Empty or Full?

[Howard Kornack]

We are live-a-boards and use the shore water connection for fresh water (filtered twice before consumption). We generally take the boat out twice a month for a weekend trip. My question, for your consideration, is whether it is better to keep the water tanks empty until we leave the dock or to keep them full and treat them accordingly with water purification tablets. The tanks are Aluminum so I tend to keep away from chlorine products. Your suggestions please.

 

[Peggie Hall/HeadMistress]

Full

I'd leave the tanks full...the "critters" that cause foul water don't grow in water, they like DAMP dark places. Draining the tanks only gives 'em that environment. The plumbing is where most problems originate, and as liveaboards you're keeping water flowing through it every day. Two weeks is not very long for water to sit in the tanks, so as long as it's used and replaced that often, it should be fine. If you don't use much of it, drain and replace at least once a month.