Gas Hoses for Boats

Using gas on a boat requires strict precautions. Make sure you know what you're doing and stay safe when replacing gsa components yourself! Want to buy gas hoses for boats? SVB has all the information you need on the use of GOK hoses and their properties, including materials, dimensions, connections (as well as country-specific connections) and offers a range of gas hoses for use on board your vessel.
Note: Please observe the safety regulations applicable in your country and comply with them for your own safety!

Gas systems on new European Union boats are regulated in accordance with the current standard EN ISO 10239/2017 (Small craft - Liquefied petroleum gas systems), which can only be inspected for a fee. Fire caused by electrical problems are much more common in boating accidents than fires caused by gas explosions, but there are still many dangerous mistakes made with a gas system on-board that are usually due to neglegence or inappropriate handling.

What are GOK gas hoses?

- Gas hoses for sailing boats and motorhomes -

In Germany “DVGW – German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water" is the competence network for all questions related to gas and water supply and specifies the general requirements for gas systems on board, including the various fittings and, in particular, rubber hoses. Specifications and expiry or replacement dates are subject to strict regulations. The recognised and reputable quality mark of the German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water has confirmed the conformity of the high standards and compliance with the technical requirements for rubber hoses and metal fittings from GOK, the world market leader in the field of liquid gas systems, and certifies that they are not only suitable for use in boats or motorhomes, but are also safe. Butane, propane or LPG are the most commonly used types of liquefied petroleum gas on the market. Many boats in the mid-latitudes of the Mediterranean mainly use what is known as "summer gas". This is standardised for camping, motorhomes and yachts. Butane cannot be used at temperatures below 0 °C as it does not vaporise at such low temperatures, which is why it is used extensively in seasonal leisure activities at sea and on land. Propane, on the other hand, is better suited to colder winters and higher latitudes as it can withstand very low temperatures (it vaporises from -42 degrees Celsius). Furthermore, legislation stipulates the addition of a "foul-smelling" substance to warn users of leaks, making it detectable and identifiable to the nose even at very low concentrations.

Properties of GOK gas hoses:

SVB supplies DVGW-approved, flexible GOK rubber hoses with corrosion-resistant brass end fittings for the nautical sector and a fabric insert that can withstand temperatures of up to 30 °C. Gas hoses for medium pressure of around 10 bar are available in various sizes from 40 cm to 150 cm, with pressed (crimped) end pieces, with a label printed on the hose and an expiry date. In contrast, metre-long pipes without fittings are attached with clamps and replaced every 5 years. These must be regularly checked for leaks.

According to ISO 10239.3 paragraph 10, pressure tightness must be checked before a system is operated with liquid gas (butane and/or propane) after the replacement/installation of pipes or fittings. In many cases, it makes sense to install a gas warning device such as the PILOT MINI gas detector or the PILOT TWIN gas detector to prevent risky leaks. The low-pressure GOK gas hose is screwed at one end to a gas pressure regulator reducer, which is mounted directly on the cylinder. The other end is screwed to an 8 mm diameter copper pipe, which feeds gas through the bulkhead/wall duct to all cookers throughout the boat. ISO standard 10239/2017 states that hoses must be reinforced (multi-layered) and may only be used to connect the solid copper pipe to the gas cylinder or cooker.

What GOK gas pipe connections are available?

- RST8, G1/4 inch left-handed, Ermeto -

An Ermeto Fitting is an industrial pipe or tube fitting used globally. Ermeto created and patented this fitting in Germany in the early 1930s and it is still the most frequently used fitting worldwide for connecting rigid metal pipes. GOK integrates double-sided pressed Ermeto fittings for the connection of flexible gas hoses to rigid copper pipes and 8 mm pipe sockets as well as G ¼ inch anti-clockwise female left-hand threads. These are used either on cookers or on pressure reducers.

What gas cylinder connections are available?

Gas cylinder adapters are useful and necessary for connection to a pressure reducer and a gas cylinder. As there are different bottle connections from country to country in European countries, it is worth carrying the appropriate adapters with you.

SVB supplies 4 different versions for Europe:

Gas Connection Adapter Type 1: Italy and Switzerland

Gas Connection Adapter Type 2: Italy and Greece

Gas Connection Adapter Type 3: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland

Gas Connection Adapter Type 4: Denmark, England, France, Italy, Croatia, Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Spain

All types are also available as a GOK European connection adapter sets.

How do you tell which gas hose connection you have on board?

In general, there is a choice between the following GOK gas hose connections for medium pressure levels PS 10 bar:

1) G ¼ inch LH thread at one end and 8 mm Ermeto fitting at the other end (G ¼ inch and RVS 8)

2) G ¼ inch LH thread on both ends (G ¼ inch LH and G ¼ inch LH)

3) 8 mm rigid pipe socket on one end and G ¼ inch LH thread on the other end (RST 8 and G¼ inch LH)

4) 8 mm rigid pipe socket on one end and 8 mm Ermeto cutting ring fitting on the other end (RST 8 and RVS 8)

You'll find a variety of hoses with different connections and matching copper pipes with the right accessories for gas on board in our extensive range. Gimball cookers can have different gas connections to fixed installed cookers or hobs. We supply external threaded G ¼ inch or fixed pipe socket 8 mm, depending on the manufacturer and device (ENO, TECHIMPEX, CAN STEEL).

When and how do you have to change a gas hose?

- For safety, observe the expiry date -

In the section "Marine Line - Liquid gas systems on boats" on its official website, the company GOK refers to the German DVGW regulation (G 608 "Small boats - Use and testing of liquid gas systems") for pressure regulators and hoses and states that these should be replaced no later than six years after the date of manufacture. Furthermore, several European manufacturers recommend replacing hoses after three years of intensive use, as the service life cannot be estimated in advance without taking into account the operating conditions and the environment. For low-pressure gas hoses (after the regulator), which are sold by the metre and without crimp fittings, it is calculated once every five years. The expiry date is stamped on the hose. Even if it is obviously in good condition, this should be observed. For the various fixed sizes with compression fittings, as available online from SVB, the expiry date is a maximum of 7 years from the date printed on the hose. The GOK gas hoses we offer are DVGW-approved and always have the labelling embossed on the rubber.

However, you must also observe certain rules for the safety and efficiency of such components:

1. Annual visual inspection to check the integrity of the hose

2. Inspection and overhaul either by the manufacturer or by highly specialised personnel for this type of product

3. Use of original spare parts and certification of damaged parts

What do the markings on the hose mean?

Rubber hoses for LPG (LPG, propane or butane) are usually orange in colour (blue IMQ-approved CAMPINGAZ hoses are acceptable), but those that do not carry a reference standard are not considered valid. The labelling on the pipe provides the most important information and must be visible at least every 40/100 cm of the pipe. It consists of five fields that are required for identification:

1. The number of the reference and approval standard;

2. The maximum operating pressure in bar;

3. The dimension for the nominal diameter of the pipe;

4. The name and brand of the manufacturer and retailer;

5. The year of manufacture (generally for medium and high-pressure hoses) and/or the expiry date (for low-pressure hoses)

Customer ratings & reviews

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Gregor H. on 18.03.2024

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CRISTIAN DAN P. on 18.03.2024

Perfect !

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Bostjan K. on 18.03.2024

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