Do I need to keep water system full?

[gs555]

I've owned by boat (#96) for about a year and I'm still trying to figure things out. We don't use our water much - just for flushing (until I can figure out the clog in the raw water for the head) and washing hands. Since we only use it on weekends, the water in the tanks and hoses is sitting most of the time and so starts to stink. We're on a mooring so there's no easy way to empty and refill the water, which also leads to us not using it much, and not easy to sanitize the tanks every month.

I believe I was told that I should always have water in the hot water heater because it appears that the hot water heater helps with engine cooling. There is a bypass installed at the water heater.

Could I turn on the bypass, keeping water in the hot water tank, and empty the other water tanks? Or do I need to leave some water in the tanks and hoses so they don't dry out?

Geoff

[sjones12121994]

You can use the bypass to keep water in the hot water heater, which is necessary for engine cooling. It's okay to empty the other water tanks to prevent the water from sitting and stinking. Just make sure to occasionally fill and run fresh water through the system to keep the hoses from drying out and to maintain cleanliness. This should help manage the smell and keep your system in good condition.