Spiders on Boat

[amanphoto]

I dock my boat in a slip (dock) and there there is an abundance of spiders. How do you keep bugs off your boat?

[AnchorageGuy]

There's only so much you can do. Spraying the docklines with insect repellent and adding some plants that whatever insects your dealing with doesn't like is about it. Keep places sealed that they can enter the boat, like anchor lockers and any other openings. We found a spider the other day that was as big as my fist. Don't know what it was or where it came from. As long as they don't bite me, I know we have to live with them. Chuck

[DSDman]

Are you on the sassafras river in MD? That was the most spidery place ever! Just have to get used to them... They eat mosquitoes ... Just have to keep telling yourself that.

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[sabray]

Leave the spiders alone. They make traps that catch other bugs. Excellent if you go north onto the Delaware where flys invade. I have a horse aboard that catches the dog which caught the cat who swallowed the bird that chased a spider who ate the mosquito that buzzed about and annoyed us in side here. I would rather have a spider.



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[amanphoto]

They spray my house with Talstarpro bug killer. Commercial pesticide. Anyone use this stuff?

[Dhillen]

I agree with the sentiment of leaving the spiders alone; after all we're on the same side - they do eat the bugs. BUT I have found to my cost kindness to insects on board is repaid with... lots more insects.

There was once this innocent little moth fluttering around down below one day on our last boat when we were in Africa. I couldn't bring myself to kill it. Two weeks later and for the next six months we had hatch after hatch of these moths appearing out of nowhere even though we were a thousand miles away from the place the first hitchhiker flew aboard. Instead of killing just one moth I ended up killing scores.

Show no mercy.

Dhillen

[amanphoto]

"Spraying the docklines with insect repellent and adding some plants "

What kind of plants?

[haiqu]

African pyrethrum. Venus fly trap.

[AnchorageGuy]

Originally Posted by amanphoto

"Spraying the docklines with insect repellent and adding some plants "

What kind of plants?

Depends on what kind of bugs. You have to do some research. Lemon Balm, Basil, Citronella and Lavender is said to repel mosquitoes. Oregano works for many insects. Not sure what would help with spiders. Chuck

[goboatingnow]

For spiders I use Nippon ant spray. Knocks em dead and leaves a residue where they won't come back for a while

Dave

[Cavalier]

+1 for Dave,

One time coming Eastbound on the ICW just north of Vermillion Bay, the boat's topsides and sails suddenly got plastered with thousands upon thousands of spiders. They were flying on the breeze en-masse on their own silk chutes/threads. A few weeks before we'd run a thin line of this stuff around the base of the companion way (outside), he hatches, vents and portlights. I also ran some.on the ID of the vent cowlings for the lazerette. Barely any made it inside.



I cam tell you, however, that watching that many spiders abseil down from the spreaders and back stay or wherever they landed is a really odd sight!


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[weavis]

Ozone Ioniser.....a powerful one.
Move yourself and animals you want to keep off the boat when its being used.
A few applications will clear below decks.
Above decks require stronger measures.

[colemj]

We find keeping a gecko or two onboard keeps the spiders (and other bugs) down considerably. Probably difficult to find geckos in NY, though…

Mark

[Tantalus]

I knew I had seen something recently about natural repellents for spider...couldn't remember if it was orange oil or tea tree oil.

Turns out ...it,s either...and a whole bunch of other oils

http://www.seventhgeneration.com/lea...ider-repellent

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by amanphoto

How do you keep bugs off your boat?

With Spiders. If they have no food source (like real pests) they will soon leave.