Gas Locker

[robtheplod]

Hi All

 

Now looking at the last bit of the boat I've not touched - the gas locker!  I've removed the usual worrying 'slabs' of rust you get and will be tidying it all up ready for painting etc but I'm undecided about the vent hole...  at present i have a single ~20mm hole on one side of the locker at floor level and can see that i have had water in the locker - presumably from the River Severn last week when i had a most marvellous bow wave! 

 

I'm thinking that if the boat lists the wrong way then there is a potential trap and this could cause rust.... I'm thinking about a 20/25mm hole in the other side (make the original to the same size if that changes) - would this make sense?  I'm a little hesitant drilling holes in the boat but think this could be a good shout?  I see some boats with pretty substantial cut-outs for drainage so this gives me encouragement...  is there anything i need to consider before doing this?   The existing hole is about 10cm above the waterline when moored.

[Jen-in-Wellies]

I'd say go for it. Can't see a downside.

[blackrose]

Most gas lockers have vents on both sides. I'd have two in case one gets blocked. 

 

If you want to make sure the floor doesn't corrode then get it back to bare metal and apply a few coats of epoxy. It can sit under puddles for extended periods without lifting. Paint it into the corners and up the walls a few inches high.

 

Then you can put a rubber mat with holes down to protect the paint from the bottles.

 

There are plenty of threads about painting two-pack epoxy. If you're thinking a whole can is too much for that job you could always epoxy your decks too.

 

 

Edited Wednesday at 07:51 by blackrose

[Tony Brooks]

31 minutes ago, blackrose said:

Most gas lockers have vents on both sides. I'd have two in case one gets blocked. 

 

 

Those in the bow, yes, but gas tanks of one sort or another at the stern are far more likely to have just one, if you made another one it would likely vent into the boat, not outside it. I guess the OP has a bow locker, but this may not be the case.

 

I think the wataer could also be from condensation, I doubt a front locker will be well ventilated while being semi-rain proof.

[Alan de Enfield]

8 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

 

Those in the bow, yes, but gas tanks of one sort or another at the stern are far more likely to have just one, if you made another one it would likely vent into the boat, not outside it. I guess the OP has a bow locker, but this may not be the case.

 

That is exactly what I was thinking - never having had a boat with a bow gas locker.

 

The rules are that the gas must 'flow' overboard which is why the lockers have the drain hole on the outboard side - if you then make another hole on the opposite (inboard) side the gas can sit on the rear deck, and in the case of deck boards, could percolate down in the bilges.

 

There is always doubt in any answer unless the application and conditions are clearly identified.

[PeterF]

I am planning on a similar mod on my gas locker. I have a stern locker and the drain hole is at the front to overboard. I have noticed with empty water and toilet tanks in the bow and full diesel tank in the stern that the water collects at the rear of the locker and the paint is lifting and the floor rusting. So I am going to drill a second hole at the rear (to overboard).

[JoeC]

Try this for flooring ... Non-slip | Versatile Non Slip Flooring | England

[IanD]

9 minutes ago, JoeC said:

Try this for flooring ... Non-slip | Versatile Non Slip Flooring | England

Thanks for suggesting that -- exactly what I'm looking for to put down on my stern!

 

 

[blackrose]

59 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

 

Those in the bow, yes, but gas tanks of one sort or another at the stern are far more likely to have just one, if you made another one it would likely vent into the boat, not outside it. I guess the OP has a bow locker, but this may not be the case.

 

 

Yes, I assumed (perhaps mistakenly) that it was at the bow - although he did mention the water in the gas locker may have entered as the result of a bow wave, so perhaps my assumption was correct?

Edited Wednesday at 09:23 by blackrose

[robtheplod]

1 hour ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

That is exactly what I was thinking - never having had a boat with a bow gas locker.

 

The rules are that the gas must 'flow' overboard which is why the lockers have the drain hole on the outboard side - if you then make another hole on the opposite (inboard) side the gas can sit on the rear deck, and in the case of deck boards, could percolate down in the bilges.

 

There is always doubt in any answer unless the application and conditions are clearly identified.

thanks... any new hole will be directly 'overboard' - just mimicking the hole in the port side with one on the starboard side. It is in the bow of the boat.

1 hour ago, JoeC said:

Try this for flooring ... Non-slip | Versatile Non Slip Flooring | England

they look good.. I'll have to double check the height as the bottles are pretty tight in there.......

[Tonka]

1 hour ago, IanD said:

Thanks for suggesting that -- exactly what I'm looking for to put down on my stern!

 

 

Water still lays on top of the metalwork and slowly corrodes boat.

 

[blackrose]

Just now, Tonka said:

Water still lays on top of the metalwork and slowly corrodes boat.

 

 

Which is why I've epoxied my locker floors and decks. I don't know any single part paints that can withstand what is effectively immersion for long periods without lifting.

[IanD]

3 minutes ago, Tonka said:

Water still lays on top of the metalwork and slowly corrodes boat.

 

Which is why they'll only be there when I'm out on the boat -- the rest of the time they'll be in a stern locker...

 

Of course even without such mats water lays there every time it rains anyway -- and the paint (even two-part epoxy, which is what I've got) wears away underfoot, which leads to rust, which the matting will stop happening... 😉 

Edited Wednesday at 10:51 by IanD

[dogless]

For what it's worth I had some remedial work done on our gas locker.

 

I was advised by the expert boat builder that with a wet locker he would advise leaving the floor bare and letting the gas bottles stand on the steel base, metal to metal, to avoid trapping water and causing rust.

 

I blacked the gas locker floor and will continue to do so.

 

Rog

 

 

[ditchcrawler]

10 hours ago, robtheplod said:

Hi All

 

Now looking at the last bit of the boat I've not touched - the gas locker!  I've removed the usual worrying 'slabs' of rust you get and will be tidying it all up ready for painting etc but I'm undecided about the vent hole...  at present i have a single ~20mm hole on one side of the locker at floor level and can see that i have had water in the locker - presumably from the River Severn last week when i had a most marvellous bow wave! 

 

I'm thinking that if the boat lists the wrong way then there is a potential trap and this could cause rust.... I'm thinking about a 20/25mm hole in the other side (make the original to the same size if that changes) - would this make sense?  I'm a little hesitant drilling holes in the boat but think this could be a good shout?  I see some boats with pretty substantial cut-outs for drainage so this gives me encouragement...  is there anything i need to consider before doing this?   The existing hole is about 10cm above the waterline when moored.

Measure 3 times and drill one tiny hole first. the floor of the gas locker may not be dead level and you don't want the drainage hole popping through below the floor