Wasp(s) Inside Trailer Frame/Boom!

[LuvBoating]

Last Sunday wife and I were doing some things on our boat, that is on the trailer outside at a Boat/RV Storage. In order to connect one of hold-down straps, I had to tuck the snap in behind the frame/boom between the dual wheels and bring it out the other side. Well, while doing this, I got stung on the top part of my hand by a wasp. I had no idea it was behind the frame/boom. gone. I got the swelling/itchiness taken care of and both are gone today. Anyway, bought a can of Wasp/Hornet Killer that sprays out 20 ft.. Was at the boat yesterday looking for the "paper" type cone, but couldn't find one........even with a flashlight. It seemed strange to me that I couldn't see/find a cone. I was standing on the other side of the trailer, getting ready to leave, when a wasp flew up and onto the trailer frame/boom next to a tie-down strap that was hooked up. Since the strap isn't tight up against the frame/boom, I took a peak, but the wasp was gone. It had went into a drain hole in the frame/boom behind the strap. I sprayed the hole, but figured that wasn't going to work. Waited around a minute and he came out, but was so fast flying away, that I couldn't spray him. "So, that is where the paper cone is", I thought. Guess, when I was messing with the other strap on Sunday, another wasp, or the same one, was coming out of a drain hole and stung me.

So, how do we handle this? Take the boat over to the wash area and, with a straight/fast stream of water, hose down the trailer (and the drain holes)? Wait until the wasp comes out, or goes in, the drain hole? Could also take the boat to our local marina and back the trailer/boat down the ramp until part of the trailer is submerged. However, we aren't ready to put the boat in the water yet.

Any ideas?

BTW, the boat has been sitting in this storage spot for over a year now. I had rotator cuff surgery last year (March) and we couldn't take it out.

 

[shrew]

I haven't used that stuff in years. If I recall, that stuff is intended to destroy the nest. I thought they recommend spraying when the nest is relatively unoccupied, this essentially renders them homeless. Those inside die. Those that return move on and build elsewhere. I would shoot the crap out of the inside of the space and then give it a day or two, then shoot a garden hose or pressure washer up there to clean it out.

 

[Bondo]

So, how do we handle this?

Ayuh,..... Back it into the water at the launch,....

 

[LuvBoating]

Well, this is the first time we've had this problem, but, then again, our boat hasn't sit for this long before.
The label on the can says it kills wasps "on contact".

I haven't used that stuff in years. If I recall, that stuff is intended to destroy the nest. I thought they recommend spraying when the nest is relatively unoccupied, this essentially renders them homeless. Those inside die. Those that return move on and build elsewhere. I would shoot the crap out of the inside of the space and then give it a day or two, then shoot a garden hose or pressure washer up there to clean it out.

 

[WIMUSKY]

I haven't used that stuff in years. If I recall, that stuff is intended to destroy the nest. I thought they recommend spraying when the nest is relatively unoccupied, this essentially renders them homeless. Those inside die. Those that return move on and build elsewhere. I would shoot the crap out of the inside of the space and then give it a day or two, then shoot a garden hose or pressure washer up there to clean it out.

Actually, you wait until dusk/dark till they're all in the nest, except the guards, and spray the crap out of it. That way you kill the wasps. Otherwise, they'll just build another nest.

Ayuh,..... Back it into the water at the launch,....

I like that idea...........

 

[LuvBoating]

Think we will try the "wash rack" thing first. In "spraying the heck out of the hole", I think that would be useless because of the liquid drying.....heck, we don't know, but, will try what we can.

 

[SkaterRace]

A good dose of water should do the trick granted they have no where to escape to and come after you. Other option is yes spray a lot in there and it should also do the trick.

 

[shrew]

Actually, you wait until dusk/dark till they're all in the nest, except the guards, and spray the crap out of it. That way you kill the wasps. Otherwise, they'll just build another nest.

Yep, I had it completely backwards. I found an old can in the shop. It says dusk or dawn when they are least active.

 

[GA_Boater]

Luv, good thing you had rotator cuff surgery, because when you make the buggers mad, you need good legs! :smile:

If you are physically able and you can tow the boat with the cover on, I'm for the death by drowning. Go to a ramp, roll up the windows and back her down as far a possible. Soak the trailer until you have to move for another launcher or the swarm subsides, Then drive as fast as you can back to storage. Put the plug in before dunking!

Also when you do take the cover off, be ready to run. Might be a few that found a new home under the cover, too.

Hope you can go out this season.

 

[SkaterRace]

Luv, good thing you had rotator cuff surgery, because when you make the buggers mad, you need good legs! :smile:

If you are physically able and you can tow the boat with the cover on, I'm for the death by drowning. Go to a ramp, roll up the windows and back her down as far a possible. Soak the trailer until you have to move for another launcher or the swarm subsides, Then drive as fast as you can back to storage. Put the plug in before dunking!

Also when you do take the cover off, be ready to run. Might be a few that found a new home under the cover, too.

Hope you can go out this season.

I would say taking the cover off before the drive might be a good idea because of the possibility of any flying into it they would get blown out on the ride home.

 

[fhhuber]

Long rope to drag the cover off....

If doing the boat ramp drowning... pick a day when the ramp isn't busy. You don't want to leave a swarm of wasps for the next guy. to back his boat into. I'd want to allow probably 5 min for them to disperse.

 

[thumpar]

I was doing working on my old trailer and had to stick my hand in the front tube. This was at the start of a season. It felt like there was a sharp metal edge but when I pulled my hand out a wasp followed. I sprayed the crap out of all the tubing with killer.

 

[airshot]

Here is another suggestion....find a hardware store that carries a "gopher gasser". Looks like a small stick of dynamite or large firecracker. They are designed to drop in a gopher hole to smoke them out. When they go off, they give off a gas that is poison. It will kill anything in the concentration of smoke due to the poison.
I have used them for many vermin and they always do the job. Just beware....when they smoke...they really smoke, it will look like your whole boat is on fire but it is just smoke. I had a rat go under a shed some years back, so we blocked the sides and stuck one of these under the shed. My neighbor who was not aware of what we were doing called the fire dept assuming my whole house was on fire! A few months later we moved the shed and there was the skeleton. They do work..

 

[fishrdan]

I had wasps in my ol boat, broken bilge pump hose made a good path for them to enter. I waited until dark, uncorked a couple bug bombs and pitched them under the cover, then let them marinade over night. By morning, no more wasps...

As an aside- while rebuilding my current boat I found a wasp nest under one of the deck panels. The nest wast 3' long and 1' wide at it's widest point
:jaw:

 

[82rude]

Had wasps in the corner of the porch roof.Funny they never bothered me atall ,they would even come right in front of my nose and check me out .Called them my miniature german sheppards.Unfortunally they took their guard wasp duties too seriously, so I had to do the old foam killer routine on them .That spray works good.Had to get a new guard dog,Fuzzy the chipmunk.

 

[R055]

As a bee owner, kill the wasps dont try to relocate them. Spray at night or early morning when all are in the nest and in active. If you see them coming at you after you sprayed run like ****.

At the field i kept my bees, there was a huge wasp nest underground, i found the hole/their entrace and exit and closed it up with a rock. Came back 4 hours later they made a knew hole 5 inches away from that one. Sprayed it with wasp/hornet killer, came back the next day and they looked more active if anything with a wasp flying in about every 5-10 seconds. I sprayed the hole and covered the area with dirt. Came next day amd they had a brand new hole couple inches away. I let them be until late summer when they started attacking my bees, fought with them for 1 month before finally moving my bees. They just didnt die and i found out there were multiple wasp hives around the property.

 

[thumpar]

When I was little, maybe about 5, my cousin and I went down to the river to tell ours dad's that dinner was ready. As we went down the hill we slid over a wasp nest. I was stung over 25 times and my cousin over 30. Our dads carried us back to the house as fast as they could.

My grandpa had bees on the orchard but I will kill any wasp I see. They are nasty.

 

[Newbie@boats]

I absolutely hate bees and snakes, luckily where I am there's almost no snakes I come across, as far as them building a nest in the trailer sink the trailer for a little bit and they will be gone!

 

[R055]

No Title

I absolutely hate bees and snakes, luckily where I am there's almost no snakes I come across, as far as them building a nest in the trailer sink the trailer for a little bit and they will be gone!

I think youre talking about wasps, its to early for bees to divide and rehome and when they do there are thousands of them so they most likely would not choose your boat, they usally go on trees.

Here is a picture of bees that divided in ran away. If theyre on your property check craigslist, there are usally pwople that will remove them for free.