Rat-proofing a boat for storage

[Sonosailor]

Couldn't find an existing thread on this...

We've just found out our newly chosen boatyard has a rat problem, and would like some advice:

How have rats gotten on in the past?
Poison bait on board or not?
Traps on board or not?
Will a dead, trapped rat draw more rats anyway?
What should the yard manager be doing?
Should we remove all food and medicine, or does it matter?
Are mothballs a deterrent?
Are there other deterrents?
What materials will work if stuffed in vents and voids?

Thanks in advance for all advice.

[perchance]

Warfarin bait.

[Sonosailor]

I assume, "perchance", that you mean I should lock warfarin bait inside the boat. You would not worry about possibly making the boat a target, and not worry about the damage nor of the smell of dead rat being another draw for more rats? It makes me nervous, and that is why I ask all the questions. Do you possibly mean that I should bait the boatyard?

Well, thanks for the opinion. That is what I am asking for. Any others on this or other points?

[atoll]

i recently had a rat onboard,and another in my workshop.

the bugger would come out at night and steal my socks from my hiking boots for its nest!
we went out and bought a cage trap and a few smaller traps but ratty was too smart for these.......i even started putting my socks inside the cage trap!
no luck,but at least i could find my socks in the morning!

finally we resorted to rat bait/paste,that i checked daily,and sure enough it was missing or had teeth marks in it.........RIP ratty ,found them both dead within a few days next to a water source.

as it gets quite cold here ,and being alongside.
we find this really only happens during the depths of winter when there is little food for them to forage.

i would reccomend having absolutly no water on the vessel,and rat bait.

[denverd0n]

The very best way to avoid any sort of infestation problem--rats, mice, insects, whatever--is to remove anything and everything that they might eat or drink. They may, on occasion, come aboard briefly to see what they can find. If the answer is "nothing," they will soon leave. Ridding the boat of anything that would attract them will be far more effective than any sort of trap or bait in controlling the problem.

Good luck.

[Tx J]

Somebody with a boat named "Cat Tales" worried about rats?

Now seriously, it sounds as if the boat will be unattended for periods of time, so you don't want the rats dying inside*.
Your best tactics might be to seal up any possible entry points (allowing for ventilation of course), it shouldn't be that difficult for a boat; and maybe getting the yardmaster to take some steps towards eradicating the little buggers.
Of course keeping them out of one area (the boatyard) when they have plenty of habitat and food sources nearby (like anywhere near a waterfront) is not likely to work anyway.
As far as a food source, even if you remove all foodstuffs (and even medicines), soft materials (for nests), and things like wiring and hoses still might be attractive to them. Not much you can do there, so ingress protection is the best you can try. Or maybe one of those ultrasonic repeller thingies?

*Never had a rat problem, but often had problems with field mice coming in for the winter (in Deep South Texas) both at home and in rental properties. Having a mouse die inside a wall, etc., or even in the icebox drain pan near the floor, after you've used a killing bait, and then having the tenants complaining about the stink ain't fun. Plus their carcasses will attract a cleanup crew of even less desirable critters.

[SVTatia]

I second TxJ.

If you are leaving the boat for extended periods, make sure nothing bigger than a flea can get in. Leave a seacock open, pull the hose off just in case a leak lets rain water in, fill the thru hull with either bronze or steel wool, water will push it out, but mice will not chew it. Tape the anchor rode pipe.
Assuming you have Dorades leave them opened but install strong screens on the deck hole, firmly attached, not from down below. How else could a rat get in?

[Cheechako]

Do not bait anywhere but inside your boat (if that). Dogs, birds and Cats will eat it. Why arent you focusing on making your boat rat tight instead? Dont forget to stuff something in the exhaust outlet.

[perchance]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Do not bait anywhere but inside your boat (if that). Dogs, birds and Cats will eat it. Why arent you focusing on making your boat rat tight instead? Dont forget to stuff something in the exhaust outlet.

Rat/Mouse bait is available in specialised containers that preclude any other animals from gaining access to it. I have had to use it in the house and when I happen to find the deceased mice they are nicely mummified and have no noticeable smell

[mikereed100]

If you are leaving the boat it may be as simple as making sure there are no ladders or power cords running to the boat. If they can't get aboard then there is no problem. We had a problem with rats climbing the ladder while on the hard in Borneo which we solved by tying a thin wire to the ladder and lowering it down at night, then raising it in the morning. Same with the power cord. Others solved the problem by wrapping diesel-soaked rags around the ladder legs, but this seemed a lot like turning the ladder into a tiki torch.

We have used the sticky stuff before and it works, sort of. The rats get stuck, but if you are not quick they will fight their way out, then come back later, tracking goo all over the boat.

[David M]

The only thing I have found that works is bait. They typically leave and die elsewhere.

[Lancerbye]

Buy the yard owner a good Rat Terrier. Rat problem gone for everyone. They had a rat problem in the compound were to lived in, in a Middle East City. We had brought our Terrier crossed dog with us. He loved killing rats. Within a month there were no rats to be seen. Our dog was a hero and loved by everyone.

[Andrew Troup]

The best baits are the ones that make them die of dehydration: they will generally go elsewhere to die if there is no water in the boat.

A problem, if there is nothing to eat and no rapid-acting bait: rats may eat the insulation off your wires.

I don't know how true it is, but it has been said that, like hamsters, they have to gnaw SOMETHING, even if there is no nutritional value, because their incisors would otherwise grow so long they could not feed properly.

Which is a pain if it's mission critical wire, and/or wire where you'd carefully avoided having any joins or splices in the bilge area

[Azul]

I don't know if it is folklore or not, but some people suggest rodents are averse to fabric softener sheets, it may be a good idea to put them in lockers and other areas like the engine compartment where there is lots of wiring. I put them under my outboard hoods in the winter. Worse case scenario the boat smells nice.

It is nearly impossible to keep a rodent out of a boat.

[hellosailor]

Rats?
I'd try really hard to make sure everything was plugged and sealed, as rat-proof as possible. It IS possible although difficult.
I'd put some traps and poison inside the boat, to limit the damage if they do get in. But gobs more of it outside and around the boat. And rats might be a health department call, they can motivate the yard and help clean out the area as well.

Then I'd also use lots of mothballs (naphthalene) inside the boat before closing it up. The stuff IS toxic, it IS a regulated pesticide, and you will pass out if you don't ventilate the boat before re-entering it. But it also repels and kills just about every living critter. Except lizards, for some reason.