Gas on a houseboat: what inspection is expected?

On a lot of houseboats and liveaboard narrowboats the cooker, the heater and the hot water run on bottled gas. On a mooring without a strong shore supply it is often the only practical way. On the water gas is more dangerous than at home. Propane and butane are heavier than air. Gas escaping from a loose joint does not drift away; it sinks into the bottom of the hull, the bilge and the space under the floor. A spark from a switch or a pump is then enough to cause a fire or an explosion that can reach the pontoon and the boats next door.

That is why gas features so heavily in boat safety checks. On Canal and River Trust and Environment Agency waters, most boats need a Boat Safety Scheme certificate before they can be licensed, and the examination is repeated every four years. The examiner checks the system for leaks and looks at the regulator, hoses, isolation valves, appliances, the gas locker and its overboard drain, and the flues of heaters and boilers. Many marinas and moorings elsewhere ask for an equivalent check in the mooring contract. Read your policy too. If it names a valid safety certificate as a condition, a missing one can become an issue after a claim.

Between checks, safety is down to you. Turn off the gas at the cylinder when you are not using it and every time you leave the boat. Fit a gas alarm low down, where gas would collect. Look at the hoses for cracks and check the date of manufacture, because rubber ages even when unused. Keep the locker drain clear and store cylinders only in the locker. Any alteration to the system should be done and checked by a qualified gas engineer. Keep the certificate aboard and a copy at home.

Worth remembering

A safety check costs an appointment. Without it, every gas claim starts with the question of whether the system was safe.