What do you do to rid the bugs at night????

[Fordiesel69]

Alright, as i'm itching, Im typing this post. On my boat my fuel tank vent is back by the intergral swim platform. I did not think it would be good to use a citronella candle / torch for fear of ignition. I also do not want toxic sprays on my boat or skin. Any solutions you folks use on your boats?

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: What do you do to rid the bugs at night????

Having spent extensive amounts of time in the NW florida region and at the time tried every repellent known to man in my opion is there is no substitute to good old fashioned repellent with the highest concentration of DEET. I know you want something natural but in my experience all that other crap like skin so soft and other wives tales is BS. Some of that stuff may work in you backyard in the suburbs with your occasional mosquito but when you are OUT there its chemicals baby, all the way!!!!

However I did just read a thread on another site and the guy says that he tried some herbal stuff by Bert's Bees and it worked. Personally I'll believe it when I see it.

You're other option is cover up with clothing of course.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: What do you do to rid the bugs at night????

Here where the mosquito is the State Bird........ the Burt's Bees stuff just flavor's the meat but has a decent smell as you are eaten alive.

We use Deet products and have alo found that Avon Skin So Soft is fairly effective. The bugs out on the water are not as bad as they are on shore too.

 

[Doernuth]

Re: What do you do to rid the bugs at night????

If it isn't too windy those mosquito coils work, but they burn like insence so watch where you put them. sit on a piece of aluminum foil to catch the ashes.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: What do you do to rid the bugs at night????

Look online for Maxi-Deet. Believe it or not, it's either 96% or 98% DEET, where others range from 2-5% DEET. It works amazingly well and isn't expensive.

P.S. Don't get it on your lips. You won't feel them for 6-8 weeks.

 

[DANZIG]

Re: What do you do to rid the bugs at night????

I have heard some folks swear by those Thermacell things but I have not tried them myself.

 

[crablegs]

Re: What do you do to rid the bugs at night????

Thermacells rock!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: What do you do to rid the bugs at night????

A candle on the far side of the swim platform from the vent won't be dangerous, but citronella isn't very effective in the first place. You'd be better off, if you want to use one, or coils, with them in the cockpit area so the fumes can be trapped in those still areas. That's where the bugs hang out.

So if you can't accept toxins, you have two options. One is a snorkle. The other is WOT.

 

[Brewman61]

Re: What do you do to rid the bugs at night????

Cigar. Not politically correct or appreciated by some, so I always ask permission first (even on my own boat) out of courtesy.

 

[109jb]

Re: What do you do to rid the bugs at night????

I agree with other posts that say DEET. It is the ONLY thing I have found to work. The brand I personally use is Repel 30 or Repel 100. Yes the 30 and 100 mean 30% and 100% DEET respectively. I use the 30 if I'm only going to be out in mosquito prone areas for a few hours and the 100 if longer I know you said you didn't want toxic sprays, but DEET is the only thing I have found that works and don't forget that mosquito's can spread disease and infections. The choice is yours but for mee I'll use the DEET.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: What do you do to rid the bugs at night????

If it isn't too windy those mosquito coils work, but they burn like insence so watch where you put them. sit on a piece of aluminum foil to catch the ashes.

If it is windy the mosquitos get blown away, they are not strong flyers, we have a big air moving fan directed at where we sit on the back porch and it definatly keeps them off, I guess on a boat if you had a powerfull 12V fan it would work to keep them from landing.
I've never really had a mosquito problem on the water, it seems like we escape them by getting over water, but the other bugs are attracted to the light when fishing, they get so bad may boat has a layer of them sticking wherever the lantern was sitting.

 

[commander315]

Re: What do you do to rid the bugs at night????

So if you can't accept toxins, you have two options. One is a snorkle. The other is WOT.

lol i agree Deet is the best way

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: What do you do to rid the bugs at night????

I find repel is too sticky after application. I go for Cutters all the way. Just got back from 5 days on the salt marsh and did fine. I put it on first thing in the morning and after a shower or swim.
If you fish, wash your hands after putting on bug spray and before cutting bait.

Squid, cutters and OB oil--the cologne for having fun!

 

[PGFISHER]

Re: What do you do to rid the bugs at night????

For the land lubbers, try yellow lights and the middle of the lake. If your'e fishing or partying near the shore, remember bugs don't like water, so your'e out of luck.

 

[grego]

Re: What do you do to rid the bugs at night????

If at anchor and no wind, I spray deet on hull just above the waterline. seems to make a difference. same thing at drive-in, spray ground around truck. also, there is a belt hanging, fan operated repelant. just hook to belt and turn it on. walgreen's. it is a pretty big but it does work.

 

[Outsider]

Re: What do you do to rid the bugs at night????

that other crap like skin so soft and other wives tales is BS.

Depends on the bug. Mosquitoes are best repelled with heavy-duty DEET products, for sure, and Skin-So-Soft will have little affect. Sand gnats, however are a bug of a different color. DEET has no affect on them, but KSS works very well. My wife won't be caught without it when the gnats are swarming ...

 

[dmoriarty51]

Re: What do you do to rid the bugs at night????

another good one for gnats is a hand cleaner such as permatex/goop. i buy mine in a small tub, just get one that doesnt have an abrasive in it..