What do all of you do to keep the wasps out of your sail cover when the boat is moored? We we out today and the were wasps hovering around the boat. When I took the sail cover off there was a small(thank goodness)wasps nest. I took it off and when we got back to the dock there was a wasp waiting for us and went in the cover as soon as we stopped the boat. Thanks Chuck
- Status
Same problem with dirt dobber wasps
I have had a similar problem with dirt dobbers building their mud nests in the rudder cheeks, bimini cover and mailsail cover. When the boat is moored over the summer, we spray before we leave, but it only lasts a week or so. I have to have a fly swatter and spray to get on the boat if I've been gone for over a week. Any suggestions?
I have had a similar problem with dirt dobbers building their mud nests in the rudder cheeks, bimini cover and mailsail cover. When the boat is moored over the summer, we spray before we leave, but it only lasts a week or so. I have to have a fly swatter and spray to get on the boat if I've been gone for over a week. Any suggestions?
Fabric Sheets
I've heard that pinning or sewing fabric sheets (like Bounce) inside your sail cover will reduce the wasp population. I tied one on the end of my boom and it seemed to help. Another hint-plain dishwashing detergent is supposedly lethel to wasp/ Before you douse you boat with toxic chemicals, give it a good wash with highly concentrated soap!
I've heard that pinning or sewing fabric sheets (like Bounce) inside your sail cover will reduce the wasp population. I tied one on the end of my boom and it seemed to help. Another hint-plain dishwashing detergent is supposedly lethel to wasp/ Before you douse you boat with toxic chemicals, give it a good wash with highly concentrated soap!
Flying Critters
The solution to wasps and mud daubers on my boat is moth balls. I have a bunch of small mesh sacks that I regulary fill with moth balls and hang inside the sail cover and also inside all of the cockpit lockers. It keeps the flying critters out. However, the spiders don't seem to mine them. If I just had some way to discourage the spiders, I would be happy.
The solution to wasps and mud daubers on my boat is moth balls. I have a bunch of small mesh sacks that I regulary fill with moth balls and hang inside the sail cover and also inside all of the cockpit lockers. It keeps the flying critters out. However, the spiders don't seem to mine them. If I just had some way to discourage the spiders, I would be happy.
.....Denny P.Hi, Jim Rushing of Cedar Mills...Bounce works
I get down to Cedar Mills every couple of months to sail with friends aboard SV George Arthur, an Alberg 30. When closing my boat up I place Bounce sheets everywhere I have seen a wasp hovering. I find no wasps or spiders in those areas upon opening the boat on my neat visit. The ones in the sail cover are effective for a week maybe two. The ones inside the boat last two or three weeks. It's easy to tell when they need to be replaced because the wasps will start hovering again. Those Citrenella sented candles make me ill. I have found burning any sented candle keeps flying insects out of the cabin. Yes some mayflies are attracted to the flame and I find their remains floating in wax. They can go away or die, it's their choice. Now if we could find some way to keep spiders off the outside of the boat. Have fun, fend off the bugs, go sailing. dockdog
I get down to Cedar Mills every couple of months to sail with friends aboard SV George Arthur, an Alberg 30. When closing my boat up I place Bounce sheets everywhere I have seen a wasp hovering. I find no wasps or spiders in those areas upon opening the boat on my neat visit. The ones in the sail cover are effective for a week maybe two. The ones inside the boat last two or three weeks. It's easy to tell when they need to be replaced because the wasps will start hovering again. Those Citrenella sented candles make me ill. I have found burning any sented candle keeps flying insects out of the cabin. Yes some mayflies are attracted to the flame and I find their remains floating in wax. They can go away or die, it's their choice. Now if we could find some way to keep spiders off the outside of the boat. Have fun, fend off the bugs, go sailing. dockdog
Panty hose filled with Moth balls
I'm going to try the fabric softener sheets. Sounds like a good variation on the moth ball trick. My only addition to Jim's post is to use old hose for the "mesh bags" that he mentioned. I stuff two or three of these "bags" into the folds of the main before I put the cover on. It really helps keep the mud dabbers at bay. s/v Anodyne
I'm going to try the fabric softener sheets. Sounds like a good variation on the moth ball trick. My only addition to Jim's post is to use old hose for the "mesh bags" that he mentioned. I stuff two or three of these "bags" into the folds of the main before I put the cover on. It really helps keep the mud dabbers at bay. s/v Anodyne
Pest Strips
Chuck: We have had good luck with Pest Strips this year. You can get them at Home Depot. They have plastic containers that keep the pesticide from getting on anything that they touch. The moth balls work but do not seem to last too long. We also use flea collars around the stanchions for spiders.
Chuck: We have had good luck with Pest Strips this year. You can get them at Home Depot. They have plastic containers that keep the pesticide from getting on anything that they touch. The moth balls work but do not seem to last too long. We also use flea collars around the stanchions for spiders.
Flea Collars?
I wonder if I could link the collars together and go around the whole boat? Its the spiders that drive me crazy.
I wonder if I could link the collars together and go around the whole boat? Its the spiders that drive me crazy.
Spiders, burn in h...
I have had my C22 for one season, and I've just pulled it out of storage for season number two (this summer it will be kept in a slip, not trailered). Please tell me if there's any way to keep spiders out of the cabin (in addition to the suggestions already ventured). Me and Mrs. Captain will be spending some nights aboard her and if I find spiders on me in the middle of the night I WILL abandon ship. Keith K. Skipper S/V Vesta C22 #6348
I have had my C22 for one season, and I've just pulled it out of storage for season number two (this summer it will be kept in a slip, not trailered). Please tell me if there's any way to keep spiders out of the cabin (in addition to the suggestions already ventured). Me and Mrs. Captain will be spending some nights aboard her and if I find spiders on me in the middle of the night I WILL abandon ship. Keith K. Skipper S/V Vesta C22 #6348
Jim, just try them.
Jim: Try getting some cheap flea collars and use a small piece of wire to fasten them around your stanchions and pulpits. It is amazing the difference in the number of critters on the boat. I stuffed the sail covers with the pest strips. I made a couple of sacks with moth balls in the lazarettes and hung them on a string. I really do not want pesticides inside the boat, I already lost enough brain cells over the years (can't afford to many more).
Jim: Try getting some cheap flea collars and use a small piece of wire to fasten them around your stanchions and pulpits. It is amazing the difference in the number of critters on the boat. I stuffed the sail covers with the pest strips. I made a couple of sacks with moth balls in the lazarettes and hung them on a string. I really do not want pesticides inside the boat, I already lost enough brain cells over the years (can't afford to many more).
Many of the spiders are wind blown aboard.
Find a lighted, covered slip area where you can just lay back on the cushions of your buddies polluting power pusher. Then look up at the show. You will see bunches of the little 8 legged bastards silking their way over onto your boat, onto your body and everything you truly like. They love things like the towels left on the lifelines, your t-shirts over the tiller, and then they crawl into your sacred, dirty, moldy, foul and slimmy stainless steel coffee mug. There they lay the eggs for their water strider buddies. We should hunt them into extinction using large caliber guns. Just think, 8 drum sticks per kill. Blow the body parts away and enjoy the residual. Too bad they don't have 8 wings instead of leggs. Bullet bagged buffalo wings. Enough!! Time for bed. Where's Steven King when you need him? Ray S/V Speedy PS. Down here on the bottom of this post it asked me if I wanted to edit it. That would just be too sick.
Find a lighted, covered slip area where you can just lay back on the cushions of your buddies polluting power pusher. Then look up at the show. You will see bunches of the little 8 legged bastards silking their way over onto your boat, onto your body and everything you truly like. They love things like the towels left on the lifelines, your t-shirts over the tiller, and then they crawl into your sacred, dirty, moldy, foul and slimmy stainless steel coffee mug. There they lay the eggs for their water strider buddies. We should hunt them into extinction using large caliber guns. Just think, 8 drum sticks per kill. Blow the body parts away and enjoy the residual. Too bad they don't have 8 wings instead of leggs. Bullet bagged buffalo wings. Enough!! Time for bed. Where's Steven King when you need him? Ray S/V Speedy PS. Down here on the bottom of this post it asked me if I wanted to edit it. That would just be too sick.
why I hate wasps
After a massive infection from a wasp sting that nearly put me in the hospital last year, I am deathly afraid of them. Picture me laying under the starboard lazaret on my C22 laying wire for my fishfinder/depth gauge. I'm laying where the sliding galley goes, scooting forward, when six inches from my nose is a baseball sized wasp nest covered in wasps!!! I carefully back out and run in the house. I decide the best plan of attack is to lift the lazaret seat in the cockpit, hang upside down, and spray the little bastards with killer. All goes according to plan until the little bastards don't die very fast and come after me! I back out of the lazarete hatch screaming like a seven year old. I dive for the ladder, the boat is on her trailer in the driveway, and miss. I end up hanging upside down from the lifeline from my right sandle. Still screaming! I finally fall to the gravel driveway, screaming, and run into the house. After I catch my breath and tell my wife what happened, she nearly fell over laughing! She has never let me forget. Good Luck, I plan on bug bombing on a regular basis. To hell with the brain cells!
After a massive infection from a wasp sting that nearly put me in the hospital last year, I am deathly afraid of them. Picture me laying under the starboard lazaret on my C22 laying wire for my fishfinder/depth gauge. I'm laying where the sliding galley goes, scooting forward, when six inches from my nose is a baseball sized wasp nest covered in wasps!!! I carefully back out and run in the house. I decide the best plan of attack is to lift the lazaret seat in the cockpit, hang upside down, and spray the little bastards with killer. All goes according to plan until the little bastards don't die very fast and come after me! I back out of the lazarete hatch screaming like a seven year old. I dive for the ladder, the boat is on her trailer in the driveway, and miss. I end up hanging upside down from the lifeline from my right sandle. Still screaming! I finally fall to the gravel driveway, screaming, and run into the house. After I catch my breath and tell my wife what happened, she nearly fell over laughing! She has never let me forget. Good Luck, I plan on bug bombing on a regular basis. To hell with the brain cells!
- Status