Stowaways! aka rodents!

Justin_NSA

Justin_NSA

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Jul 7, 2004
8,492
Hunter 30T Cheney, KS
Saturday night the little &^%$@@ kept me up all night! I woke up to a gnawing sound under my port settee. It was windy so it took a while to figure out it was gnawing and not some other movement related sound. I searched all night for evidence of him and couldn't find any. I'm going to set traps this week. We mentioned it to another member and he said he has had them before too. They must be climbing on via the docklines.
Well after I catch this one(s) I'll be leaving a trap permanently. There are too many expensive wire/cables, cushions etc to let this persist. I think it would get worse when it gets cold.

What do you all use? We don't leave any food onboard and try to remember to take out the trash every time we leave.
 
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Mark Maulden

Mark Maulden

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Jan 25, 2011
2,437
S2 11.0A Anacortes, WA
Hopefully, they haven’t gotten to your wiring. A lot of wire insulation is soy based so they go for it. I had two cars that had severe wiring and plastic container damage.
 
Justin_NSA

Justin_NSA

.
Jul 7, 2004
8,492
Hunter 30T Cheney, KS
Mark Maulden said:
Hopefully, they haven’t gotten to your wiring. A lot of wire insulation is soy based so they go for it. I had two cars that had severe wiring and plastic container damage.
Click to expand
Thanks Mark. That's what I'm worried about :yikes:
 
Head Sail

Head Sail

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Nov 13, 2013
723
Catalina 34 Tacoma
I havn't had a problem with rodents but the raccoons have no problem getting on board even when I'm sleeping on board. Hatch boards keep them out of the cabin. I noticed cruise ships have cones on their dock lines to keep rodents out. Maybe try that?
 
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Michael Davis

Michael Davis

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Jan 5, 2017
2,391
Beneteau First 38 Lyall Harbour Saturna Island
My neighbour runs his dock lines through a 2-litre soft drink container. As a small animal tries to climb over it, it rolls it into the water. Seems to work for him. We have more problem with river otters ourselves.
 
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jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
23,146
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Here you go Justin.. Something like this might work. It is what the Big Boys use to stop intruders.
Rat_Guards_02-2kartcr.jpg

I awoke one night to the sound of crunching. I jumped up and started to search the boat. Nothing.. Went out on deck and damn. A seal was between the dock and the boat (just about even with my head in the bunk) chomping down on a crab shell from one of the nearby fishing boats. Thankfully mystery solved. But sleep interrupted. Only thing to do is make coffee and listen to the seal finish his/her wee hour in the morning snack.

Try peanut butter on your trap. Has always worked for me.
 
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Justin_NSA

Justin_NSA

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Jul 7, 2004
8,492
Hunter 30T Cheney, KS
jssailem said:
Here you go Justin.. Something like this might work. It is what the Big Boys use to stop intruders.
View attachment 170025

I awoke one night to the sound of crunching. I jumped up and started to search the boat. Nothing.. Went out on deck and damn. A seal was between the dock and the boat (just about even with my head in the bunk) chomping down on a crab shell from one of the nearby fishing boats. Thankfully mystery solved. But sleep interrupted. Only thing to do is make coffee and listen to the seal finish his/her wee hour in the morning snack.

Try peanut butter on your trap. Has always worked for me.
Click to expand
Interesting John. The other members are going to scratch their heads over these. I could just say we're blocking alien signals.
Peanut butter is exactly what I had in mind for bait. It's really effective in our office environment.
 
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rgranger

rgranger

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Jan 19, 2010
12,565
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
Michael Davis said:
My neighbour runs his dock lines through a 2-litre soft drink container. As a small animal tries to climb over it, it rolls it into the water. Seems to work for him. We have more problem with river otters ourselves.
Click to expand
You need to film that....:laugh:
 
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capta

capta

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Jun 4, 2009
4,935
Pearson 530 Admiralty Bay, Bequia SVG
I found a very simple solution to rodents aboard. No water for them to drink! If you can't remove all the water in your bilge, sumps, etc. just put bleach in and they will leave PDQ.
 
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Tally Ho

Tally Ho

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Jan 7, 2011
5,593
Oday 322 East Chicago, IN
jssailem said:
Here you go Justin.. Something like this might work. It is what the Big Boys use to stop intruders.
View attachment 170025

I awoke one night to the sound of crunching. I jumped up and started to search the boat. Nothing.. Went out on deck and damn. A seal was between the dock and the boat (just about even with my head in the bunk) chomping down on a crab shell from one of the nearby fishing boats. Thankfully mystery solved. But sleep interrupted. Only thing to do is make coffee and listen to the seal finish his/her wee hour in the morning snack.

Try peanut butter on your trap. Has always worked for me.
Click to expand
Would that work on spiders too? That would be worth gold!

Greg
 
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rgranger

rgranger

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Jan 19, 2010
12,565
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
This past year I sprayed a full can of promethium on my Bimini and sail cover. It did not keep all of the spiders off my boat but is sure seems like there are fewer than in years past
 
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justsomeguy

justsomeguy

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Feb 20, 2011
8,060
Island Packet 35 Tucson, AZ/San Carlos, MX
rgranger said:
This past year I sprayed a full can of promethium on my Bimini and sail cover.
It did not keep all of the spiders off my boat but is sure seems like there are fewer than in years past
Click to expand
And they're glowing in the dark! :biggrin:
 
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