Pest Control On Your Boat
You spent a lot of money on the perfect craft and you want to keep it in great shape. So you go through the work of winterizing it, only to return a few months later to signs of infestation: droppings, chewed-up materials, nests, the works. Not only does pest infestation cause a mess that’s a pain to clean up, it’s also often expensive to repair. To reduce damage that bugs and animals can do to your boat, you’re going to have to up your pest control game.
This guide to pest control for your boat should get you started on the process. It’s by your friends here at Riva Motorsports Miami. Pay us a visit if you have any further questions!
Clean Your Craft Thoroughly
One common draw for animals and insects is a food source. If you leave food or spills on your boat, pests are going to smell it and come running for the easy meal. Cleaning up your boat thoroughly before you store it will ensure that there are no tasty morsels for them to sink their teeth into. Remove all trash and any fabric-like linens or folded sails that could be used as nest material. Fishers should make sure to remove fish aromas from livewells, too.
When you are around your boat, take care not to feed wildlife near it. If you’re feeding fish to otters and bread to seagulls, then of course they’re going to return to your boat when you’re not there to find the rest of your food!
Try Scented Deterrents
There are a number of odors that many animals and insects find offensive. Using these scents on your boat can deter them from even placing a paw on board. A quick and easy solution is to mix some ammonia with cayenne pepper and spray it around the edges of your boat to ward off mammals, but you’ll need to use gloves and goggles while applying this because it’s caustic. Repeat this process each month.
Mothballs are another strongly-scented deterrent that will put off not only insects, but mammals as well. Hang them in tubes or on sheets of fabric along your boat’s sides to keep everything out. Stash some in your storage compartments to prevent insects from making a home there.
Finally, you can use perfumed dryer sheets and even strong soaps like Irish Spring as deterrents. Not only will these drive away raccoons and other critters, but they’ll make your boat smell amazing when you return to it!
Invest In A Cover
Keeping your craft tightly covered will help you avoid pest invasion, whether you’re storing your vessel indoors or outdoors. A snug-fitting canvas cover leaves little room for animals to crawl in and make your boat their winter home. Don’t just throw a tarp over your craft and expect it to be okay come spring. You want to get a cover that’s specifically made for the dimensions of your vessel and one that fits tightly without any gaps or holes.
Store Securely
You should try to store your vessel indoors if at all possible to further reduce the chance of pest infestation. This will also help to protect against theft and weather damage. There are plenty of secure storage facilities, but your garage or shed will do just as well. Storing your boat outdoors or in a marina increases the chance that animals will find their way into it over time.
Check out our inventory of new and used boats and PWC at our Miami dealership to find the next marine craft of your dreams! Riva Motorsports Miami proudly serves the cities of Kendall and Fort Lauderdale, FL.