Anyone ever bug bomb their boat?

Stu Jackson · Aug 12, 2012

Hi, great question. I just did a search (upper right tab) on "bug bomb" Find Exact Phrase, none of boat type, and a LOT of hits come up. Haven't read them, don't know if they answer your ? about effect on trim down below. Seems like folks have used it successfully.

Steve Kamp · Aug 12, 2012

Have not used a "bug bomb", but did apply a product known as "Aegis", from a company called IMPAC, a subsidiary of Cashion Corporation. Purpose was to eliminate mold, and after 5 years, the only mold I have encountered on the boat was growing on items that I had stored semi damp and had not been treated with the product.

kloudie1 · Aug 12, 2012

Have a serious problem with mud daubers.. I have found these Hot Shot No Pest strips to work very well :
http://www.hotshot.com/products-and-solutions/all-products/no-pest-strip.aspx
I have to have them in the lazaret and the cabin to keep the bugs at bay..
They are available at Depot and Lowes and other places..

finding41 · Aug 12, 2012

There's this stuff called "home defense max". I use it in my rental units around base boards etc. Says to spray it every 6 mo. I do it every 3.
No bugs of any kind. Anywhere. It leaves a residual.
I used to have a mud wasp problem on the boat. I didn't spray. I just swatted. There aren't as many as you think.
Ants, I'd spray.
Here;
http://www.orthohomedefense.com/smg/templates/index.jsp?pageUrl=homedefenseHomePagePh2

elle · Aug 12, 2012

Yes...I did 'bomb' my Rhodes 22. I'd had a terrible problem with mud daubers...was stung quite badly from wasps that I had no idea had populated under the seats and laz.
I opened the hatchway and 'tented' the entire boat. I then used a home bug bomb. Can't remember which one exactly but can check out in the garage tomorrow as I probably have another one out there.

I am going to try the Hot Shot No Pest strips...may be easier than tenting, although I'd have concerns about having the strip up if I were in the cabin & it were closed up.

Good luck...and stay away from those guys. They are vicious.

Andy1237 · Aug 12, 2012

Yes, during the great Texas flood on Lake Grapevine, globs of FIRE ANTS floated into the docks and onto our boat (Freedom 21), I removed the cushions and bomb it. I returned a week later and use a shop vac to clean up the dead ants.

luken7 · Aug 12, 2012

Steve Kamp said:
Have not used a "bug bomb", but did apply a product known as "Aegis", from a company called IMPAC, a subsidiary of Cashion Corporation. Purpose was to eliminate mold, and after 5 years, the only mold I have encountered on the boat was growing on items that I had stored semi damp and had not been treated with the product.

Steve, I've been googling for the product you mentioned, but the closest I get is aegisasia.com, an overseas company. Is this the same you're referring to?

onecoolair · Aug 12, 2012

Slow Mo^cean said:
This is more a trailer sailor question, but I guess it can apply to any boat owner with pest problems. Has anyone ever set off a bug bomb inside their cabin? Herein central Texas we have a real issue with paper wasps, mud daubers, and fire ants- all of which I have found trying to male their home inside my boat. I'm curious if a bug bomb has worked for people with similar issues and if the chemicals have had any adverse effects on interior wood or surfaces..

Yes had to do it about every 6 months back when I owned the mac26. Then a friend let me in on a little secret. Mud daubers and waspe do not like downy fabric sheets. Just stuff a few in all the nooks and crannies they seemed to like. It worked. Still do the bug bomb fumming though about once a year. For say the ants and other critters. And what ever you do never ever allow crispy creme donuts near the boat!!:naughty:
I have kept up the same practice with the H356'. Remember to nuke any boat coming in from florida. When I took ownership of my new H356 back in 2002 I remember I had to hit it about 3 times the first few months to rid it of the factory roaches.

In fact this reminds me its time to pull a can out from under the galley sink and nuk'em again.
Oh yes almost forgot be sure to lay down news paper under the can to give some protection to surrounding area. Also because of the limited head height on the mac becareful of placement. Got a bad stain on the overhead because I set the thing on the counter that first time. Better to place in the middle of cabin sole. And remember to shut down all possible ingnition sources.

centerline · Aug 13, 2012

Im not so sure its a trailer sailer thing.... when I was trailering to the lake all the time I had no issues, but when i got moorage, the spiders moved in. they mostly live outside but
I bug bomb when I notice too many inside the cabin.... no bad effects for me or the boat, although it takes a serious toll on the spiders... I wish they would take a hint and stay the hell out

kloudie1 · Aug 13, 2012

Tried bug bombs and they killed whatever was in there at the time.. then the daubers were back in force the next day.. The no pest strips kill them all the time when I am gone.. When I am there, the boat gets an airing and the strips go into a zip lock bag ..

dlandersson · Aug 13, 2012

I use - YMMV - an electronic "bug repeller" that plugs into a 110 socket when I'm on shore power. Seems to work nicely.

Slow Mo^cean said:
This is more a trailer sailor question, but I guess it can apply to any boat owner with pest problems. Has anyone ever set off a bug bomb inside their cabin? Herein central Texas we have a real issue with paper wasps, mud daubers, and fire ants- all of which I have found trying to male their home inside my boat. I'm curious if a bug bomb has worked for people with similar issues and if the chemicals have had any adverse effects on interior wood or surfaces..

SEMIJim · Aug 13, 2012

Haven't yet had a problem with mud daubers and we don't have fire ants up here (yet), but we do get spiders. Lots and lots of spiders. Some boaters have problems with wasps--usually mud daubers, I understand. Most frequent recommendations I see are:

kloudie1 said:
Have a serious problem with mud daubers.. I have found these Hot Shot No Pest strips to work very well

And...

finding41 said:
There's this stuff called "home defense max".

Jim

Forrest15112 · Aug 13, 2012

I have used a product sold at do it yourself pest control stores called Suspend SC. It isn't a bomb and will leave no visible residue, plus it has no odor. I live on the edge of one of the largest swamps in this country and had a serious problem with ants and spiders getting inside my house. Suspend ended the ant and spider problem.

It supposedly works on cockroaches too, but I haven't seen one in almost 15 years of living here. They are as big as small dogs in New Orleans, but not as common here. Maybe too many predators that eat them... or is it the Suspend?

Anyway, it's safe to use around pets and people after it's dry. You can treat pillows and bedding for lice or bedbugs safely too. I don't think it will work on the wasps very well though.

Benny17441 · Aug 13, 2012

I do it twice a year, I cover the galley surface and all cushions. We are mainly concerened with keeping away roaches, ants and spyders. Don't know how it would work with some of the hardier critters. Have not noticed any adverse effect on the cabin surfaces.

NotCook · Aug 13, 2012

dlandersson said:
I use - YMMV - an electronic "bug repeller" that plugs into a 110 socket when I'm on shore power. Seems to work nicely.

Tell us more about this product. Google only returns comments about "your mileage may vary", but I do not find this product anywhere. We have some similar devices which are suppose to repel rodents - they don't seem to repel birds or spiders...

Thanks!

JVB · Aug 13, 2012

I keep a bottle filled with moth balls in my boat. I take the cap off when leaving the boat and put the cap back on when I'm onboard. Bugs don't come into the cabin.:dance:

SEMIJim · Aug 13, 2012

NotCook said:
Tell us more about this product. Google only returns comments about "your mileage may vary",...

That's because that's what he meant

Re-phrased: "I use - and it works for me, but may not for you - an electronic "bug repeller" that..."

Jim

rgranger · Aug 13, 2012

I'd worry about the repeated bug bomb and exposure to the chemicals. (I'm a chemical hygiene officer). For instance malathion (a common insectiside) and sarin gas (a very deadly nerve agent) differ by only one functional group. And most insecticides are endocrine blockers of some sort. After you bug bomb, I'd wipe all surfaces down with windex or ammonia to minimize the potential of repeated exposure. Then...

once you are sure the boat is cleaned out and there are no more living bugs... fill a couple of empty mayonnaise jars with mothballs and keep them on the boat. When using the boat, put the lids on the jars. When you set her up for storage, open the jars and set them about the boat. That is what I do and I have no problems anymore. When I first purchased my boat, there was a hornets nest in the galley..... I bombed it but for bug maintenance, I use mothballs.

zeehag · Aug 13, 2012

i have bombed more than 6 boats with the unreliable results that you will find when owning a boat -- there are no airtight spaces in a boat, so much of the good of bombing is lost. last boat i bombed was a 37 siedelmann--didnt work. before that i fumigated, as they called it, this formosa--funny how i still had spideys and skeeters when done. no standing fresh water in bilges--weird.....
now i surface spray as it is more reliable in my environment, and lasts longer.
between sprayings--i follow the words of the locals--bees and hornets and wasps will leave you alone if you use soapy water. lovely tennis racket bug zappers do wonderful work on termite swarms and skeeters and i even tazed a bee and he died--i was relentless.....
citronella and cedar lamp oil, if it is cool enough to burn an oil lamp....even the anchor light if it is oil lamp--perfect to keep cockpit clear while being legal in an anchorage...