Mud dauber wasp idea

[Justin_NSA]

These things are real pests! They build their mud hives everywhere. They even plugged up the weep hole at the base of my mast and caused rainwater to get into the cabin. I cleaned out the mast base thru an inspection cover and cleared the drains. I'm looking for ideas to keep them out.

One is to stuff flotation in the halyard holes where they get in. I'd have to remove it when we sail. My other thought is to put a no pest strip inside the base. Do you think this would help get rid of them?

 

[kappykaplan]

One is to stuff flotation in the halyard holes where they get in. I'd have to remove it when we sail. My other thought is to put a no pest strip inside the base. Do you think this would help get rid of them?

I'm told they don't like dryer sheets (like Bounce).

 

[thinwater]

Spitballing. I wonder if there is something you could apply to the halyard when the sail is up, which would pull into the mast when the sail is down. Some say citronella. Confined inside the mast, it should be pretty strong. If you have a spare halyard that would be handy. I do not believe it affects polyester or polyethylene.

 

[Justin_NSA]

I'm told they don't like dryer sheets (like Bounce).

The Hot Shot strips say they last 4 months. I wonder about dryer sheets.

 

[Justin_NSA]

Spitballing. I wonder if there is something you could apply to the halyard when the sail is up, which would pull into the mast when the sail is down. Some say citronella. Confined inside the mast, it should be pretty strong. If you have a spare halyard that would be handy. I do not believe it affects polyester or polyethylene.

I have an extra halyard. It might be worth a try. Especially for the top of the mast.

 

[sailcapt340]

I use moth balls (not the flake style) in small bags I make from cheesecloth. A few in each bag, hang one in the area the wasps are making nests, the smell will repel them for a few weeks at a time as the moth balls slowly melt away. I place a small bag inside my Life Sling bag, they seem to like it in there.

 

[kloudie1]

I have used the No Pest Strips for 10 years or so and they keep the daubers and other bugs out. Love em

 

[thinwater]

I have an extra halyard. It might be worth a try. Especially for the top of the mast.

The top of the mast was the part that go me thinking.

I assume there is a slight updraft (chimney) when the mast gets in the sun, so maybe the bottom is all you need.

 

[rgranger]

I use moth balls (not the flake style) in small bags I make from cheesecloth. A few in each bag, hang one in the area the wasps are making nests, the smell will repel them for a few weeks at a time as the moth balls slowly melt away. I place a small bag inside my Life Sling bag, they seem to like it in there.

This actually works! I do the same thing. Mothballs also repel spiders, and the chemical (naphthalene) also kills mold spores. So keeping an open Tupperware in your boat when you’re not using, it will keep mildew and mold from growing in your boat. But the stuff does leave a pungent odor that takes an hour or so to blow out of the boat so… Always in search of a better solution

 

[twodzusfittings]

My interior cabin walls are cedar lined. Twice a year I freshen them up with cedar oil. I haven't seen a mud daubbler since I installed the wall. Plus it's such a pleasant smell.

 

[Foswick]

Fortunately, we do not need to worry about this. We do not have insects or spiders of any variety and never have, on any of our boats. Not even mosquitos. Occasionally a bee will come out, when we are on the water, and fly along with us for a while, but they don't stay.

But, as for mothballs ... in addition to the unpleasant smell, they are really quite toxic, even to humans. I don't know if you can still buy the old naphthalene kind but they are really flammable. The newer PDCB kind aren't as flammable, but are still probably carcinogenic. What the actual risks are, when used only when the boat is unattended, I don't know. But, it is worth knowing there might be some risks.

My suggestion would be to identify all places a wasp might enter and install tiny turnstiles which cost a quarter to get through. This will encourage them to go to your neighbor's boat to save money. Wasps are famously ... stingy.

 

[thinwater]

This actually works! I do the same thing. Mothballs also repel spiders, and the chemical (naphthalene) also kills mold spores. So keeping an open Tupperware in your boat when you’re not using, it will keep mildew and mold from growing in your boat. But the stuff does leave a pungent odor that takes an hour or so to blow out of the boat so… Always in search of a better solution

My concern is that napthalene is a suspected/probable carcinogen. It's not just a pungent odor. It's more for long terms storage than something you will occupy.

 

[jssailem]

It is true we have but a few insects to disturb our lives. There are yellow jackets in the August/September time frame.

During my cruise leaving Port Browning BC and heading back to the US, I transited between the Islands of Pender and Saturna. On the wind were honey bees. It appeared they were making the journey between the Islands. The wind was blowing 15+. The bees would land in the cockpit. They would orient themselves face to the sun and hunker down out of the wind. After a brief rest they would launch into the wind and be whisked away. This interesting event was repeated 20 plus times over a 50 minute passage. Then they were gone.