Mice--how can they--impossible?

[Windtherapy]

So my 26' is on the trailer for the winter with obviously no lines out. Just sits there on the trailer with a tarp over the entire thing sitting right next to my pole barn. I have owned it for 3 years and the last two winters I have stored it the same way but pulled all pads and sails and stored them in the house however the wife asked why can't I store them int he boat. I got thinking why not for how in the world would a mouse get in the boat when there are no holes and they would have to crawl up the side of the boat which I think would be impossible. I have not had any mice in the boat the last 2 winters stored like this and still think it would be impossible--am I thinking wrong?

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

If you're gonna err, do it on the side of caution...'cuz I learned a few decades ago that it may be a wee bit more labor intensive, but you rarely have anything to regret if you do.

 

[Windtherapy]

Agreed but I am hatching a plan. Bringing in the cushions but leaving the sails in the boat. PO didn't take good care of them at all and I need both new. If the mice get in, I'll just tell the wife, "Hey, that was a good idea to put the sails in the boat for the winter but....mice chewed them so I need new sails"! Oh darn!

I call that a WIN/WIN outcome.

 

[Siamese]

Do the lines that hold the tarp on run down to the trailer?

 

[Windtherapy]

Ya but my tarp goes 6 feet over each side but just to play it safe even though I've been lucky for 2 winters now I'll keep all cheawable stuff inside the house. I'll also put decon and 1 trap in there and check it throughout the winter. Damn mice.

I keep 8 traps and 4 Decons in my pole barn just 6 feet from the boat and have a wild cat living in there and low and behold, never have a mouse in a trap or getting into anything...so far.

 

[shemandr]

We had mice in our attic where we stored boat cushions. I used to hang them from rafters on sheets of plywood. We had no chewing but I have no doubt that the mice could get to the cushions. They'd have to jump 9 inches or so. I really don't know a way to keep critters away from our house and anything in it. Right now I'm battling raccoons and I don't think they can't be defeated. Only managed.
The feral cat might work - but they'd probably pee on the cushions too.

 

[Ward H]

We put dryer sheets all over the boat during the winter. Supposed to work well to deter spiders, bugs, mice etc. Cushions get turned onto their edges and stored on the boat.
Dryer sheets also go into sail bags which get stored in the dry basement.

I like your thinking about if you have to sacrifice anything, make it the old sails.

 

[Indysailor]

I'd think a pole barn is a lot more enticing for a winter home than a boat. Now, if you store the boat in the pole barn, I'd guess it would become a mouse motel. Anyway, I've stored my boat outdoors in the winter for years and over time I've come to the conclusion that it's less susceptible to have mice than my attic, garage or outbuildings.

 

[sailnewbie]

Ive literally seen mice crawl up the corner of the wall (dry wall) at the hunting cabin, out hunting ive seen them jump several feet like a squirrel so yes expect them to be able to penetrate anything, if their skull fits so do they and can do it on the run, as someone who takes recent colllege courses on wildlife, they are some slick S.O.B's, dryer sheets help for some things but not mice however a good day/night time tomcat is pricless!

 

[usererror]

I wouldn't do it! Mice always seem to find a way to chew anything they can, especially when it comes to nesting time, towels, paper, insulation everything from my family experience with our cabin in Northern Michigan. I now store everything in plastic tubs from Rubbermaid or similar that is on sale at Home Depot or Wal-Mart when we are away for the winter. If you are going to leave the sails in the boat, put them in plastic bins that seal well.

Just one winter, I left my sails in their bags hanging in the middle of an outdoor shed on the property where I had stored my 22' for one winter. The next spring I opened them up and found a hole the size of my fist. I'll never do it again, they always find a way in! We don't have that boat anymore, but our Hunter 140 sails are kept in one of those bins in our basement that is frequented by mice all the time, so far, so good.

Just my two cents.

 

[rgranger]

I had a mouse make a nest in a sail I had stored in my shed... damn thing ate a hole in it too....

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Two suggestions if left outside. Put a mouse trap or one of the cardboard containers with rat/mice kill pellets by the tires and trailer tongue jack. It works. However, mothballs seem to keep them away but you will have to air out the boat in the spring. I have them critters getting into my camper all the time during the winter and generally buy a lot of mouse traps. Peanut butter works the best.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

Moth balls > dryer sheets

mice will crew the plastic off electrical wires.

 

[SFS]

So that's how they stay so energized.

 

[Windtherapy]

My 8 traps in my pole barn picked up a mole last night. Those poor blind animals!

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

winter of 2015 living in the mountains, one morning my F250 would barely start and power was missing which of course I could not go fast. Could not figure out so left the truck at the dealership. Diagnosis was mice had partially chewed thru the wiring harness. I was shown that and was advised welcome to country living. Ugh!!!!!!!!

 

[Mark Maulden]

We had two vehicles "eaten up" last spring. Several thousand in damage. Evidently, wire insulation and plastics are soy based

 

[Mark Maulden]

There is some pepper spray that can be used. Different stuff than used for people.

 

[Windtherapy]

If somebody could invent something 99% full proof to rid off mice that person could pay cash for 120 foot failing yacht.

Why can't they just create a huge home lets say a box about 12x18x12 with food they couldn't resist and they all go in there but can't get out and when it senses the house is full, it gases them.

 

[jibes138]

Supposedly peppermint deters mice, they don't care for the smell or something. Make sure you don't leave any food on the boat, mice need to eat and drink just like you. A 1 oz. bottle of spirits of peppermint is about 11 bucks, might be worth a try.