator, but this is the easy part. I will also need to adjust the flame control (needle valve) for the oven control to find the sweet spot.
He is a quick and dirty photo documentation of how I made the switch.
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- Orifice for broiler replaced
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- Oven boiler in mount
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- Oven broiler exposed
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- Lower access to oven broiler jet. 4 screws need to be removed to gain access.
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- Oven Bypass Screw. Remove and fill hole with superglue. This will need to be adjusted like a needle valve.
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- Oven control. Remove bypass screw from here
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- Remove screws from side of stove to access oven control
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- Oven Jet
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- Second jet location
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- New jet installed. Burner just needs to be bolted back down
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- Old CNG and Propane jet compared side by side
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- Old jet with burner removed
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- burner removed from mount… showing old orifice
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- Stove Jet locations
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- New orifices from SureMarine.com
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- cng locker
Hi! I I bought 1986 Sabre 30 new in 1987 and keep her in Manitowoc, WI. Thinking about converting my CNG to Propane. This is not burning issue right now as I have 4 CNG tanks and adpters to fill to 3600 lbs each at local CNG service stations ($0.90 to fill one tank) but thinking about taking her to Carrebean and will then convert. I have modified and improved to death (icreased to 400 amp hrs house bank, 110 amp alternator, 3 step regulator, refrigeration, etc etc). Had her all over great lakes and have chartered world wide. I would appreciate any info about what you suggest for propane tank storage (I think I will have to put in a locker on aft rail). Thanks!
Earl,
Finding gas in the Caribbean and beyond was the reasons we made the switch to propane too. So far so good (haven’t blown the boat up yet!) with the converted Regal stove.
With our 34, Sabre constructed a pretty nice locker for the CNG tanks (first photos in this section). Luckily, it meets all ABYC regulations regarding the storage of propane. We are able to use this, but unfortunately, it only will take the 6lb Aluminum propane tanks ($150). We are going to cruise with two 6lb tanks and see how it goes. If we are constantly looking for propane, we will add on aluminum tank to the stern push pit, but with the davits and other clutter there, we want to hold off on putting anything else on the stern.
If you plan on just sticking to the Caribbean, maybe one of the pre-made stern brackets from Sure Marine in Washington would do the trick. From what I hear, propane is easy enough to get around the islands.
Thanks,
Matt
[…] […]
We are in a similar situation with our new to us 38′ Sabre Mk II. The PO had converted to propane a while ago and has 2 6# aluminum tanks in the CNG locker laying horizontal. Our surveyor pointed out that these tanks are not safe as they are designed for horizontal installation. Something about the liquid propane can enter the lines and is a serious issue.
I have found 10 # and 20 # composite tanks designed for a horizontal install, which look like they will fit .
You might want to check on the 6 # tanks.
Regards M. Sterling
Mike,
That is a very valid concern that I too have read about, but luckily for me, Sabre used vertical tanks on the 34′ Targa… at a slight angle, but still overall vertical. I saw on the 38′ and 36′ that Sabre did in fact have a completely horizontal tank. Is this the set-up you have? Also, what restrictions in width do you have? Mine is limited to a tank diameter of about 7.5″.
Would you be willing to sell you 6lb tanks? I’ll buy both from you as I need two more!
Thanks,
Matt
i have the same regal stove. i contacted todd via email and he was almost rude .. saying he had no parts and it was dangerous to do the conversion. he seemed to have an attitude about it.
Greetings, I too am converting a CNG range to propane. Thank you for posting the info. I am going to fill the hole in the orifice then drill a hole .028 inches. Thats about half the size of the hole for CNG since propane has twice the BTUs. Also looking at the picture of the two orifices, the hole for the propane looks to be about half as big as the one for CNG. Any chance of posting additional info on the oven/broiler conversion? Was the slot in the burner tube adjusted?
Jerry,
I never ended-up adjusting the oven bypass screw after I set it at its stop (fully closed). Unfortunately, I haven’t used the oven much, but when I did, I just used the lower (broiler) burner. It worked great, and maintained temp fine, but this year I will adjust the oven bypass screw too. Good luck with the conversion!
Let me know any other questions.
Matt
Jerry,
We just bought a ’87 Alsberg Express 34 that was set up for CNG and needs a new tank (expensive) and am looking into doing a conversion. The boat already has a locker set up so good there. the boat has a Regal Safgas stove/oven for CNG so would have to modify and from what I have read parts are NLA. I have been looking at the CNG jets and it seems like it would be easy to solder them closed, being brass the solder should stick well, and then re-drill as you mentioned. Did you ever do this? What was the outcome? Thanks.
Cheers,
Jim
Jim,
We didn’t try the soldering of the jets, but I’m sure that wouldn’t be a problem. I wish it was easier to access…. I would be happy to measure what size is needed, but with the list of projects I have in front of me, that would have to be moved down the list. Sorry!
Matt
We are not currently planning a conversion to LP.
But does anyone know where I can get 2 burner control knobs for the regal 2133 stove, which we need desperately.
Thanks,
Garry
Better late than never. I did solder the holes closed and redrilled them. The stove works just fine on the bench.
Memory is telling me I stuck to the plan, hole size .028.
Hi Matt,
I’m in the process of converting my Regal Safgas stove/oven on my S362.
Did you use the same pipes from the locker to the stove?
I’m in the same situation than you with my locker, so the simplest option would be to use the slim bottles, but I’m concern on running out of gas when I sail away for extended period. Having cruising since a while, do you have enough with two 6 lbs bottles?
Thanks,
Michael.
Have just purchased 1987 Sabre 30, with original CNG tank in situ! Solenoid control panel is shot, and am told parts cannot be found for repair. Does anyone have information on company to convert system to LPG on this boat. There is a fairly secure CNG locker in cockpit, but not sure meets requirements for LPG. Any information would be helpful. Our local (Marblehead, Ma) chandler is having harder and harder time securing CNG tanks for his customers and is pessimistic about my chances of saving and using the boat’s existing system. We bought the boat for week, 2-week trips, not Wednesay night races and will be heavily dependent on a good cook stove. Thank you.
Owen
OK.. if you opt for a brand new stove Force 10 for example… none of the propane models seem to fit… any ideas?
Force 10 makes everything from a compact burner to a 4 burner. Something they carry *should* fit the dimensions, but if not you can search other brands.
Thanks for this article mate!
I’m looking for a Seaward/Princess or Hillerange propane stove with a thermostat #70400.
(Heading to Caribbean, so I’m forced to give up on my dear CNG also).
If anyone knows of any place to get one, please relay information.
Many thanks.
sj
What I meant to say was that I only need the oven thermostat. Not the whole stove!
It’s the little unit that the oven knob attaches to. Everything else I can get.
sj
Other than Sure Marine, we don’t know. Sorry!
Stephen Judd,
I am looking for the same part. Sure Marine couldn’t provide the oven thermostat. Did you have any luck finding one elsewhere?
Thanks!
-Fiona
Hi, I really like your posts about ship renovation. Its always really nice to be able to put in something from yourself to your ship. Also the craftsmanship looks pretty decent. You are certainly better then some people called themselves builders these days. Keep it up 🙂