Bugging me

[Jon Tart]

Can anyone give me some suggestions on keeping insects off and out of my boat. ESPECIALLY the spiders. They are everywhere, and the "admiral" is not happy when we sail and have a full crew of spiders. We sail every weekend, but I spend the first hours clearing webs and spiders from the boat while she stand on the stern rail cursing. What can be done to reduce this nuisance?? Is there a safe pesticide that can be used on boats?

 

[LaDonna Bubak - CatalinaOwners]

Use your boat more

The more you are on & use your boat, the fewer spiders and other creepy crawlies will move aboard. They're usually not too interested in company. Other than that... send the admiral off for a coffee drink while you wash the boat down & get rid of uninvited guests. I think this has been discussed here to some length (check the archives) but I don't think anyone had a foolproof plan. And remember, spiders are our friends! They eat all the other little irritating buggers! My rule is, if they're smaller than my pinky nail (including legs!), they can hang out. Anything bigger get smooshed or tossed overboard!LaDonna

 

[Rob Rich]

Try West, Check Archives

Jon, I don't mind spiders, but my boat is being OVERRUN! West Marine has some products to get rid of them, and there are also some good ideas in the archives under spiders.I sail every weekend too, and down here it makes little to no difference. They just keep coming, and when you are done knocking out the daytime bunch, the huge night timers come out just in time for the moonlit cruise. I am going to resort to chemicles in hopes of knocking out at least half of them.Best Regards, Rob

 

[LaDonna Bubak - Catalina Owners]

Guess I'm lucky!

I keep forgetting that in some parts of the country, bugs are a little more .. um .. prolific. Although the monster I smooshed a couple of weeks ago was enough to send even me into fits of girly hysteria!LaDonna

 

[Greg]

Try spraying your docklines & shore power cable

I've read here about spraying the lines with a good pesticide. I've been doing it when I think about it, and it seems to work. Although, I haven't been diligent enough in repeating each week, so it hasn't eliminated the problem.

 

[Rob Rich]

LaDonna, you should meet my wife!

Talk about fits of girly hysteria!She may be the admiral, but not in face of a Texas whopper of a spider!Rob

 

[Gary Jensen]

Rid yourself of spiders completely

I accidently came up with a perfect solution on your spider problem...I have a black Lab pup (9 months) whose hair is always sheeding.I kept washing the cockpit down and vacuuming the salon. One day I brought my electric leaf blower to the boat to see how it would work.....WOW!!! was I amazed. It clears everything out RIGHT NOW....You may want to try that.. I really clears everything out quickly..good luck

 

[Rob Rich]

Gary - you should try the leaf blower on the lab..

I have a full grown black, and she sheds everywhere, including the boat. Maybe if you direct the leaf blower at the pup, you'll knock off the loose hair!!!