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Old 19-03-2012, 04:32   #1
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Bees in Mast

I have a large nest of bees in my 50' mast. I have (using a vacuum cleaner discharge hose) pumped 6 containers of insect fog in it. That kills the bees. Temporarily. I have done this twice.
I spoke to a bee "expert" who says you can kill them all but a month later a bee will fly by, smell the honey, enter the mast & bring family. The nest will reappear. That has happened. He says I have to remove ALL the honey & honeycomb.
How can I do that? The mast has internal halyards; are there PVC pipes the halyards go through? The honeycomb is tightly glued throughout about 15 feet of the mast.

Help!
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Old 19-03-2012, 04:38   #2
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Re: Bees in mast

Always something new with boats!

My favoured option would be to drop the mast.

or smoke the buggers out again - and then climb the mast and bung the entrance hole(s) up (AFAIK bees not known for boring through aluminium). But might want to wear a beekeepers hat, just in case!
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Old 19-03-2012, 04:42   #3
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Re: Bees in mast

well after a little...Honey Reserch...i would try using a pressure washer with a heater on it to heat the water, seems honey washes away with hot water and little soap. may have to have mast pulled to get at it all....good luck with that one.
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Old 19-03-2012, 04:49   #4
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Re: Bees in mast

you could try lowering a honey badger or small bear........................
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Old 19-03-2012, 04:53   #5
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Re: Bees in mast

Perhaps plugging the hole is the only way... I bought a bee keeper hat & veil, put on weather gear">foul weather gear, climbed the mast & sprayed almost a qt of insecticide in ... the bees came back. I will get some plumber's putty & plug it. May have to do this every time I hoist the sail.
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Old 19-03-2012, 04:55   #6
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Lightbulb Re: Bees in mast

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you could try lowering a honey badger or small bear........................

After Further consideration....having fresh honey on a long trip may come in handy...maybe just put a tap into the lower part of the mast. May be a issue in forein ports when they ask "have you transported any plants or animals with you"
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Old 19-03-2012, 04:58   #7
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Re: Bees in mast

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After Further consideration....having fresh honey on a long trip may come in handy...maybe just put a tap into the lower part of the mast. May be a issue in forein ports when they ask "have you transported any plants or animals with you"
great on waffles.........but you will need a cow for fresh cream
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Old 19-03-2012, 04:59   #8
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Re: Bees in mast

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you could try lowering a honey badger or small bear........................
That would definately be a Youtube worthy event .

I vote for the small bear .
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Old 19-03-2012, 05:00   #9
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Re: Bees in mast

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great on waffles.........but you will need a cow for fresh cream

Now that's just crazy talk, how you going to fit a Cow in the mast?...maybe towed on your dingy...now that would be Youtube material....
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Old 19-03-2012, 05:04   #10
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Re: Bees in mast

on a more serious note you could try intoducing some hornets into the mast to kill the bees.

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Old 19-03-2012, 05:11   #11
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Re: Bees in mast

Personally I avoid my folks place on the days my dad is stripping comb from the frames. It's as sticky and annoying job as there is.

Take the mast down.

Prop at a slight angle.

Heat the mast at the lowest point where hive is.

You need to get it up to 145°.

For heat source I would get a few butylene torches, and some helping hands and work up from the bottom.

You will need someone working the underside all the way down to the base of the mast to keep the wax at temp and moving.

Maybe trying this on a hot day so you are half way to the melting point to start off...

Maybe someone else has a better idea for a heat source?

Good luck with the bees.
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Old 19-03-2012, 05:15   #12
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Re: Bees in mast

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on a more serious note you could try intoducing some hornets into the mast to kill the bees.
Brilliant. The instead of peaceful honey bees he will have hornets. That's like using a gang from the lower east side to evacuate a playground....

Cool, the noisy kids are all gone.... now if you can just figure out how to move along the gang...

lolol....
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Old 19-03-2012, 05:32   #13
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Re: Bees in mast

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Originally Posted by sarafina View Post
Heat the mast at the lowest point where hive is.

You need to get it up to 145°.

For heat source I would get a few butylene torches, and some helping hands and work up from the bottom.


.
If the mast has any type of coating on it...hold a torch to it may not be best, but a Large heat gun or gas heater like this one may work
Dayton Torpedo Heater LP 30/45/60K - 1GR3VE54
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Old 19-03-2012, 05:39   #14
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Re: Bees in mast

Quote:
Originally Posted by saylor240 View Post
If the mast has any type of coating on it...hold a torch to it may not be best, but a Large heat gun or gas heater like this one may work
Dayton Torpedo Heater LP 30/45/60K - 1GR3VE54
with this method you could try blocking off one end of the mast ,spraying in quick start(ether) and igniting it remotely.....................
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Old 19-03-2012, 05:52   #15
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Re: Bees in mast

I have done alot of honey bee removal and I can tell you that you need to call a pro. The comb must be removed or robber bees just move in. Call around and see if a local bee keeper would assist you. Trade him some sea time for bee time.
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