keeping mice out

[goldstem]

I have a 1988 merc 50 with the clamshell hood. mice have been getting inside the cover and chewing on wiring and built a nest inside the carb cover! I had been trying to wrap the powerhead in a garbage bag to keep them out but this failed. I've heard mothballs. i tried dryer sheets and that didn't work. what works for you? thank you

 

[DeepCMark58A]

I remove the cowel from the motor the mice will not go in if it is not a hiding spot.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I have always had luck with a combination of irish spring soap shaved in a plastic bowl and bounce dryer sheets.

mothballs will work to, however they smell like moth balls.

how long did you have the motor sitting?

 

[Tassie 1]

what works for you?

Haven't had mice in a outboard
any reason you haven't just used some sort of ratsac poison?

 

[goldstem]

it sits from october to april. I've tried dryer sheets before, since it is outside and an open boat, sounds like moth balls it is

 

[Scott Danforth]

moth balls will disappear after a few months due to sublimation . just like the effectiveness of the dryer sheets.

7 months is a long time to let a motor sit. if you plan on letting the motor sit that long, maybe pull the cover off every few months and replace the moth balls or the drier sheets. or pull the motor and store it indoors.

even when I lived in Wisconsin, we boated until end of November and were on the water beginning of April as 4 months was way too long to let a motor sit.