Spring weather is opon us in the southeast, so are the bugs. The air on the dock this morning was black with gnats. I'm looking for creative solutions to bug screens for the hatches and companionway. I found some excellent screen at a army surplus outfit, very fine mesh. I tried attaching it with adhesive velcro but it just won't stay stuck. Now i'm thinking snaps ...screw the males in every 8" or so around the opening on the inside and attach the females to the screen. But this will still leave a small (and important) gap between the snaps. I know I can make a drop in rig for the companionway but thats a pain to store and it always gets destroyed. Any Ideas for a neat, clean, cheap, easy to store, and customizable mathods to keep the bloodsuckers out?
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bugz
Actually I don't know what's in the pic ...other than my finger, just thought it turned out pretty cool.
Actually I don't know what's in the pic ...other than my finger, just thought it turned out pretty cool.
Buy Bug Buster Screens
We bought bug buster screens for the hatches and companionway. The fit is perfect. We also tried to come up with innovative approaches to this problem. Finally gave up and ordered the bug buster screens. They are great!
We bought bug buster screens for the hatches and companionway. The fit is perfect. We also tried to come up with innovative approaches to this problem. Finally gave up and ordered the bug buster screens. They are great!
Get fishing weights and
sew them into a seam around the screening and just lay it down on whatever needs to be protected. Cheap. Jim S/V Java
sew them into a seam around the screening and just lay it down on whatever needs to be protected. Cheap. Jim S/V Java
- Jan 22, 2008
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small brass chain
Small brass chain sewn into the hem all around also creates enoungh weight to keep the edges down when draped over top hatches. Another solution may be an elasitic cord sewn into the hem all around. This would only work if your hatch trim on the inside had a bit of a lip, to engage the cord. I would have thought slide in screens for the companionway would have been the best way to go. If the stick on velcro does not work, try sewing the strip of vecro onto the screen, and using epoxy to attach it to the roughened gelcoat on the inside of the companionway uprights.
Small brass chain sewn into the hem all around also creates enoungh weight to keep the edges down when draped over top hatches. Another solution may be an elasitic cord sewn into the hem all around. This would only work if your hatch trim on the inside had a bit of a lip, to engage the cord. I would have thought slide in screens for the companionway would have been the best way to go. If the stick on velcro does not work, try sewing the strip of vecro onto the screen, and using epoxy to attach it to the roughened gelcoat on the inside of the companionway uprights.
Screens
Don't know what kind of boat you have, but Catalina makes some screens...may fit your boat if not a Catalina: http://shop.catalinaowners.com/
Don't know what kind of boat you have, but Catalina makes some screens...may fit your boat if not a Catalina: http://shop.catalinaowners.com/
Velcro 'Glue'
You should be able to ‘glue’ Velcro to fibreglass, with the right product. We didn’t use the ‘adhesive backed’ velcro, but a separate glue sold for Velcro (sewing supply shop). Sorry, I don’t recall the product name. After about 2 years, the corner from which we ‘zipped’ it open came loose, so I screwed the corners down (well ‘up’, actually - but that doesn’t read as well) /w a small (6/32 x ½") screw and finishing washer. No further problem (8 years). The hem-weighted curtains, previously described, work fairly well on the companionway.
You should be able to ‘glue’ Velcro to fibreglass, with the right product. We didn’t use the ‘adhesive backed’ velcro, but a separate glue sold for Velcro (sewing supply shop). Sorry, I don’t recall the product name. After about 2 years, the corner from which we ‘zipped’ it open came loose, so I screwed the corners down (well ‘up’, actually - but that doesn’t read as well) /w a small (6/32 x ½") screw and finishing washer. No further problem (8 years). The hem-weighted curtains, previously described, work fairly well on the companionway.
Sewn in weights ...
... are the way to go, but if'n your lazy as I am, use brass bars. I cut bulk screen to fit the companionway with a few inches to spare and cut brass rods to lay on top if it in the water and slider gooves on the sides and fore edges. My boat has a fabric liner in the V berth so that hatch screen has Velcro glued to the screen at the edges and it grips the liner from the inside.. Cheap, easy, fast.
... are the way to go, but if'n your lazy as I am, use brass bars. I cut bulk screen to fit the companionway with a few inches to spare and cut brass rods to lay on top if it in the water and slider gooves on the sides and fore edges. My boat has a fabric liner in the V berth so that hatch screen has Velcro glued to the screen at the edges and it grips the liner from the inside.. Cheap, easy, fast.
Maine State Bird
Nice shot. In Maine we have pretty much just given up on the idea of keeping them out and instead have come to embrace their economic potential.
Nice shot. In Maine we have pretty much just given up on the idea of keeping them out and instead have come to embrace their economic potential.
Be thankful you are not in Manitoba
I was in Manitoba (north of Minn) and the bugs there are huge - and plentiful. People there say they don't bother with screens anymore 'cause the mosquitos are so large they fly right through - taking the screen off the frame. And those are just the babies! The bigger ones pick the whole boat up and fly off to its nest to feed in comfort. Thanks goodness summer only lasts two weeks there - and then the first deep freeze hits, killing all the bugs and returning the land to its natural frozen state.
I was in Manitoba (north of Minn) and the bugs there are huge - and plentiful. People there say they don't bother with screens anymore 'cause the mosquitos are so large they fly right through - taking the screen off the frame. And those are just the babies! The bigger ones pick the whole boat up and fly off to its nest to feed in comfort. Thanks goodness summer only lasts two weeks there - and then the first deep freeze hits, killing all the bugs and returning the land to its natural frozen state.
I Love the Competitions in Maine.
Each year they have a beauty contest. The ladies dress up in bikinis. And the one who can stand up to the bugs and the biting for the longest time is named the winner.
Each year they have a beauty contest. The ladies dress up in bikinis. And the one who can stand up to the bugs and the biting for the longest time is named the winner.
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