Termites and Growing white creature in bilge.

[oddjob]

Well folks I need to start my boat restorating project on a 17' Quachita. There is a drain hole in the bulkhead of the front storage compartment. After a few weeks there will be approx. 1 teaspoon of wood dust there. Have not phyically seen any termites. But the wood dust keeps coming back. This boat came from a barn in mississippi.<br /><br />Also another observation is that a white fungus (I think ?) will appear in the bilge hole after a few days of rainy weather and I think its coming from rot around the drain hole. <br /><br />Because of the possible termites I have since put in the back yard With a tarp over for 6 months now.<br /><br />Maybe I should gut it in the back yard before I bring it back in the garage.<br /><br />Anyway, any feedback will be much apprieciated and I will post some before pics. Unless the termite issue is a serious one.<br /><br />ojb

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Termites and Growing white creature in bilge.

Could also be Carpenter Ants, and they are just as destructive. Carpenter Ants generate a good amount of frass (wood shavings mixed with insect parts and debris), unless it is a young colony. There are other species of smaller moisture ants that also destroy wood, their frass is redish and a lot more fine. Carpenter Ant frass looks like what you would see from a table saw mixted with legs and heads and junk.<br /><br />Any borate will act as a good anti-fungal, but I would probably just gut it now so you don't have mess with all that in spring. You can then just rebuild in spring and be on the water that much quicker...

 

[ED21]

Re: Termites and Growing white creature in bilge.

Ditto on the carpenter ants. Besides chewing up wood, they have done the same thing to the foam insulation in my hot tub. Ants don't need to build tunnels to stay out of the light like termites. I think the ants do need to get back to the ground for food & water, so a powdered insecticide around the trailer wheels should also help kill them.<br />The fungus sounds like something I've seen on old logs in my woodpile.