Keeping seals off the boat

[Kelkara]

I got back to the boat yesterday after a couple of months away ... and judging by all the poop on the dock the local seals (sealions?) had been using my dock for a party ... but worse than that when I removed the tarp from my boom I saw that the party had continued in my cockpit ... It was full of poop, stinking, and had completely blocked the cockpit drains. SO the cockpit was more of a cess-pit!

A few minutes of shovelling, followed by a couple of hours washing and scrubbing and it was all cleaned up ...

But what can I do to prevent it happening again? Would lifeline netting work? Perhaps they were just sheltering uder the tarp, and not using the tarp would be better? Motion sesning lights/alarms to scare them away? any other ideas?

[Orion Jim]

https://www.sealharvest.ca/?page_id=2430

[Kelkara]

lol ... not sure that would be too popular in this corner of Canada.

[Kelkara]

Just learned from some of the neighbours, that it was probably otters ... and it sounds like they are harder to keep out.

[paulajayne]

Try Here:-

http://www.sealstop.com/

[Macblaze]

Originally Posted by Kelkara

Just learned from some of the neighbours, that it was probably otters ... and it sounds like they are harder to keep out.

Ah otters. They do love them some tarp... and ya, they are sneaky little shits (literally)

[Calif.Ted]

We tried those dancing blow up things, but they only working for a little while.

[JPA Cate]

Kelkara, if it is otters, they are difficult to discourage, and they will come live in cockpits. There are some outfits who specialize in getting rid of pesky varmints, and you could try Googling on the issue. Good luck with it.

Ann

[Saleen411]

I've had otter issues off and on for decades. Once they decide to use your dock or boat as a toilet, you are basically screwed. I've witnessed otters swim long distances from wherever the hell they swim from, just to crap on my dock. Then they party a bit, crap some more for good measure, usually on my cleats or dock lines, then they swim back to wherever the hell they live and repeat.

One thing that SEEMED to work for awhile was a motion sensor alarm. But hearing that thing go off all the time, day and night, was REALLY annoying.

Good luck.....

[Dymaxion]

There are solar powered electric fences.... try a farm supply store.

You'd have to provide the ground line, no wet grass or earth for the current return on a boat. I'm thinking of two lines run on insulators stanchion to stanchion. Leave just enough space between the wires for the varmints to try to squeeze through.

[Lancerbye]

Also living at a Sea Otter convention marina. Have had success using a mild solution of water and Clorox bleach, sprayed on dock and boat or leave a pan of it at entry points. They don't like the smell and will stay away.

[AndyEss]

Many mammals set up latrine areas. Once they are established, the animals will go long distances to use them, so keeping them from establishing a latrine area is important. Being away from your boat for so long precluded that option obviously.
The bleach idea sounds good, even to hopefully clear away the odors that announce to the otters that "here's Kelkara's boat - let's go take a dump".
I've used ammonia for the same purpose with raccoons and squirrels around my homes - and in my attics. I've also tried mothballs - very unpleasant chemical stink, but you can get rid of them when you get back onboard. The ammonia evaporates eventually, whereas the mothballs hand around for quite some time. Both ammonia and mothballs work - sorta.
I'm glad I don't have your problem - good luck.

[mark maulden]

I leave my stereo on a talk radio channel and turn volumn up so you can just barely hear it on the main dock..Do not cover as they like the warmth the cover provides.

[SouthernPride]

I use the electric cattle wire for seals, otters, thieves , etc... Works great. Fried otter with a little Marsala wine...

[Captain Puget]

Yep, sounds like otters. seals don't usually come onboard if you have good double lifelines.

A cheap radio turned on low seems to work for otters in our marina. It is not as intrusive to your neighbors if you keep in on a low volume and the changing programming seems to fool the otters.