Marina Safety Spotlight: Gas

If you're anything like us, the first task in the morning after waking up, before anything else can even be considered,  is to pop the kettle on. It's an age old ritual that heralds the start of many a day, the idea of putting to sea without first enjoying a cuppa is sacrilege! Likewise, on arrival anywhere, the first question once we're safely moored is 'fancy a cuppa?', so the humble gas stove plays an integral part in all our boating adventures, and not just for making the tea! A happy crew is a crew with a full belly...

So whether you are a seasoned boater or a weekend adventurer, ensuring that your boat's gas system is in top condition is essential. In this month's Marina Safety Spotlight, we highlight the importance of gas safety and why we ask every berth holder with a gas stove onboard to carry out an annual gas safety check through a registered engineer.

Understanding the Risks of Gas on Boats

Not every boat has gas onboard and there is a rise in the use of alternative fuels or electricity, especially in the last few years when obtaining refills has proven difficult at times. For those that do, it's a convenient and efficient energy source, but it also carries risks especially in the confined spaces found onboard. Gas leaks can lead to fires, explosions, or carbon monoxide poisoning and even a small leak can result in a catastrophic incident if not detected and resolved promptly.

What you can do to mitigate the risks

There's a few simple things you can do, not least ensure you get your gas system checked by a registered Gas Safe engineer each year, in the same way you would get your boiler serviced at home! 

• Ensure your gas bottle is stored in a locker that drains over the side and not into the bilges.
• Fit a gas alarm, ideally in the bilges as gas is heavier than air
• Fit a Carbon Monoxide alarm
• Add a gas shut off valve in the galley where the pipe comes through the bulkhead
• Turn the gas off at the bottle when you're not using it for a while
• Get your gas system checked annually!

Practical Boat Owner have a great article on their website which delves in this more deeply, read it here!

Our boatcare team can recommend a local marine Gas Safe engineer, give them a call on 01305 818550 or email on portland@boatcare.co.uk.