winter rodents

[torcano]

I noticed a couple of comments about rodents on boats during winter storage. Is this a common problem? I know about leaving products like "damp rid" to absorb mositure but I've never heard about doing anything to discourage rodents.

 

[ziggy]

Re: winter rodents

i've read about rodents too. i'm sure i don't want to get any in my boat. they sound like they can really eat yer boat up good.
i put a box of decon inside the boat over the winter.
i'm gonna take my drive inside this year. i seen a fella here that disassembled his upper and lower on a mercruiser. had a real stylish mouse house right ontop of the waterpump. it was amazing...
take some kinda preventative measures. i don't know if what i do is enough. but so far so good... maybe partly contingent upon where the boat is stored. a barn environment vs. the side of my house in the driveway in the city.....

 

[scipper77]

Re: winter rodents

I've never had them make it into my boat but I have had mice chew through all of my PFD's that were stored in the garage in a (new) plastic garbage can. The boat was sealed up tight for the winter, the garbage tote was not.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that rodents will take the path of least resistance. I'm sure that a determined mouse will chew his way right into the boat if it is motivated, but a good shrinkwrap job might be worth the extra effort.

P.S. Now that you got me thinking about the subject, I think I'll put a trap or two in my boat this year just in case.

P.P.S Now that I'm over thinking the situation, the smell from the dead rad in the trap probably wouldn't be as bad as the strong urine smell that's ussually associated with the rat's nest.

 

[zach103]

Re: winter rodents

check out my thread "new project" in restor. check out that land.. we have mice in teh boat every year. check out hte engine.. my uncle actually went to start the generator right next the boat.. opened the fuel valve. and gass everywhere. mice chewed right thru the hose. i still have never seen a mouse on that land but i know their there. only wild turkeys that come to the back door. im thinking about puttin the motor in the barn up on the other side of the ladn with all the tractors i know itll be safe. as for the boat at this moment theres nothing to get into

 

[j_martin]

Re: winter rodents

I made up a few small cloth bags that I put some mothballs in. I toss one in each storage compartment, one under the cowl, and one in the propellor of the V6 Merc.

Between that, and a roving cat, I don't have much trouble. I just pull out the mothballs and set the boat out in the sun for a couple of days in the spring to air it out. Just like maw used to when she took the winter woolies out of storage.

I know it says don't do it on the box. I have selective reading disorder.

hope it helps
John

 

[torcano]

Re: winter rodents

Thanks for your comments. I failed to mention that my boat will be stored on land in a Marina next to 50 other boats. I guess I'll ask the marina what their history is. Perhaps I'll put some cheese on the boats around me to divert their attention

 

[mthieme]

Re: winter rodents

Dunno what your marina fees are, but around here they can run over $4K although $2K +/- is normal. For that kinda dough, they should spring for an exterminator.
Fortunately, I am blessed with a good friends and neighbors who let me use pier in season and property for winter storage - no problems.

 

[scipper77]

Re: winter rodents

Your thread has really got my juices flowing (Great thread Torcano).

This year I moved from the city to a suburb with woods in my back yard and a large town park (you know woods with trails etc...) within 1/2 mile. My cat keeps finding dead rodents right outside of the front and back doors to the house . Moles, Voles, mice, chipmunks, that cat is in heaven. When I winterized my pool, I found a mouse nest in the pool cover with that lovely pee smell (no holes luckily). If I'm getting rodents in the summer then I am terrified what might happen in the winter.

Can anyone who has gotten rodents in there boats tell us how they got in? Through the blower vent perhapse, or just a simple hole chewed through the cover.

If I tie down my cover with something like 50-80 lb mono instead of nylon rope does anyone think this would make it hard for mice to climb up to where they could even access the cover?

P.S. Torcano, sorry for asking my ??'s on your thread. hope you don't mind.

 

[torcano]

Re: winter rodents

No problem, scipper 77. The more input the better. BTW, mthieme, for an extra $1000, the marina does have a guy who sits next to your wintered boat with a stick and beats the mice away

 

[Mwp909]

Re: winter rodents

How about using one of those electronic rodent deterrent devices? It should work in a boat if it works in a house. That?s what im going to try this year. My boat will stay outside under a overhang with a cover.

 

[Backyardhockey]

Re: winter rodents

My cat keeps finding dead rodents right outside of the front and back doors to the house

You sure the cat is finding dead stuff and not doing the killin' it'self? I live in the burb's and , unfortunately, have 3 cats. We do not have a mouse problem in the house, but thses cats are killing tons of mice outside. I've come to the conclusion each yard holds a couple dozen mice. They nest in hedges. I'm the guy with the shovel scooping up the body parts, but I won't touch a litterbox. And yes, chipmonks, rabbits and squirels have been on the shovel lately. 3 bodies is the one scoop record so far. Back to lunch.

 

[Irv964]

Re: winter rodents

Another, less hazardous/smelly solution to moth balls is to use Dryer sheets like Bounce, they are cheap and the rodents hate the smell. Just fling a few around and put them in compartments, under the cowl etc before the boat is covered and all will be good come the spring............Irv964

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: winter rodents

Another, less hazardous/smelly solution to moth balls is to use Dryer sheets like Bounce, they are cheap and the rodents hate the smell. Just fling a few around and put them in compartments, under the cowl etc before the boat is covered and all will be good come the spring............Irv964

I had this same discussion with a friend on Sat. He said he used a whole box of Bounce in his travel trailer last winter. He went back up a week later, darn mice were having a siesta in his trailer.

He went to those rodent alarms that you plug in, mice all took up residence elsewhere.

I use these alarms (knock on wood) and no mice in 2 years in my trailer but I don't have power where my boat is, so it's a gamble.

I think I still may try the Bounce sheet options. Worst case, I get those little critters and my boat smells fresher, but I'd rather not have them.

 

[torcano]

Re: winter rodents

I agree that the smell of bounce beats moth balls. Are any of the electronic rodent gadgets battery operated? I will have no power while the boat is on land. Would shrink wrapping my boat significantly reduce the risk of rodent penetration? Has anyone had rodents in a boat that was shrink wrapped.
RK

 

[scipper77]

Re: winter rodents

I know that my cat is actually killing these rodents. It's funny how cats like to leave there kills right outside of the door for you to find as if they were bringing you presents! I guess it's there way of showing you that they appreciate you.

I sescond torcano's question about shrink wrapping, and would like to ask my earlier question again since nobody replied.

For anyone who has had rodents in the boat.
How Did They Get In?

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: winter rodents

From what I've been told the shrink wrapping greatly reduces the chances of getting rodents in your boat because its a thick plastic wrap that is tightly fitted over the top.

However, while this would remove raccoons and squirrels for sure, little field mice fit nicely in through the drain hole at the back of the boat which of course you don't want to seal.

So, it's a bit of a gamble I think. They wanted $300 to shrink wrap my boat, and I'm not sure that's going to provide me benefit over the tarp system I use on my boat.

 

[Backyardhockey]

Re: winter rodents

, little field mice fit nicely in through the drain hole at the back of the boat which of course you don't want to seal.

I jam a piece of window screen in the drain hole.

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: winter rodents

I jam a piece of window screen in the drain hole.

Never even crossed my mind. Great idea. Thanks BYH