Birds & Squirrels in My Boom

J

JHarris333

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Jun 2, 2020
2
Hunter 30 Edgewater, MD
I have a Hunter30 (1993) with a standard ZSpars mast and boom. The end of the boom is open, as shown in the photo below.
There's a persistent problem with birds and squirrels making a home insite the boom - most recently the squirrels chewed up and made a nest out of the outhaul and reefing lines inside the boom - what a mess!
Any suggestions for a permanent cap on the end of the boom (I haven't seen this on the ZSpars website), other than metal duct-tape?
boom end.JPG
 
Justin_NSA

Justin_NSA

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Jul 7, 2004
8,481
Hunter 30T Cheney, KS
Is your cap missing? I wouldn't think there's that much difference between a '91 & '93. Mine is sealed below where the lines come out.
Do they make stainless steel wool? I think I've seen brass wool.
 
rgranger

rgranger

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Jan 19, 2010
12,553
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
What a pain!

I have the same style end cap. I've never had squirrels but I have had wasps. :facepalm:

I wonder if a few shots of this up in the boom once or twice a season might help...
1591109768812.png


I've used this in the garden with good results.
 
Rich Stidger

Rich Stidger

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Feb 10, 2004
4,102
Hunter 40.5 Warwick, RI
I feel your pain. Years ago I had birds next inside my Z-Spar boom. It took me 4-5 hours to rip all the inter-twined twigs and nesting material out of the boom. I tried everything- hosing out with water, wire snake with a hook to disassemble the nest, etc. It was a horrible situation.

But this only occurred in the Spring after my winter cover came off and never on my mooring. So from that point on, as soon as I took off the cover I immediately covered BOTH ends of the boom with pieces of shrink wrap material secured with duct tape. Problem solved.

Now with a different boom, I made a custom-fitted end cap out of Sunbrella that slides on and then pulls tight with a cord. No birds ever again.

BTW, I have never had an issue with squirrels. Just birds.
2016_0510_072742.JPG
 
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rgranger

rgranger

.
Jan 19, 2010
12,553
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
Rich Stidger said:
I feel your pain. Years ago I had birds next inside my Z-Spar boom. It took me 4-5 hours to rip all the inter-twined twigs and nesting material out of the boom. I tried everything- hosing out with water, wire snake with a hook to disassemble the nest, etc. It was a horrible situation.

But this only occurred in the Spring after my winter cover came off and never on my mooring. So from that point on, as soon as I took off the cover I immediately covered BOTH ends of the boom with pieces of shrink wrap material secured with duct tape. Problem solved.

Now with a different boom, I made a custom-fitted end cap out of Sunbrella that slides on and then pulls tight with a cord. No birds ever again.

BTW, I have never had an issue with squirrels. Just birds.
View attachment 180242
Click to expand
I bet you have caused a lot of people to sit and wonder why you have a protective cap on the end of your boom.:biggrin: I like the idea and just for shucks and grins, I'm thinking I should make a cover for the SS railings... then when people ask, I can tell them it is to keep the spiders off.:thumbup:
 
C

Crazy Dave Condon

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Jun 8, 2004
10,388
-na -NA Anywhere USA
What about squirrels nesting under a doyle stack pack eating up a mainsail or other critters in the boom. I use to put moth balls under the mainsail cover and in the boom. Those darn squirrels learned quickly to go and stay gone. Helped with birds and everything else. Funny, snakes also leave when introduced.
 
rgranger

rgranger

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Jan 19, 2010
12,553
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
My nemesis (plural is nemesi?) are field mice. The come into my shed each fall after the first cold snap. Then make nesting material out of any cloth they can find. I had a very serviceable spinnaker from a Balboa 26 get ruined that way. Mothballs help but a little rat poison works even better.
 
J

JHarris333

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Jun 2, 2020
2
Hunter 30 Edgewater, MD
Thanks for all these ideas!
(In response to Justin's point, I will reach out again to ZSpars to see if there is a part I'm missing...)
Regards to all - Jeff
 
Davidasailor26

Davidasailor26

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May 17, 2004
5,565
Beneteau Oceanis 37 Havre de Grace
We just put a rag in the end of the boom around nesting season. Just remember to take it out before sailing so it doesn’t fall out or foul the outhaul.
 
Justin_NSA

Justin_NSA

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Jul 7, 2004
8,481
Hunter 30T Cheney, KS
JHarris333 said:
Thanks for all these ideas!
(In response to Justin's point, I will reach out again to ZSpars to see if there is a part I'm missing...)
Regards to all - Jeff
Click to expand
I can take a picture of mine this weekend if it will help. I had it off last year to replace some internal line.
 
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