Fumigating boat

[Quick Cal]

Hi guy's,,,it's been awhile.<br /><br />I'm getting ready to drag my boat out of storage. It's been in a pole barn out in the country for the winter. I'm really worried about the creepy's and crawly's that's climbed aboard. It just make's my skin crawl thinking about spider's being in my boat, and having one crawl up my leg. Did I mention I'm affraid of spider's. <br /><br />So anyway. Would it be wise to use some kind of spider spray, or bug bomb, or something to get rid of what ever has crawled in my boat. Should I be worried about left over odor's getting in the carpet and fiberglass. What would you guy's recomend doing. Thank's, Cal.

 

[willamettejeff]

Re: Fumigating boat

I use Raid Fumigators myself. The kind that fumigate using smoke to distribute the insecticide. Far less messy. Just take out life preservers, seat covers, and any blankets first and then start the fumigator and cover boat with a tarp . Leave it sit for a day or two and then air it out good for another. I also wipe down exposed surfaces with soap and water before use.

 

[MrBill]

Re: Fumigating boat

Using a pet fumigator commonly for fleas would be perfect. Just get a can, set off inside boat while covered, wait two hours and you're done. Only issue is preparation surfaces, counters, etc. - just wipe down.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Fumigating boat

Dont be so quick ,Cal...Check it out before you are exterminating all of the surrounding states.There may be nothing to worry about.Get in the boat and start with wiping all hard surfaces with a solution of bleach and water.Get some damp/dry containers in there and shampoo the carpeting and shop vac it dry.Get some ventilation going with a fan or open windows or hatches.I bought a small ozone generator on ebay for about $75 and it does an amazing job of deodorizing and killing any bacteria.It is the best money I have ever spent.My boat always smells like a fresh spring morning that had a lightning storm the night before.Dont worry about any bugs until you have seen them.In all the years I have been boating ,I only have had a bug problem once.Ants were walking up one of my dock lines and boarding my boat.

 

[BillP]

Re: Fumigating boat

Buy a box of 20 Mule Team Borax laundry powder and liberally sprinkle it on everything in the boat. It isn't hostile to humans but will drive insects away. I learned this from my pest control guy for fleas but it works on other bugs too. Just come back in two weeks and vacuum it up. It really works.

 

[Quick Cal]

Re: Fumigating boat

Thank's guy's. What I kinda wanted to do was set off the bomb before I bring it home. I don't want anything crawling out and getting in my house.

 

[treedancer]

Re: Fumigating boat

Buy a box of 20 Mule Team Borax laundry powder

I believe I would be more concerned about the long term effects of pesticide than a bug bite.What Bill P states seems the way to go to me.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Fumigating boat

Be careful with the "bug bomb" type bug fumigators, because often the propellant is flammable (propane) and can settle to the low point in the boat and explode when a spark is present. Like when starting the motor. <br /><br />I would read the can well, and disconnect the battery just to be safe.

 

[Quick Cal]

Re: Fumigating boat

Thank's for all the replies. I just used a light potiency yard guard mesquito fogger. It said it killed crawling insect's too. Where the boat was stored, the guy has brown recluse spider's, and there's no way I felt safe. <br /><br />It really wasn't much of a fogging effect like a bug bomb. Now I'll just hose/scrub it down, and I think it will be ok. <br /><br />BTW. I did see a cockroach crawling around dieing. So I'm glad I did something.

 

[dancerscap]

Re: Fumigating boat

Originally posted by crazy charlie:<br /> Dont be so quick ,Cal...Check it out before you are exterminating all of the surrounding states.There may be nothing to worry about.Get in the boat and start with wiping all hard surfaces with a solution of bleach and water.Get some damp/dry containers in there and shampoo the carpeting and shop vac it dry.Get some ventilation going with a fan or open windows or hatches.I bought a small ozone generator on ebay for about $75 and it does an amazing job of deodorizing and killing any bacteria.It is the best money I have ever spent.My boat always smells like a fresh spring morning that had a lightning storm the night before.Dont worry about any bugs until you have seen them.In all the years I have been boating ,I only have had a bug problem once.Ants were walking up one of my dock lines and boarding my boat.

Be afraid, be very afraid especially of the brown recluse. We were infested with them and from personalexperience they are not fun. One got me and I lay nearly unconscious fro three days and I'm a BIG guy. They're nasty little buggers.

 

[Quick Cal]

Re: Fumigating boat

When I went and picked it up, I pulled the cover back and there was cob web's all inside the boat. That was enough for me to make up my mind something is going to die, and it aint gonna be me from a Brown Recluse spider bite. <br /><br />What's got me spooked now is there was feather's inside where all the life jacket's were stowed away. Now I'm affraid there's a freekin snake in there. Anybody want to buy a boat. CHEAP