Summer storage in FL -- Water tank full or empty

[nknowland]

We are leaving our sailboat for the summer in North Florida. Should the water tanks be left full or empty?

We will be back in November so freezing should not be an issue.

Thanks.

[Vasco]

Empty

[maxingout]

Empty sounds best to me.

I will find out in a few months because I left water in my tanks for several years, and when I return I will find out.

[Privleoplag]

Full.. with a bit bleach certified for consumption. The extra weight will add to the ballast when the storms hit too.
If there's air, there's mold. Fill it.

[hobopacket]

I agree. Fill it. Proper bleach ratio.

After you return, empty, do another fill to flush the lines. Then fill for your season.

[etterridge]

We store in North Florida with all tanks, water and fuel, full. If the pump out facilities are U/S then the holding tank might be full too. That was the case last season.

Freezing has not been an issue.

I am drifting off topic BUT perhaps it is relevant:
I worry about the holding tank. Any failure, no matter how minor, will be unpleasant. We usually add some liquid gold and cross our fingers as we drive away.

Do others normally leave their holding tank with sewage in?

We hoped to fill it with water but the pump out at GreenCove was broken and our own yard further upriver has no pump out at all.

[DMCantor]

A lot depends on how long you will be away. If it is months, then any chlorine you add to the tank will be long gone.

We have put up our boat in Grenada for many years, leaving her for about 6-7 months through the hurricane season. We have always emptied the water tanks, dried them with a sponge. Never a hint of mildew.

[Vasco]

I have had Breathless since 2003. We have stored every year in North Florida (6 months on the hard) and empty the fresh water tanks before storage. As we get near to haulout day we use only one tank making sure the other has been emptied. With proper timing the last tank is nearly empty on the day before haulout and we then empty it. We do it this way because it takes hours to pump the tanks empty. Sometimes I put a bit of bleach in the empty tanks but not usually. When we return in the fall/winter we put a bit of water and bleach in both tanks and run it through. We have two 60 gallon tanks.

We drink the water straight from our tanks. No filtering, no foul taste. I would really like to hear what those that keep the tanks full find when they return to their boats. The reason for this is that I have heard of horror stories of the water turning bad. Interesting differing points of view.

As for holding tanks always store empty.

Fuel we fill up and treat before the boat is put away.

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by maxingout

Empty sounds best to me.

I will find out in a few months because I left water in my tanks for several years, and when I return I will find out.

Please add it to this thread when you find out.

[akprb]

I'm of the "full" camp, all tanks.

[a64pilot]

If full, then completely running out the vent full.
If empty, then completely as in dry if possible full, either will work. But I'd rather go with empty, just I cannot get inside of my tank to dry it out.

[model 10]

If the tanks are stainless, leaving them full of water, with extra clorine is a bad thing. No Oxygen for the stainless and clorine which is corosive to stainless.

[travellerw]

Empty and dry camp for me. We do as above, we empty them and then dry with a sponge. No mildew or even a smell when we came back. Best of all, its like we have a brand new tank for the new season! No draining, refilling or other nonsense. Just fill and purge the lines!

[CREX]

I fill tanks. Use proper drinking water hose along with an rv filter and rv water treatment. Always been great. Black tank dump and add a little water and chemical, less than a 1/4 filled. Good luck.

[Aquadome]

Store in the Bahamas ... always full water tanks running out the vent... always use drinking water hose with water filter. Full fuel as well.