The microwave and stove. Arrow points to stove solenoid-valve
switch.
4N4: Range
The boat is equipped with a
FORCE 10
propane range with three top burners and an oven.
Propane gas is heavier-than-air. Therefore
it must be treated with care around a boat so that
we can be absolutely sure there is no gas escaping
into the atmosphere to collect in the boat’s lowest
spot, the enclosed bilges, to become an explosive
safety hazard. For this reason, the propane tank
itself is housed above the galley in the left seat on
the flying bridge where any leaked gas will simply
blow away.
There is, of course, a manual gas valve on
the propane tank used only when exchanging/filling
tanks. There is a second valve, a “solenoid valve”,
in the propane line immediately after the manual
valve. This electric valve is controlled by a switch
panel in the galley itself; in this way the cook can
shut off the propane supply to the stove at its
source when it not being used, simply by throwing
the switch. In addition, each stove burner including
the oven is fitted with a “thermocouple”, a heat-
sensing device that also controls the gas flow.
When the gas supply is “turned on” to a burner, the
gas will not flow unless (a) the burner is already on, or (b) the cook is holding the valve in the
“light” position. If the burner goes out for any reason, the thermocouple will shut off the fuel
automatically, assuring you of a safe galley.
To Light a Burner
Lighting a burner is easy and only takes five to ten seconds:
1)
Be sure the propane valve circuit breaker in the DC panel is on.
2)
Turn on the remote propane valve on the fly bridge by operating the over-the-
stove “Propane” switch (the pilot light on the switch panel will light).
3)
Push in the selected burner control knob (all the way) and turn it to high and hold
it until the burner lights.
4)
After the burner lights, continue to hold the knob in for about 20 seconds after
ignition while the thermocouple heats up before adjusting the flame to the desired
intensity.
5)
If ignition fails, turn off the burner and light it with a match or stove-lighter to be
sure that no excessive propane is present.
Section 4N: Galley & Appliances 4.40