When I first purchased my sailboat 6 years ago, I had a genuine fear of spiders. Needless to say, I no longer have a fear of spiders after having them crawl all over me, get in my hair, food, stain my boat etc... Anyway, my girlfriend has a real problem with these little pests. Has anybody found a simple way to reduce their numbers (especially just after the sun sets--she usually goes running into the cabin just after sunset, when there seems to be a mass gathering of spiders coming across docklines just to come and piss me off). Do any of those electrical gadgets work(that emit silent frequencies etc...)?? What to do??
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try flea collars
Tim: Try dog flea collars. Cut short sections off of the largest collar you can find. Each section should be able to go around each stanchion with a 1/2"+ overlap. Put a hole through both ends. Use a small piece of wire through the holes to fasten the piece of collar to the stanchion. See if this works. The flea collars contain pesticide and may be just the thing. If it does not work you are out about $6-8 and a little time. Also you may consider using a bug bomb down below to clean out the 'lil buggers. If you do this open all of your storage compartments and maybe even use a couple of bombs. Not a lot invested here and you never know they may think that your boat sucks!
Tim: Try dog flea collars. Cut short sections off of the largest collar you can find. Each section should be able to go around each stanchion with a 1/2"+ overlap. Put a hole through both ends. Use a small piece of wire through the holes to fasten the piece of collar to the stanchion. See if this works. The flea collars contain pesticide and may be just the thing. If it does not work you are out about $6-8 and a little time. Also you may consider using a bug bomb down below to clean out the 'lil buggers. If you do this open all of your storage compartments and maybe even use a couple of bombs. Not a lot invested here and you never know they may think that your boat sucks!
Flea collars
I've heard that flea collars attached to your cleats, stanchions, dock lines, etc can help prevent the little buggers from coming aboard. I think I'd try putting the collars on, and then fumigating the boat. Remember to take any food or dishes off the boat before you fumigate... Then ventilate the cabin before you try to stay aboard for any length of time. Of course, if you live aboard, getting time to fumigate may be tough. Good luck! --Jon Bastien H25 'Adagio'
I've heard that flea collars attached to your cleats, stanchions, dock lines, etc can help prevent the little buggers from coming aboard. I think I'd try putting the collars on, and then fumigating the boat. Remember to take any food or dishes off the boat before you fumigate... Then ventilate the cabin before you try to stay aboard for any length of time. Of course, if you live aboard, getting time to fumigate may be tough. Good luck! --Jon Bastien H25 'Adagio'
spiders
West Marine used to sell a product called spider kilz , it can be sprayed right on to the boat and does seem to work if used on a regular basis, also hot shot makes a bomb called spider something or other, I learned from a web site last year that spiders are not insects and therefore many insecticides do not have an effect , I bombed out boat prior to launch and already have a few, so it is a maint thing, good lluck Mike B
West Marine used to sell a product called spider kilz , it can be sprayed right on to the boat and does seem to work if used on a regular basis, also hot shot makes a bomb called spider something or other, I learned from a web site last year that spiders are not insects and therefore many insecticides do not have an effect , I bombed out boat prior to launch and already have a few, so it is a maint thing, good lluck Mike B
Dursban
University of Missouri Extension guide sheet list spider control products. Dursban and diazinon are good products for household use. Read the lable for use around the water. Sprays are available on Walmart and garden stores. Dursban will last a little longer than diazinon.
University of Missouri Extension guide sheet list spider control products. Dursban and diazinon are good products for household use. Read the lable for use around the water. Sprays are available on Walmart and garden stores. Dursban will last a little longer than diazinon.
No Chemicals, I use a Grill lighter or Benzomatic
Torch them bad boys and their new home, just don't burn the gelcoat!
Torch them bad boys and their new home, just don't burn the gelcoat!
Cedar
I have read that cedar oil works well. The only problem is that I have never been able to find any. Perhaps laying some cedar strips around the boat would help. I'm suprised nobody suggested having your girlfriend wear the flea collar. Just kidding
I have read that cedar oil works well. The only problem is that I have never been able to find any. Perhaps laying some cedar strips around the boat would help. I'm suprised nobody suggested having your girlfriend wear the flea collar. Just kidding
Home-use Raid
I just purchased a gallon of pre-mixed home use spray, which I believe was made by Raid. I purchased it at my local grocery store. It is colorless and made to put on carpet and other home areas so I felt safe using it on my boat. It lists spiders as one of its targets. My boat (located on an inland lake in Texas) was covered with spiders. I liberally sprayed the rub rails, stanchions, cleats, sail covers, etc. After two such sprayings, the gel coat and covers were fine and all spiders are gone! I now just hit the dock line cleats and some of the rigging before I leave after each sail. Call it prevenitive mainenance. All I have to do is look at the boats next to me (still covered in webs) to realize this will be on ongoing battle. Sean "Roll the Dice"
I just purchased a gallon of pre-mixed home use spray, which I believe was made by Raid. I purchased it at my local grocery store. It is colorless and made to put on carpet and other home areas so I felt safe using it on my boat. It lists spiders as one of its targets. My boat (located on an inland lake in Texas) was covered with spiders. I liberally sprayed the rub rails, stanchions, cleats, sail covers, etc. After two such sprayings, the gel coat and covers were fine and all spiders are gone! I now just hit the dock line cleats and some of the rigging before I leave after each sail. Call it prevenitive mainenance. All I have to do is look at the boats next to me (still covered in webs) to realize this will be on ongoing battle. Sean "Roll the Dice"
Attn: Sean of Austin
Not that I care, but you should check the label on the container and find out what it says about spraying around lakes & rivers...... Much of this stuff is band from such use (our friends in Washington - EPA). If it OKAY then this is a great idea. If it is not OKAY, then it's still a good idea, but you should do it after dark. I would be interested in hearing back from you. I may try doing this on our dock.
Not that I care, but you should check the label on the container and find out what it says about spraying around lakes & rivers...... Much of this stuff is band from such use (our friends in Washington - EPA). If it OKAY then this is a great idea. If it is not OKAY, then it's still a good idea, but you should do it after dark. I would be interested in hearing back from you. I may try doing this on our dock.
Steve -
The product is on the boat, but I will check out the warnings, and see what they say. If I remember correctly it says it is a water based chemical, which (hey I aint a chemist) but should become relatively inert after drying out. I try to only spray when I am relatively assured of a long dry spell. I am heading to the boat tonite so I will check and let ya know! Sean
The product is on the boat, but I will check out the warnings, and see what they say. If I remember correctly it says it is a water based chemical, which (hey I aint a chemist) but should become relatively inert after drying out. I try to only spray when I am relatively assured of a long dry spell. I am heading to the boat tonite so I will check and let ya know! Sean
Sean, thanks.
If this stuff is OK around the water, I am going to get some and treat our dock area. By the time fall comes, we have SOOOO many spiders and webs on the boat, that it's is hard to believe that there is room for the humans and animal aboard.
If this stuff is OK around the water, I am going to get some and treat our dock area. By the time fall comes, we have SOOOO many spiders and webs on the boat, that it's is hard to believe that there is room for the humans and animal aboard.
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