How To Eradicate My Sailboat Of Spiders

[zboss]

Found this on the internets...

Contact Sugarland Exterminating Services in Lafayette & New Iberia

[BrianGJS]

One product we found that did the job and lasts is Bug-tek. A water based product that does not smell or stain.

[Martkimwat]

I can vouch for the conker (horse chesnut) deterrant, I try to remember to collect a bunch of fresh conkers each year and place a couple in the four corners of each room. Seems to keep most of the crawly buggers away and we live in an old 1790s house with lots of old beams and nooks and crannys which spiders usually love. It doesn't seem to work with daddy longlegs though although they aren't really a problem except for the cobwebs up in the corners of the ceiling. Havn't tried the spray but might get some if I discover a problem on the boat, so far only the tiny variety.

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by Tetepare

I'm thinking that whatever is biting you isn't spiders.

Agreed. The spiders are there because some other bugs are there. It is much more likely that it is those other bugs that are doing the biting.

[reed1v]

Originally Posted by vonchris7

I have recently noticed a lot of spiders setting up shop on my sailboat. This bothers me as I have spider bites showing up on my epidermis. Any thoughts on how to rid my boat of spiders?

Fumigation is the way to go. Seal up the boat and use a fumigation "bomb" to gas the little guys to death. Follow the directions carefully so you are not exterminated.

If you are in CA, take it to Mexico and use a real house fumigation method, not the wimpy pyrethrin stuff CA only allows.

[hamburking]

If it wasn't for the spiders, I'd have no friends at all!

[PuttingDoctor]

As spiders don't groom you must use a direct method of extermination or exclusion. You can deter the little buggers but you must be proactive.

[Mark Stillwell]

If using pesticides, be sure and read the label. Many have marine life restrictions. Years ago I was asked to help identify a stream fish kill. Turned out a homeowner had used the wrong pesticide that was washed into the stream by rain soon after application. It ended up costing him several thousand dollars.

Potentially same problem if pesticide sprayer on boat is washed into water resulting in a fish kill.

[dkroar]

I have heard/read, that spiders don't like peppermint. So I'm going to buy some peppermint oil on Amazon, mix with water, and spray the heck out of the deck, stantions, lifelines, and anything outside that even looks remotely like it might harbor a spider. Fortunately, we have no bugs inside.

[hellosailor]

Permethrin (on Amazon if you can't find it locally) is a synthetic version of a natural toxin from chrysanthemums. Used to make "bug killer" clothing. Repels ticks and fleas and if they contact it, or the cloth that has been sprayed or soaked with it, they die.


Supposedly has no effect on the human nervous system, just critters.


I'd start by spraying the cracks and crevices, then treat the cushions and mattresses as or if needed.


On clothing, one application endures through several dozen washings--so it shouldn't need to be repeated often.

[Scaramanga F25]

Wilson's Spider Ban.

[reed1v]

Fumigation uses gas so do not have to worry about killing all the fish in the ocean. Chickens will also eat spiders; but as another poster indicated, you probably have a menagerie of bugs on your boat, not just spiders. They are there to eat something else.

Professional fumigation probably will not cost much for your boat since it does not need to be tented. Or get a tasty friend or buy someone and have them become the target.

Rich Egyptians use to open up their closed residences by sending in naked slaves, making a loud noise, and thus have all the fleas find a nice meal that could then be thrown into a firepit. No more fleas, and of course no more slaves, but they were expendable anyways.

[paulajayne]

Greenhouse sulphur candle -

[JPA Cate]

Hi,von chris, and welcome aboard.

I agree your bites may be from the spiders' prey.

We once got a spider infestation, during a flood, when they came aboard from off floating stuff that lodged against the boat. We found that spraying them with dishwashing liquid mixed with water discouraged them. We have limber holes at our toerail for drainage, and they liked to hide in there, so we had to spray each one carefully. it took us about a week to get rid of them, they were visitors who really needed to find a different cafe, and eventually got the message.


Iirc, about this time last year, there was a thread on this subject, also with a number of suggestions, too. However, the water and dishwashing liquid method worked for us.

Ann

[reed1v]

[QUOTE=paulajayne;2122847]Greenhouse sulphur candle -[/

Then your boat will smell like an old fart.