Controlling Pests on your Boat

No one wants to have to deal with a pest infestation in their watercraft. Spiders, rats, mice, birds, insects, raccoons, and other unwanted guests can eat away at your boat, leave droppings, and otherwise damage your boat and disrupt your trip. Luckily, this list of tips from Clews and Strawbridge has some information about how to prevent and deal with pest infestations in your watercraft.

A Thorough Clean

The old adage about an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure applies here. The best way to deal with pest infestations in your watercraft is to prevent them from occurring in the first place. One way to do this is by regularly cleaning up and removing things like trash and leaves from your vessel, since these materials are often used by pests for nesting. 

Regular cleanings will also remove food traces like crumbs and spills, which are a magnet for hungry pests. Make sure that any food stored on your boat longer than a week gets promptly removed, and clear away anything that might make a food-like smell if you use your boat for fishing or grilling. 

Use Scented Deterrents

Scent can attract pests to your boat, but it can also be used to drive them away. Try mixing ammonia with cayenne pepper and rubbing/spraying the edges of your vessel with it. This solution will keep insects away, though you’ll need to keep it out of your eyes. Be sure to wear goggles and protective gloves when applying this solution, and to reapply it about once a month. 

You can also use mothballs to keep pests away from your vessel. Hand the mothballs from tubes, in sheets of fabric around your boat’s edges, or stowed away in compartments. If you’re worried about larger animals like racoons and otters, place dryer sheets and heavily scented soaps around your vessel. 

Ultrasonic Sound Devices

Ultrasonic devices are used by gardeners on land to keep raccoons and deer away, and the same principles apply out on the water. Different animals respond to different frequencies, so shop around until you find the right one for you. The best part of using these devices is that the frequencies that they emit will be inaudible to you!

Covers

A boat cover is used to protect a vessel against weather damage, but they can also be used to deter pests. An effective cover will completely engulf your boat, with no room for pests to enter. Remember that pests are great at squeezing into even the smallest of spaces. You may occasionally need to inspect your boat’s cover to make sure that it is still intact. 

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