How to Keep the @%$*# Birds Off the Boat???

[Ernest T]

Boat is stored in dry storage at a marina. The boat racks are covered by the roof, but the center section of the roof is open. This year the birds have been terrible. I've had 2 nests built on my boat and it will get totally covered in bird crap in just a week. The marina has tried installing a sound system to scar off the birds, but other than giving the fork lift drivers a headache it has no effect. I'm looking for something that I could put on the boat to scar/keep the birds off. Plastic owls, hawks, and rubber snakes have been suggested, but before I buy I thought I'd look for suggestions from you guys to things that have actually worked. Whatever I use, it cant sit up too high, because there is only about 2 feet of clearance above the boat, and it needs to be something I can set up pretty quickly once I dock and cover the boat.

Thanks for any help!

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: How to Keep the @%$*# Birds Off the Boat???

Don't know if this idea can be applied to your situation - I've seen guys zig-zag mono-filament fishing line over their covered boats. It works amazingly well, but I can't quite picture how you could use it.

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: How to Keep the @%$*# Birds Off the Boat???

There's an old trick and it's harmless. Take a piece of screen door mesh (not the plastic stuff) and hook up a 6v dry cell battery to it. It will cause low level ionization just like an electric fence. The birds and other animals seem to sense the danger. The batteries last about a week depending on how big a piece you use. You might need a couple and there's no guarantee it will work but I've been keeping the crows off my lawn and the coons off my fence for a couple of years now. It usually only takes a week for them to change their patterns but you need to repeat it a couple of times a year.

You may need to experiment with screen mesh, I found some heavy stuff that didn't heat up at Home Depot. The finer mesh will get pretty warm.

 

[V153]

Re: How to Keep the @%$*# Birds Off the Boat???

Well, that or get a cat ... Y'know I went to the 'Suncoast Humane Society' awhile back looking for a shop cat. Told them I wanted the meanest orneriest bird/rat/dog killing cat they had in the lockup. They said they didn't have any cats like that ... Huh!?

 

[Fireman431]

Re: How to Keep the @%$*# Birds Off the Boat???

If you can find an easy, foolproof way to keep birds off of your boat at a marina, then you are the next local millionaire. I see all of the tricks at boats all around me. None of them work.

 

[90stingray]

Re: How to Keep the @%$*# Birds Off the Boat???

Try this
http://www.ebay.com/itm/16-Owl-Scar...852?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cc5d5efbc

 

[2ndtry]

Re: How to Keep the @%$*# Birds Off the Boat???

I've had "daddy long legs" recommended to me, but I don't have any personal experience with them. The fake snakes and owls work about a day.

http://www.birdbusters.com/pigeon_control_repellent_boats.html

 

[tpenfield]

Re: How to Keep the @%$*# Birds Off the Boat???

http://www.gullsweep.com

Is the favorite around my waters. It works better out in the open, but may also be effective with the boat in rack storage . . .

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: How to Keep the @%$*# Birds Off the Boat???

Or just put some plastic sheeting over it and toss away.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: How to Keep the @%$*# Birds Off the Boat???

i was thinking about the daddy long legs; neighbors use them on their piers. But you might need wind for them and 'gull sweep."
How about the plastic netting you use for clam beds? Or other fine-mesh netting?

won't help with the birds in the rafters which may be half the problem. One reason not to take the top bunk in rack storage.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: How to Keep the @%$*# Birds Off the Boat???

boat cover and a small pressure washer.