That Patrick O'Brian has a lot to answer for

[Silkie]

Fancied some cheese on toast on Saturday night...

The first time I'd tried Silkie's grill there was a smell of gas so I turned it off immediately. Thinking about this afterwards I decided that I probably hadn't lit all the jets (seemed to remember this as a feature with ancient gas grills but I was a bit out of practice with them) but somehow never got around to repeating the experiment until now.

Carefully ensured that all the jets were lit and burning cleanly and evenly and could detect no smell of gas but kept trying. As the grill warmed up it started to smoke though this seemed fair enough given that the splashes from three years' worth of fry-ups had been falling through the slot in the top plate onto the grill itself.

After a few minutes the grill was glowing nicely and all seemed well so I was thinking about sticking the bread under when there was a small explosion. I'd just drawn my head back after a last sniff (with the benefit of hindsight any smell of gas at this point would have been masked by the earlier smoking) and have a clear memory of a sausage shaped orange flame-front coming out of the bit where you insert the grill pan.

I'm here to tell the tale and damage control reported absolutely nothing amiss although I did decline to have my underwear checked.

So what do you think happened?

My best guess is that there was a slight leak of gas (possibly from the rear of the burner) which collected inside the enclosed grill area but outwith the main flow of air to the burners until it reached a suitable concentration and/or level to be ignited by the grill flame. The original strong smell of gas when I first tried to use it was probably down to me failing to light it properly.

Good time to check your own gas installation if you have any doubts at all?

[claymore]

Whilst this is a worry to most of us, obviously had the worst happened I assume you would just have walked ashore?

[Silkie]

Assuming I could have walked at all.

[claymore]

Surely yer papalcy wid save ye frae the fires o' hell, calor an damnation?

[Booby Trapper]

Read on the ceefax last night about a gas explosion on a boat on Loch Lomond. Two in hospital. looks nasty.Think I'll stick with my Origo.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/gla ... 223140.stm

[ash]

a gas explosion on a boat on Loch Lomond.

I saw a quick report on the BBC scottish News last night - I thought that it looked more like a fire than an explosion. Still pretty scary.

I have gas, but I'm pretty hyper about it - always looking to see that SWMBO has turned off the burners fully - and turning off the cylinder when not actually in use.

I bought and fitted Lidl's gas detectorwhich I run 24 hrs when we're aboard, but I think that it may prove too hard on the battery.

Ash

[ash]

I'd just drawn my head back and have a clear memory of a sausage shaped orange flame-front coming out of the bit where you insert the grill pan.

Jings Silkie - You do like to live life on the edge.

Remember - You're not really Ra Pope, and you're not a cat - so no 9 lives.

Ash

[Fingal]

I don't think HMS Surprise ever had a gas cooker and if she had I am sure there would have been a fully trained gasfitter among her crew. Do you keep a cello aboard as well

[Nick]

Do you keep a cello aboard as well

Silkie, your challenge - should you accept - is to sometime this season hold a toasted cheese party with cello accompaniment on board Silkie for as many people as are prepared to get their feet wet.

It might just rank up there with the origami party with 14 people, a fiddle and a squeezebox on an Achilles 24 on our last night in the Azores . . .

[claymore]

My my - whit a view

[portieux]

Just one bottle and a female in charge??

Looks great fun

[lady_stormrider]

I think it's one female per bottle - if you please.

Especially as the origami party had to fold....