How to eradicate termites?

[Jolly Roger]

I can’t find any searches on eradicating termites on a boat. Has anyone solved this problem and can give me some pointers please?

[zboss]

Are you sure they are termites and not carpenter ants?

We used Terro liquid ant bait with outstanding success.

At our house we do have termites and we use boric acid successfully in conjunction with termidor.


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[skipmac]

I agree carpenter ants are more likely but it could be termites.

I had ants. Got some stuff from our home exterminator that did them in.

[Jolly Roger]

I'm assured they are termites. Little white bodied critters about 1/8" long. Leaving crap in little piles. A recent find, only in a couple of cupboards, but I want to nail them while I can. I already used aerosol from the local store.

[a64pilot]

I'd hire a pro before hopefully any real damage is done.

[F10]

Originally Posted by Jolly Roger

I'm assured they are termites. Little white bodied critters about 1/8" long. Leaving crap in little piles. A recent find, only in a couple of cupboards, but I want to nail them while I can. I already used aerosol from the local store.

Dry wood termites will live entirely in the wood (draw moisture from the atmosphere) and will push their poop out of holes in the wood (size of a pin hole so very hard to see). You will find piles of a black powder with grains about the 2x the size of a grain of salt. I have not found a way to exterminate they with off the shelf chems. I do have boric acid and if you mix it with water you can paint it on wood or soak the wood in it. That may act as a preventative but will not kill what is already in the wood (maybe it would if you could 100% soak the would, but that is nearly impossible). Here in Hawaii many boat owners have their boats tented when they have dry wood termites. Cost about $500 for a 40 foot boat and takes 3 day. Some type of gas is fed into the tented boat and that gas kills the termites. I also see adds for "orange oil" treatment for houses. the orange oil is injected into the termite infested wood and kills the termites. Tenting and orange oil is primarily used to treat houses. Tenting is known to work, not sure how effective orange oil is. If you have a major infestation I would tent it.

Here is a site that my help you. I have purchased boric acid from them:
Do It Yourself Pest Control Products & Supplies | Do My Own Pest Control

[CSY Man]

Had termittes on my sailboat.
Tried everything to kill them, spray, Home Depot bombs, etc.
(Even tried 4 x the recommended dose)
Nothing worked, they never left or died.
Finally had to call in the pros. Used tape on all opening and hatches, then they pumped gas in and came back a day or two later.
That killed everything. $500.

Here is a picture from termite- doomsday

http://www.cruisersforum.com/gallery...500&userid=308

[F10]

More info:
Drywood (Dry Wood) Termites Control | Do My Own Pest Control

[a64pilot]

OK, I have to ask, what is with the spear through a guys' buttocks?

[F10]

Here is orange oil:
orange oil - Do It Yourself Pest Control

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by CSY Man

Had termittes on my sailboat.
Tried everything to kill them, spray, Home Depot bombs, etc.
(Even tried 4 x the recommended dose)
Nothing worked, they never left or died.
Finally had to call in the pros. Used tape on all opening and hatches, then they pumped gas in and came back a day or two later.
That killed everything. $500.

Here is a picture from termite- doomsday

458887 - Cruisers & Sailing Photo Gallery

That's what I was going to suggest, the pros that gas the whole place.

[F10]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

OK, I have to ask, what is with the spear through a guys' buttocks?

Yea, just saw the pic, is that real?

[CSY Man]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

OK, I have to ask, what is with the spear through a guys' buttocks?

Spear fishing gone bad.
Don't remember the details, but that is why I refuse to dive with somebody who sport a spear gun..

[Phisher]

Tenting or sealing and gassing is the only way to get rid of dry wood termites. Orange oil or any do-it-yourself WILL NOT work. Best friend has been in the biz. for 35 years. Get it done as soon as you can as they are slowly eating away at your boat. They are very common around the coastal areas of Florida. I just had 2 of my properties tented in St. Augustine. My Cheoy Lee had them also..

[JPA Cate]

Termites are a common problem in Australia. Bite the bullet, tent the boat, the exterminator can do it in the water, you do not have to haul the boat. Any licensed exterminator will do.

Some friends discovered termites on their boat while in Mexico, and a fellow cruiser, who had experience as an extermintor, used CO2 to kill them, he had a kit that shot it into their tunnels and killed them there, but, I do not know if it were successful long term.

Ann