Eek! Spiders!

[Joe]

We're newbie sailors with a 22' Rhodes we keep in a slip on a Dallas lake. We're a bit dismayed at the constant battle with spiders and spider webs on our boat. Is there any hope? Can anyone recommend a good product to control them?

 

[Steve Dion]

something for starters.

Get a couple of large flea collars for dogs. Cut pieces to fit around your pulpits and stanchions. This helps but will not eliminate them.

 

[Geof Tillotson]

Car vacuum

A friend of mine had this problem. He got his 12 volt car vacuum out, a few times, and systematically vacuumed the webs, spiders and egg cases up. This seemed to solve the problem.Since the boat was moored during the season, he's pretty sure that they were getting on board when it was stored in his yard. So, he moved it to another location away from the trees and bushes and the problem seemed to clear up.Spiders are interesting, they can travel across open spaces (using a strand of web as a "parachute"), they can jump large distances and move very fast (some species can travel up to 40 times ther body length in 10 seconds), actually I find them pretty fascinating and adaptable creatures. Remember, they do eat a lot of nuisance bugs.Many folks think they are a nuisance, but in balance, spiders are a good thing to have around.Geof

 

[Paul Akers]

CT River

I have never seen as many spiders & webs on boats as that on the Connecticut River. I have seen a marina there spray webs each morning (usually in pulpits, etc) to ward them off. Even being moored there for a couple of days, my boat got loaded with webs (outside). It seemed like a never-ending battle. You might want to call one of the marinas there for an idea, if it's all that bothersome to you.

 

[Tom S/V GAIA]

Try using dryer sheets.

They have really made a differance on our boat.Put them in your lockers, drawers, leave some out on tables, counters, bunks, I even put them under the sail cover. Now when I raise the mainsail it doesn't rain spiders any more!!!Give it a try.fair winds,Tom s/v GAIA

 

[Joe R., SV Skooky 3 - Cat 30]

Flea Collars work

We have been using flea collars for the last 4 years with good results. I put one around the stantions on the dock side. They need to be changed after 4 to 5 weeks. It doesn't get all the spiders, but does drastically reduce them.