Critters

kywildcat

Seaman
Joined
Jun 28, 2005
Messages
54
I recently started storing my runabout in a warehouse that used to be used by a lumber company. It's a metal building with a concrete floor, and obvious signs of critters that like to chew. I haven't had any damage yet, but I feel like its a matter of time. I was told by one source to put poison in the building and told by another source to put it outside so it wouldn't draw them inside. Any opinions? Thanks in advance.
 

Reel Poor

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jan 29, 2005
Messages
5,522
Re: Critters

Yea move your boat before it gets eaten up. Then take care of the critters before you bring the boat back to store it there.
 

eli_lilly

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 22, 2005
Messages
435
Re: Critters

I can tell you from my experience working at Holiday Isle in the Florida Keys that rats LOVE to chew wiring. <br /><br />Bait inside should be OK but it can be challenging to get rid of rats (if that is the infestation) because they have a fear of new things (like rat bait).
 

bayman

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 2, 2000
Messages
669
Re: Critters

You might not see anything yet, sometimes they can cause quite a bit of damage before you find it. You may even move your boat to a new location only to find that you also moved some critters with it. Good luck, I don't know any easy solutions.
 

Haut Medoc

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jun 29, 2004
Messages
10,645
Re: Critters

Holiday Isle?...I wish I were at "Rumrunners" right now!... :) ....JK
 

crazy charlie

Vice Admiral
Joined
May 22, 2003
Messages
5,581
Re: Critters

I would place bowls of mothballs inside your boat and put globs of marine grease on all rubber bellows.
 

CalicoKid

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
May 27, 2002
Messages
1,599
Re: Critters

Mothballs can be bad for plastic finishes, be cautious about that. I throw a binch of D-Con poison bait packs in my boat and under the outboard hood when I store it for Winter. I leave a couple in during Summer too actually since there are no little kids on my boat ever.<br /><br />(Edit) I don't mean to say I'm baiting kids... That is, I'd never leave the bait in the boat during Summer if there were kids on board to accidentally find it and get sick, that would be bad.
 

javsam

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 24, 2005
Messages
421
Re: Critters

i use downy fabric sheets and stuff it in wiring. mice hate it.<br />javsam
 

swist

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 1, 2004
Messages
678
Re: Critters

Not just rats - squirrels (particularly the little red ones that seem to be able to get in anywhere) also eat wiring. What a mess I had.
 
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