Summer storage in FL -- Water tank full or empty

[Ted and Relinda]

We leave ours full year round. But then if we hadn't had a full tank we would have been SOL when. Charley hit Punta Gorda. We lived off our water tank and Coleman gen for several days.

[wannacat]

Leave our boat for 8 months in southern Florida with the water tanks bleached and full, one is 50 gal plastic and the other 60 gal aluminum. We've been doing this for 8 years without any problems. Also leave a full diesel tank that's treated with fuel enhancer and biocides.
Good luck with whatever way you go!

[Ken Z]

Full to the brim. 1cup of bleach to 25 gallons, add bleach first, you can pump it out in the fall.

[sailcrazy]

We have left our 4 s/s water tanks full to the vent every time we've left her for the past 17 years-always in the tropics, never north of 18 degrees N. We use filtered drinking water to fill, without added chlorine. When we return, we waste that water load, refill with bleach added, give it 4-6 hours contact time and waste that water, then refill and use. We also leave our fuel tank full (no condensation). But we leave the (f/g)holding tanks as empty as we can get them!

[Dauntlessny]

Full water, full fuel unless you can get he water tank completely dry inside, otherwise moisture plus air = mold

I's empty holding tank as much as possible, possibly filling it with water and a little bleach.

Richard

[doublewide]

Leave the fuel full, and holding tank empty. Of these rules I am absolutely sure. A full fuel tank avoids condensation. Sewage is stinky.

I don't have a proven answer to how to manage the water tank. We have left our water tanks full, partly full, and once we left them as empty as possible. Our plan from now on is to leave the water tanks full.

A caveat: avoid chlorine if you have aluminum tanks. Use Aqua Mega tabs instead (see article in Practical Sailor July 2015).

We tried leaving the water tanks empty once, but don't have an inspection port big enough to dry them out completely. We came back to two water level sensors that never worked again. Coincidence? I don't know.

[Cheechako]

I've stored in FL with whatever was in the tanks. But full with bleach would be my best option. The bleach goes away quick, but it has "sterilized" the tank by that time and not much should grow again very fast. Do not use bleach if aluminum or plastic (?) tanks.

[a64pilot]

Actually in a semi sealed tank the chlorine will take a long time to out gas.
I say semi sealed as we all have vents of course, but these vents are tiny and there is very little if any air exchange.
However even a plastic tank can be harmed by a strong solution of chlorine as can the hoses, pump etc.
I would not go overboard with the chlorine, a little goes a long way

[flyingfin]

The water tank will be the last of your worries. Here in Florida, out biggest problem is trying to keep out the mice, bats, blind mosquitoes and, worst of all, those relentless mud daubers.

I find nests in the most boats that have been laid up, have even found mud nests in outboard carb intakes. Make sure you seal off all vent lines, ventilation louvers, door cracks, etc

[model 10]

Originally Posted by flyingfin

relentless mud daubers.
I find nests in the most boats that have been laid up, have even found mud nests in outboard carb intakes. Make sure you seal off all vent lines, ventilation louvers, door cracks, etc

I still find their old nests sometimes, 4 years later.

[a64pilot]

My boat has three tanks, fuel, water and waste of course.
On my delivery trip from Daytona to Panama City I discovered all three vents were plugged with dirt dobber nests.
To fill the fuel tank I had to remove an extra bung meant for the generator so that air could get out of the tank until I could remove and unclog the vent, you couldn't dig it out, it went in several inches

[sailcrazy]

Not to hijack the thread, but I see several references to...don't overdo the bleach/chlorine, especially in s/s tanks. What dosage/formula do you use....say for 50 gal of water; how much bleach do you put in to sterilize but not overdo it?.