They're landing on the spreaders, they're pooping on the boom, they're ignoring the scarecrow behind the helm, and if my chest was a cannon I would have shot my heart upon them. Any suggestions?
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Try these spikes
Try these along the spreaders or the boom, they're plastic and easy to install, you can find them at the www.theparkcatalog.com and good quote, moby dick?
Try these along the spreaders or the boom, they're plastic and easy to install, you can find them at the www.theparkcatalog.com and good quote, moby dick?
Try a wire across the spreaders
Spikes are a new idea, but most sailboats here use just a single wire across the spreaders should work. "and he piled upon the whales white hump a sum of all the rage and hate...yes that's moby dick, and I feel similar rage when the birds hit my dock.
Spikes are a new idea, but most sailboats here use just a single wire across the spreaders should work. "and he piled upon the whales white hump a sum of all the rage and hate...yes that's moby dick, and I feel similar rage when the birds hit my dock.
flash tape
You might try some strips of mylar flash tape tied/attached to various places. I got some for father-in-law for his power boat & it seemed to help. I got it at gempler's(.com), but plant stores often have it.
You might try some strips of mylar flash tape tied/attached to various places. I got some for father-in-law for his power boat & it seemed to help. I got it at gempler's(.com), but plant stores often have it.
Try these Spikes
Mark: What do the spikes do to your main when it comes up against them going down wind. On a fairly new B & R rig with severely swept back spreaders, it is pretty hard to go down wind w/o having the main go against the spreaders.
Mark: What do the spikes do to your main when it comes up against them going down wind. On a fairly new B & R rig with severely swept back spreaders, it is pretty hard to go down wind w/o having the main go against the spreaders.
penants may work
A friend of mine flys penants up the mast fore and aft. The flapping scares the birds off. They are like the ones sailors fly as colorful penants during special occasions. Where we often anchor has swimming rafts nearby. The owners have placed poles on all four corners and tied colored streamers to them. It sure keeps the sea gulls away.
A friend of mine flys penants up the mast fore and aft. The flapping scares the birds off. They are like the ones sailors fly as colorful penants during special occasions. Where we often anchor has swimming rafts nearby. The owners have placed poles on all four corners and tied colored streamers to them. It sure keeps the sea gulls away.
Gull sweep
I had a similar problem, and purchased a product called the Gull Sweep. It is basically two 3ft rods with a small red flag attached to the end of the rods. The two connected rods swing around freely on a pin, and apprarently make the gulls afraid to land on the boat. I know that you can buy them at Boaters World or West Marine for about $35. The sea gulls used to party on my boat, and made a horrible mess while they were at it. I haven't had one dropping on it since I installed the "sweep". It works really well.
I had a similar problem, and purchased a product called the Gull Sweep. It is basically two 3ft rods with a small red flag attached to the end of the rods. The two connected rods swing around freely on a pin, and apprarently make the gulls afraid to land on the boat. I know that you can buy them at Boaters World or West Marine for about $35. The sea gulls used to party on my boat, and made a horrible mess while they were at it. I haven't had one dropping on it since I installed the "sweep". It works really well.
snakes!
I seem to be having pretty good luck keeping the birds off with a couple of the inflatable diamondback snakes from West Marine. I keep one on the foredeck, and one wound into the topping lift as if it was climbing the rigging. We also had a rat problem last January, and I haven't seen any further evidence of rats since I deployed the snakes.
I seem to be having pretty good luck keeping the birds off with a couple of the inflatable diamondback snakes from West Marine. I keep one on the foredeck, and one wound into the topping lift as if it was climbing the rigging. We also had a rat problem last January, and I haven't seen any further evidence of rats since I deployed the snakes.
Owls!
Around our area they hang plastic owls here and there on the boat. It seems to do the job. Check with your local hunting and sports store.
Around our area they hang plastic owls here and there on the boat. It seems to do the job. Check with your local hunting and sports store.
bird be gone
William; I can't believe you don't have a cover for your helm! To keep birds off my spreaders, I tied a couple of flags to the spare halyards at spreader height. They worked for that,and for my bimini/dodger, I tied up a network of yellow twine from the corners up to a spot on the backstays. I leave it up alll the time now and it keep those teradactyl birds off. I saw a boat once that had the shapes of dead birds cut out of black plastic on deck. That might work, too.
William; I can't believe you don't have a cover for your helm! To keep birds off my spreaders, I tied a couple of flags to the spare halyards at spreader height. They worked for that,and for my bimini/dodger, I tied up a network of yellow twine from the corners up to a spot on the backstays. I leave it up alll the time now and it keep those teradactyl birds off. I saw a boat once that had the shapes of dead birds cut out of black plastic on deck. That might work, too.
Try AOL Software CD's
Hang several from your rigging. Be aware though they only work free for 1000 hours then AOL wants to be paid. Jeff
Hang several from your rigging. Be aware though they only work free for 1000 hours then AOL wants to be paid. Jeff
bird problems
I used to mount a plastic replica of an owl--life-sized-- on the top of the furled sail, and rarely had any evidence of bird poop. I think a bought it at West Marine some years ago, for $10 or $15. I've also seen some people hang CD's from their life lines with fishing line. The CD's twist and move about in the breeze, and flash sunlight all over the place. They say it works to keep them off the decks. Good luck.
I used to mount a plastic replica of an owl--life-sized-- on the top of the furled sail, and rarely had any evidence of bird poop. I think a bought it at West Marine some years ago, for $10 or $15. I've also seen some people hang CD's from their life lines with fishing line. The CD's twist and move about in the breeze, and flash sunlight all over the place. They say it works to keep them off the decks. Good luck.
Flags
West marine sells a set of flags that are nautical signal letters. There are about 12 flags sewn to a nylon webbing. Run these up your main haylard and /or jib haylard and it should keep the birds away. The flapping and waving of the flags seems to do the trick and they look good too. These flags should last about 1 to 1 1/2 seasons and cost about $30.
West marine sells a set of flags that are nautical signal letters. There are about 12 flags sewn to a nylon webbing. Run these up your main haylard and /or jib haylard and it should keep the birds away. The flapping and waving of the flags seems to do the trick and they look good too. These flags should last about 1 to 1 1/2 seasons and cost about $30.
AOL CD's LOL
"Try AOL Software CD's Hang several from your rigging. Be aware though they only work free for 1000 hours then AOL wants to be paid. Jeff " BLLLAAAAAA AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.... thats beautiful...LOL
"Try AOL Software CD's Hang several from your rigging. Be aware though they only work free for 1000 hours then AOL wants to be paid. Jeff " BLLLAAAAAA AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.... thats beautiful...LOL
Poop price increase
How about this, put up a sign on your deck facing skyward, that says: "NOTICE, ALL BIRDS, There has been a price increase charge for every poop on this deck. It is now $10.00 per poop. However, there is no charge at all on all of the rest of the boats in this marina. Thanks, and keep it up." There is a downside to this however, some of the bird-brains can't read. Rich
How about this, put up a sign on your deck facing skyward, that says: "NOTICE, ALL BIRDS, There has been a price increase charge for every poop on this deck. It is now $10.00 per poop. However, there is no charge at all on all of the rest of the boats in this marina. Thanks, and keep it up." There is a downside to this however, some of the bird-brains can't read. Rich
wires are the thing
wires about 6 inches higher than the spreaders do the trick. Cormorants will not light on a spreader thats wired..
wires about 6 inches higher than the spreaders do the trick. Cormorants will not light on a spreader thats wired..
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