Keeping small critters out

[Newowner2011]

My boat has a full boat cover but I suspect some little critters such as mice could get into the boat and make nests out of fabric from my seats or any place else. What is a good way to keep them out, especially in the winter, short of just setting traps for them but it would be hard to retrieve them when there is snow on the cover.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Keeping small critters out

Mothballs work. Do a search on this forum and read to your hearts delight. This has been discussed at length many times.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Keeping small critters out

A guy I know just bought a 26' wooden hull boat to rebuild. dragged it home and found cats had been living in it.

So two points: be aware that lots of critters might move in there, adn consider a pre-emptive strike by installing a cat under the cover.

Maybe mothballs would keep them out?

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Keeping small critters out

Best solution is to not cover it unless it is outside. Aside from that, large boxes of dcon surrounding the boat do wonders.

 

[mpdive]

Re: Keeping small critters out

Stay up all winter with a shotgun. You love your boat don't you!

 

[Hydra-sport_Road-kill]

Re: Keeping small critters out

I'm thinkin' I'd get me a boat load of snakes before I'd keep a cat on board.

 

[109jb]

Re: Keeping small critters out

Fabric softener sheet work too. I use them in my boat I scatter about 10 of them around my 16 footer.

 

[V153]

Re: Keeping small critters out

Stay up all winter with a shotgun

Overkill. 17hmr should be sufficient. And much less messy ...

Tell ya what. Round these parts you show a varmint a sheet of 'Snuggle' and he'll either eat, or take a giant dump on it. Not necessarily in that order. Personally I prefer to use it in my clothes dryer ...

 

[Lakes84]

Re: Keeping small critters out

Overkill. 17hmr should be sufficient. And much less messy ...

Tell ya what. Round these parts you show a varmint a sheet of 'Snuggle' and he'll either eat, or take a giant dump on it. Not necessarily in that order. Personally I prefer to use it in my clothes dryer ...

Yeah, our mice blow their noses with them. Seriously though, Dcon works the best for me...not inside the boat, just around it. I store mine inside my pole barn, so I'm not worried about "good" outside critters.


See you on the lake

Joe

 

[Silly Seville]

Re: Keeping small critters out

...show a varmint a sheet of 'Snuggle' and he'll either eat, or take a giant dump on it.

That visual is HILARIOUS!

What about that cayenne pepper trick? Will mice run from that...or eat it too?

 

[RandyJ]

Re: Keeping small critters out

I used to run a feed store and had gazillions of rats & mice to deal with. Sticky traps work best and peanut butter is the best bait.

 

[V153]

Re: Keeping small critters out

What about that cayenne pepper trick? Will mice run from that...

Not if they're Mexican mice ...

 

[NewfieDan]

Re: Keeping small critters out

We have both a boat nad an RV. What we use is mothballs around the outside fo the RV and Irish Spring soap inside. In almost 15yrs thre only mouse we had was the first year, before we started using combination of the 2. Also consider using something in all the holes that varmints can get into.

In our RV we use steel wool anywhere that plumbing holes are, around the vents we use steel window screen. For boats the drain hole is good way for critters to enter. Put the plug in but leave it loose enough for water to drip out. (Don't forget in the spring). Keep it away from trees or long grass, they are both great ways from squirrels to get in. They make mice look like house pets with the mess they make. Other than that agood tight cover works good. If your cover has ways to get in they will. Consider shrink wrapping?

 

[John_S]

Re: Keeping small critters out

I use the moth balls, but also remove seats and either stored tilted in boat or in house. Less crevisous, equals less inviting to build a nest.

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: Keeping small critters out

X2 on the peppermint oil, BOUNCE dryer sheets-not snuggle, mothballs. And try not to forget too remove the half bag of potato chips from under the seat. Please dont ask me how I know this is a BAD-VERY-BAD thing to forget...:facepalm::facepalm::facepalm:

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: Keeping small critters out

X2 on the peppermint oil, BOUNCE dryer sheets-not snuggle, mothballs. (

times 3

I have tried all of the above including the peanut butter/bucket/can trick...it didn't work at all. I even tried a trap and the basturds snapped the trap and then ate the PB.

You can also try plugging in one of those rodent sonic things. I tried that too and I think that's what did it. Dunno for sure, but I don't have any more mice. They liked the fabric softener sheets...they disappeared. The peppermint was too darn expensive. Mothballs just stink.

 

[erwinner]

Re: Keeping small critters out

Consider shrink wrapping?

That's really a pretty good idea I think.
http://www.globalindustrial.com/g/packaging/stretch-wrap-equipment/supplies/pallet-stretch-wrap
Not too expensive but a bit of work.
This may be better, but more $$$
http://www.uline.com/BL_2414/Marine-Industrial-Shrink-Film

 

[voodoo]

Re: Keeping small critters out

Family of squirrels moved into my boat.
One by one I hunted them down with a pellet gun.
I now have an open fire on sight policy for squirrels, up to and including the shot gun.
My wife is not happy I dispatched them.

 

[V153]

Re: Keeping small critters out

I admire your bravado and steadfastness. Despite your wife's complaint(s). And personally I believe you're right ...?

I can deal with a squirrel living in a nearby tree but if he decides to move his family into my boat there will be blood ...

 

[mommicked]

Re: Keeping small critters out

Get up w Texasvet and see if you can borrow the large snake that was lounging on his dock recently! Make a warm nest for it w a lightbulb over a pile of rags or blankets. Just don't forget it's in there come springtime