ants

[93bronco]

a friend of mine looked at a 78 searay today because he wants an older v8boat and found what he said was fireants or similar around the inside of the hull around the engine.? is can ants damage the marine plywood or is it treated so that it deters this type of infestation. also can termites live in the hulls of boats. i know ants are everywhere along with termites did the companies for see this as a problem and treat the wood?

 

[PurpleDragon]

Re: ants

What's the hull made of? Is it plywood with fiberglass exterior? (Not that it matters if it's infested with ants)<br /><br />Anyhow - My bet would be to run in the other direction. If they're *inside* the hull.. that means that the exterior layers have been compromised (cracked somewhere) to let the ants in, and the interior (wood, foam filler, etc) has been affected.<br /><br />Just my opinion....<br />Rex S.

 

[wippb]

Re: ants

2K<br />Ants of many different varieties eat wood, or at least chew on it to make a nice stong home in. Mostly in wood that has started to decay. I guess it's easier on there teeth. Take a walk in the woods and turn over an old fallen log. You will most likely see ants. They get into the older trailers in our park and start eating from the inside out.<br />Like PurpleD said, walk away unless you can absolutly determine that they have not gotten into the wood and that the wood has not started to rot.<br />Just my $0.02 worth <br />Good Luck

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: ants

i know that marine plywood is laminated w/a diff type of glue to withstand immersion. but whether it is pesticide-treated dunno. is your friend willing to replace all the wood if needed? as far as colonies of ants living there, i've seen them in many of cars in a junkyard. i believe termites desire wood/earth contact tho, and unless the hull was touching the ground(with hole in hull)i don't think they'll live there. just my 2cents

 

[Hooty]

Re: ants

Hey 2K,<br />Fireants don't eat wood. They eat feet an' hands an' stuff like that. They WILL swarm and nest dang near awywhere (like in a electric drafting easer). They seem to like the 60hz. hum of electrical stuff. There are ants that eat wood though. Stomp around in the boat. Kick tha wood thangs an' see what happens.<br /><br />c/6<br /><br />hooty

 

[joe parker]

Re: ants

take a couple of sample ants to your county extension office,or a pest control company; they can tell you what species they are, and if they're wood eating. Usually where there are ants, there are also termites. ants are the predators, and termites are their prey.

 

[Toontime]

Re: ants

They are just attracted to all the spilled beer and nacho crumbs. How long has this boat been sittin in that spot? If it hasn't moved in a couple of years, you might get a nest started. Carpenter ants are the only ones that I know of to build nests off the ground. They are like termites and have to go to ground for water unless the boat has water trapped in it. I'd shop vac the boogers up and find where they are coming from, fumigate and investigate. Prolly not enough damage to talk me out of a buy but the fact makes me wonder how well the boat has been maintained.

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: ants

ok, toontime, i rotflmao at u! beer&nachos - hehehe

 

[Toontime]

Re: ants

Ebbtide done caught me with both hands full, LOL. The truth is that ants cant swim a lick and boats are essential to their migration patterns. If it weren't for ants, my boat never would get cleaned, hahahaha!

 

[93bronco]

Re: ants

just curious is there anyway to chrck the soundness of the hull? knock test is sharp all around hull and in cabin area.

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: ants

gosh, that's a good question, one i cannot field - using the ole knock method.... i only use that on watermelons & cantaloupes. but this should go back to the top, where the primo boaters might catch it and answer.