NaCzarter Team
· Updated
How long a gas cylinder lasts on a yacht: the short version
When cooking for four to six people, a 3 kg cylinder usually lasts about a week, a 5 kg one a week with some to spare, and an 11 kg one several weeks. You can swap it with the owner or at a petrol station in a town along the route. Every time you finish cooking, close the valve on the cylinder, because gas is heavier than air and collects in the bilge.
Gas on a charter yacht is usually a single cylinder connected to the cooker in the galley. Nobody gives it much thought until the flame goes out under a pot of pasta in the middle of the week, or until someone smells gas in the cabin. A cylinder will last less than a week where the fridge or the heating also runs on gas.
What cylinders are used on charter yachts
In listings for Masurian yachts you come across cylinders from 2 to 11 kg. The largest are found where gas also heats the water and the cabins. A 3 kg cylinder holds 7.2 l of propane-butane mix, and a 5 kg one holds 12.3 l.
On yachts with a built-in gas system, the cylinder should stand in a separate locker vented overboard, as required by the rules for recreational craft. With some owners gas is included in the charter price, while with others a spare cylinder costs extra. If the owner has provided this information, the fees on the yacht's page on NaCzarter show whether the gas cylinder is included or paid separately. At handover, ask whether the cylinder is full and where the spare one is kept, and check the cooker itself together with the rest of the equipment, following the yacht handover report.
How much gas a cooker uses
According to the technical data sheets of manufacturers of marine and camping cookers such as Dometic, CAN and ENO, a burner uses about 72 to 73 g of gas per hour for every kilowatt of output. A small 1 kW burner therefore burns about 73 g per hour, and a large one of about 1.75 kW around 127 g. Two burners on full flame use roughly 200 g per hour between them.
| Cylinder | Large burner on full flame | Two burners at once | Cooking for 4–6 people |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 kg | approx. 24 h | approx. 15 h | roughly a week |
| 5 kg | approx. 39 h | approx. 25 h | a week with some to spare |
| 11 kg | approx. 87 h | approx. 55 h | several weeks |
The table is an estimate based on manufacturers' data for a two-burner cooker, with breakfast and dinner cooked on the yacht. Sailors' experience is similar: a cylinder of about 2.75 kg lasts roughly a week for two to four people who cook without trying to save gas. A gas-powered fridge uses about 380 g a day on top of that, and gas heating 150 to 500 g per hour of operation. On a houseboat with a gas fridge or gas heating, a 3 kg cylinder may therefore not last even a week.
You save gas the same way as at home. Cook in one pot with a lid, don't heat water “just in case”, and don't keep the burner on full flame once the water is boiling. Dishes that make your gas and water last are on our list of yacht provisions.
Where to swap a cylinder in Masuria
The easiest way is through the owner, so at handover ask how swapping a cylinder works along the route. If you have to swap it yourself, look for petrol stations in towns along the route. According to fuel station directories, 11 kg propane-butane cylinders can be swapped at stations in Giżycko, in Prawdowo near Mikołajki and in Ruciane-Nida, among others. The directories say nothing about smaller cylinders, so call before you go. In Ryn, according to one sailing portal, Marina Sośnica has a cylinder exchange point. At the fuel stations on the water in Masuria you can fill up with petrol and diesel, but don't count on swapping a cylinder there.
At one DIY store chain in autumn 2026, gas for a 5 kg cylinder cost around 80 PLN when you handed in an empty cylinder, and for an 11 kg cylinder 118 PLN. Prices at stations along the route may differ.
How to use gas safely on a yacht
Propane-butane gas is heavier than air. According to its safety data sheet, it collects near the floor and in hollows, and on a yacht the lowest point is the bilge. It is explosive when it makes up 1.9 to 9.5% of the air, so in a closed cabin a small leak is enough to make things dangerous.
- Close the valve on the cylinder every time you finish cooking, at night and when you leave the yacht. This is the advice of the RYA, the British sailing association, and of the Polish fire service.
- Don't leave a burner unattended. A draught from an open hatch can blow out the flame while the gas keeps flowing.
- The cylinder always stands upright, in its own locker.
- Check the hose for leaks with soapy water, never with a lighter or a match.
- If the yacht has a gas detector, ask at handover where it is and what the alarm sounds like.
What to do if you smell gas
- Close the valve on the cylinder.
- Switch off the engine and put out every flame and any cigarette. Don't switch lights or electrical devices on or off.
- Open the hatches and the companionway to air the cabin with a through draught.
- In port, get off the yacht onto the jetty. On the water, drop anchor away from other boats and warn people nearby.
- Call the owner. Don't use a system that has leaked until it has been checked by a professional, and if there is any danger, call 112.
Remember too that an “empty” cylinder still contains some gas, so treat it the same way as a full one. Before you set sail, save the emergency numbers in Masuria in your phone.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a 3 kg gas cylinder last on a yacht? When cooking breakfast and dinner for four to six people, usually about a week. Two burners on full flame will empty it after about 15 hours of use.
Is a spare gas cylinder included in the charter price? It depends on the owner. Some include gas, while with others a spare cylinder costs extra, which is usually shown in the fees on the yacht's page.
Where can I swap a gas cylinder in Masuria? Ask the owner first. According to fuel station directories, 11 kg cylinders can also be swapped at stations in Giżycko, near Mikołajki and in Ruciane-Nida, but call before you go and ask about the size.
Do you need to turn off the gas on a yacht at night? Yes. You close the valve on the cylinder every time you finish cooking, at night and whenever you leave the yacht.
What should I do if I smell gas in the cabin? Close the valve on the cylinder, switch off the engine and put out any flames, don't use switches, air the cabin, get off the yacht or drop anchor, and call the owner, or 112 if there is any danger.
Cover photo: NaCzarter.pl
