It started with wanting a coffee

The stove when I first saw it looked to be dirty and had corrosion around the burners. A little bit of elbow grease and it would all be working again - how wrong I was.

After I purchased the boat I found a survey report from 2007 that stated only one burner was working - now (2011) there were none! There were two pieces of tape identifying the oven and grill but all other identifying marks including the manufacturers details were gone. The stove had past its use by date, could not be economically repaired so it had to go (but I saved the baking tray).


Then there was the boat registration requirement to obtain a gas safety certificate to show that the stove and gas system complied with the latest regulations including:

• a flame fail safe system on the stove
• two gas detectors (one under the stove, the other in the lowest area of the boat)
• a gas control box that can turn off the gas via a solenoid (manually or via the gas detectors)
• the shut-off solenoid connected to the high pressure side of the regulator and by a flexible stainless hose to the gas bottle
• the regulator mounted separately to and higher than the gas bottle with its vent facing downwards
• lagged copper pipe from the low pressure side of the regulator to a manual shut-off valve adjacent to the stove
• another flexible stainless hose from the valve to the stove, and
• all work to be carried out by a licenced gas fitter. 

After researching what was available I bought a gimbled three burner Smev stove (with oven and grill) from Whitworths Marine. One of the recommendation of one of the staff I engaged Kurt from Active Gas Services (Manly West - http://www.activegas.com.au/marine.html) to do the work. But before he could install the gas fittings I needed to buy and install the gas detection system. A quick search on the net revealed there was a limited choice available and as usual with anything to do with boats expensive. I chose the Peel Electronics model 04/02/12V Sensor Survey  (http://www.peelinstruments.com.au/page10.html) for five reasons:

• the kit came with all the parts needed for installation
• it complied with the Australian Standard - AS5601
• it had clear instructions
• it was Australian made (Melbourne) and
• a local distributor (Alternate Solutions Group -  telephone 07 3474 6575 - www.alternatesolutionsgroup.com.au ) who patiently answered my endless questions and stayed open after hours so I could collect it.

Installation was straightforward and I placed the control box under the second companionway step where it was easily accessable to turn off the gas (although I will still close the valve on the bottle when I leave the boat). One detector was installed under the stove and the other in the bilge sump.

Kurt arrived at 7:00am on a wet Monday morning to install the gas fittings. I had hoped to use the existing flexible hose as it is accepted if there is only one appliance connected, but it requires that the end fittings are swaged. The ends on the boats pipe were clamped so it was out with the flexible option and in with the lagged copper pipe - at least it provided a guide for running the pipe. Three hours later with me helping (hindering) the job was done. I still need to manufacture a more permenent mount for the regulator and solinoid but it works and I have the gas certificate for the registration authorities and my insurance.

Now where did I stow the kettle?