Earlier this year, the UK’s largest supplier of portable LPG cylinders, Calor, expressed its intention to discontinue its very popular 3.9kg propane and 4.5kg butane cylinders. However, after much pleading by user groups throughout the country it has now agreed to phase them out more gradually, allowing cylinders that remain in good condition to be refilled for a while longer. It suggests users upgrade to its 7kg bottle. Unfortunately, apart from being too big to fit most boat gas lockers, this will also mean more expense when buying the larger cylinder and regulator to go with it.
There are a few voices in online boating groups suggesting you simply refill your existing 3.9/4.5kg bottles from larger cylinders using a cheap decanting kit. However, self-refilling is against the law and can be extremely dangerous. The LPG cylinders remain the property of the suppliers, who are the only authorities approved to refill them. The task is carried out under strict controls, thereby ensuring total safety for both its own staff and the end user. Commonly available alternatives to Calor are Flogas and Campingaz, although their sizes don’t match exactly, and the latter is expensive in the UK.
BUTANE AND PROPANE
The two types of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) available in portable cylinders and suited for
