I have a snake in my boom and when I sail it sticks its head out of the front of the boom and scares the wife and kids. I've tried flushing the mast with water and I lifted the mast to a near vertical angle with the boom topping lift, but the snake is still there. Any suggestions?
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You're 2.5 months late for April 1st.....
Suggestions: 1. Don't pull any line that pulls back. 2. Hissing sound may not be wind in the rigging. 3. Close hatches tightly at night. 4. Snake presence may just be due to a bad boat-renaming ceremony. 5. Don't accept any apples offered. 6. Put the vessel up for sale and hope for an easy survey. Seriously- lots of luck.....
Suggestions: 1. Don't pull any line that pulls back. 2. Hissing sound may not be wind in the rigging. 3. Close hatches tightly at night. 4. Snake presence may just be due to a bad boat-renaming ceremony. 5. Don't accept any apples offered. 6. Put the vessel up for sale and hope for an easy survey. Seriously- lots of luck.....
Exit stage left
With many years of lost or misplaced snakes around the house, (really), we have found a snake will leave anywhere for two things. Food and water. If you get a mouse or rat, and place it where the snake can smell it, it will come out. Just make sure you move the mouse away from the front of the boom to get the snake all the way out. You should do this with the mast laying on the ground. Some snakes can eat daily, and they can go for long periods without eating. Let's hope yours is hungry. Good Luck
With many years of lost or misplaced snakes around the house, (really), we have found a snake will leave anywhere for two things. Food and water. If you get a mouse or rat, and place it where the snake can smell it, it will come out. Just make sure you move the mouse away from the front of the boom to get the snake all the way out. You should do this with the mast laying on the ground. Some snakes can eat daily, and they can go for long periods without eating. Let's hope yours is hungry. Good Luck
Moth Balls
Hang a mesh bag containing moth balls in your sail cover. This keeps wasps, mud daubers and snakes out. However, it doesn't bother spiders and birds. Good Luck
Hang a mesh bag containing moth balls in your sail cover. This keeps wasps, mud daubers and snakes out. However, it doesn't bother spiders and birds. Good Luck
Snakes in odd places
I had a similar problem with my aluminum canoe, in the styrofoam compartment. Spraying ether (engine starter) into the compartment brought not one, not two, not three, but four big bull snakes out in a big hurry.
I had a similar problem with my aluminum canoe, in the styrofoam compartment. Spraying ether (engine starter) into the compartment brought not one, not two, not three, but four big bull snakes out in a big hurry.
LHLanding
Do Brenda and Marty know about this?
They may be wanting to add this to their options list.
Do Brenda and Marty know about this?
They may be wanting to add this to their options list.What worked for me
Had a similar problem and pulled main sheet from traveller end down into cockpit and then coated about 15 feet of the main sheet with Wasp/Ant spray as I pulled the main sheet back into boom. As I was pulling on main sheet, a 3ft snake exited boom at mast and went over side into water. Evidently he viewed me as no longer such a good host. Have noticed that since the snake's abrupt departure, the spider population seems to have experienced a definite increase.
Had a similar problem and pulled main sheet from traveller end down into cockpit and then coated about 15 feet of the main sheet with Wasp/Ant spray as I pulled the main sheet back into boom. As I was pulling on main sheet, a 3ft snake exited boom at mast and went over side into water. Evidently he viewed me as no longer such a good host. Have noticed that since the snake's abrupt departure, the spider population seems to have experienced a definite increase.
Grass
Motor carefully to a shallow area where there is lots of grass growing in or near the water. The snake will see and get in the grass quickly. Problem solved on the boat, but you still can't trust the snake.
Motor carefully to a shallow area where there is lots of grass growing in or near the water. The snake will see and get in the grass quickly. Problem solved on the boat, but you still can't trust the snake.
so cool!!!!
You know that this might save you the expense of a rubber snake. It will probably leave of it's own accord without notice. Some friends asked me to catch a large black rat snake that was in their log house. It would lay on an upper log over the refrigerator. After I talked about how I liked snakes and that it was harmless they decided to leave it alone. Come spring it left.
You know that this might save you the expense of a rubber snake. It will probably leave of it's own accord without notice. Some friends asked me to catch a large black rat snake that was in their log house. It would lay on an upper log over the refrigerator. After I talked about how I liked snakes and that it was harmless they decided to leave it alone. Come spring it left.
sea sick?
Maybe the snake sticks its head out to get some fresh air; it may get seasick in the confined space inside the boom.
Maybe the snake sticks its head out to get some fresh air; it may get seasick in the confined space inside the boom.
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