GB is so creative. He’s always coming up with new sewing projects for me. We bought a small 4Kg propane tank in Mazatlan last winter to enhance our total propane-carrying capacity as well as to use specifically with the Force 10 BBQ GB mounted on our starboard stern pulpit. We had been connecting the BBQ directly to the main propane tanks that ride in our aft lazarette, but with that scheme the aft lazarette needed to remain open, which has always mildly offended GB’s sensibilities. The new 4Kg tank is small enough (12″ round, 7″ deep, 17-1/2″ high including valve and support legs) to ride astern closer to the BBQ, and can be connected without having to burn a whole tenth of a calorie opening a lazarette lid. The tank is white and disc-shaped, causing Linda Erdman of Curare to remark: “It looks like a giant Mentos back there.” It certainly does – and I’m happy with the Fox being the Freshmaker (TM) wherever we travel.
The tank would last longer, though, if protected from sun and salt. GB said he wanted something that could keep the tank fully covered, yet allow him quick and easy access to the valve and nozzle so that he could hook up the tank to the BBQ whenever he wished, even for example if it were dark and/or he were already cocktail-enhanced. He said it would certainly be a bonus if the cover could be removed and put back on the tank without having to go to the effort of disengaging the tank from the bungee cords that tied it to the stern pulpit. Right.
All I can say is, thank heavens for Velcro. I devised a Sunbrella cover that is sort of a rounded-top pillowcase with elastic at the bottom to cover the wee tank’s body yet leave its support legs open for attaching to our stern pulpit with either bungee cords or rope. Half of the rounded top is closed by Velcro when the tank is not in use. When the tank is delivering propane to the BBQ, the Velcro is pulled open so that the propane hose can easily be attached to the nozzle and the valve opened – but the cover otherwise remains in place around the rest of the tank. The cover need only be removed when the tank needs refilling. We’ve been using this tank to prepare scrumptious BQ meals throughout the Sea o’ Cortez & while tied up at the Mazatlan docks. Sweet.
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