Has anyone found a way to keep seagulls and cormorants off of their moored sailboat that really works short of electrifying the rigging? Bob H. C-22
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Rich
Brings back memories. First year I had the boat I set a mooring next to my friends sailboat. Never before had he had a seagull problem. The three years we were there we battled the seagulls. Everything from fake owls to mouse traps. The thing that worked best was a windsock tied low off the front stay. The constant movement seemed to keep them away from the front of the boat. As for the cockpit, maybe a windsock or two tied from the boom. We both ended up moving out of that cove (I like to think not because the seagulls won, but to be closer to our homes). Good Luck.
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Bob Carlton
Line above the spreaders.
I've got double spreaders which seem to attract more than two times the amount of birds that single spreaders do. I saw a trick somewhere which I used; it appears to help. Run some wire an inch or two above each spreader between the mast and the running rigging. I used brass wire so it wouldn't rust and hooked it to a screw that holds the spreader bracket to the mast. Then I ran it to the running rigging just above the spreader boot at the end of each spreader. The result is that the wire is parallel to the spreader and birds can't get a foothold onto the spreaders. It's not visable from below, doesn't interfere with sail movement and birds go else where (like onto my bow pulpit).
I've got double spreaders which seem to attract more than two times the amount of birds that single spreaders do. I saw a trick somewhere which I used; it appears to help. Run some wire an inch or two above each spreader between the mast and the running rigging. I used brass wire so it wouldn't rust and hooked it to a screw that holds the spreader bracket to the mast. Then I ran it to the running rigging just above the spreader boot at the end of each spreader. The result is that the wire is parallel to the spreader and birds can't get a foothold onto the spreaders. It's not visable from below, doesn't interfere with sail movement and birds go else where (like onto my bow pulpit).
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Gary
Put a snake on it
A powerboat moored near mine has a very large plastic snake on its cover. The cover is spotless of bird crap, it also kind of freaked me out when going by.
A powerboat moored near mine has a very large plastic snake on its cover. The cover is spotless of bird crap, it also kind of freaked me out when going by.
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Mike Turner
Party Flags
I had problems with birds lighting on my lifelines, with a resultant line of p--p along the rail. I bought strings of party flags at a party supply store and strung them along the upper lifelines -- no more birds. Plus it gave the boat a festive flair at the dock (although at least one slip neighbor asked if I was opening a "used boat" lot). I expect one could also string the flags up the fore- and back-stays with halyards, kind of like dressing ship. Sail Magazine's "Things That Work" also recommended lashing a 2x4 across the bow pulpit, with both ends hanging over the water, to give the birds a place to perch with "automatic" cleanup. Mike Turner S/V Amity
I had problems with birds lighting on my lifelines, with a resultant line of p--p along the rail. I bought strings of party flags at a party supply store and strung them along the upper lifelines -- no more birds. Plus it gave the boat a festive flair at the dock (although at least one slip neighbor asked if I was opening a "used boat" lot). I expect one could also string the flags up the fore- and back-stays with halyards, kind of like dressing ship. Sail Magazine's "Things That Work" also recommended lashing a 2x4 across the bow pulpit, with both ends hanging over the water, to give the birds a place to perch with "automatic" cleanup. Mike Turner S/V Amity
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Randy
For the birds...
I've found that birds (seagulls in particular) don't like things that constantly move, and they don't like things in their way. Items like flags, pennants, or even slack, swinging lines will help to keep them away. For spreaders, stretching wire or monofilament fishing line about an inch above the top surface prevents them from standing there. Randy
I've found that birds (seagulls in particular) don't like things that constantly move, and they don't like things in their way. Items like flags, pennants, or even slack, swinging lines will help to keep them away. For spreaders, stretching wire or monofilament fishing line about an inch above the top surface prevents them from standing there. Randy
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Les Murray
I've got the same problem
Seems a bird or two has found a nice resting spot on my sail cover. Every week I go down there I find the cover and the dodger covered with %^*(. One thing I saw on boats in San Diego that I am going to try is stringing a light line from the mast to the topping lift, probably a foot or so above the boom, and hang plastic shopping bags off of it. Seems pretty simple. I like the party flag idea as well. Probably looks more attrative than those shopping bags. Les Murray s/v Ceilidh 86 C-36 #560
Seems a bird or two has found a nice resting spot on my sail cover. Every week I go down there I find the cover and the dodger covered with %^*(. One thing I saw on boats in San Diego that I am going to try is stringing a light line from the mast to the topping lift, probably a foot or so above the boom, and hang plastic shopping bags off of it. Seems pretty simple. I like the party flag idea as well. Probably looks more attrative than those shopping bags. Les Murray s/v Ceilidh 86 C-36 #560
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Craig Cody
Mylar tape and slingshots
I've found that Mylar tape works real well. I had an old cassette tape that died, and I just pull some of it out and tie a few long streamers to shrouds, etc. I've seen it as party streamers in color. I had a cormorant that loved the top of my mast, and didn't know what to do. I live aboard, and of course human presence scared him off at first, but then he came back. I borrowed a wrist rocket slingshot from a friend and started firing mud clods at him. The hit the mast and disintigrated, but he didn't like it and eventually left for good. As a post script, Cormorant droppings dry to the consistancy of concrete almost on contact. Yech.
I've found that Mylar tape works real well. I had an old cassette tape that died, and I just pull some of it out and tie a few long streamers to shrouds, etc. I've seen it as party streamers in color. I had a cormorant that loved the top of my mast, and didn't know what to do. I live aboard, and of course human presence scared him off at first, but then he came back. I borrowed a wrist rocket slingshot from a friend and started firing mud clods at him. The hit the mast and disintigrated, but he didn't like it and eventually left for good. As a post script, Cormorant droppings dry to the consistancy of concrete almost on contact. Yech.
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gary jensen
shooing the birds
Wrist rocket works great. I'v chased birds from my boat by coming close to them. I have a pellet air pistol but am reluctant to bring it to the boat. My intentions would be to only scare them, however it might look different with a pistol...
Wrist rocket works great. I'v chased birds from my boat by coming close to them. I have a pellet air pistol but am reluctant to bring it to the boat. My intentions would be to only scare them, however it might look different with a pistol...
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