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Hi there
I need to store my boat outside this year and it will be in a field.. the grass is cut short but still, it's a field with some overgrown areas near the parked boat.... Any tips to keep the mice out of the boat over the winter?
The boat is covered and I am keeping any low straps as high as possible off the ground but still... any proven methods out there. I have read mixed reviews on mothballs and fabric softeners... Any first hand experience tips would be nice
Thank you
Leave mouse poison in the boat if you are worried.
I haven't had mice get into an boat stored outside, but one stored inside is a big problem. So I make it as secure as possible and leave mouse traps and mouse poison around (outside the boat).
When I use to farm. Hung wild cherry air freshers those automotive little tree fresheners in combine cab on any large wire harness. Never had any damage new dryer sheets also
I used to have a 2 story barn with mice up top. A trip to the bulk barn for a bag of cloves to throw around fixed the problem............Daniel
Irish Spring Bar soap has worked for me in trailers and in boats. One bar per compartment seems to do the trick.
I store outside as well in a clearing in the bush. Tarp it well. I jam a tangle of chicken wire in the plug hole and leave plenty of mouse bait inside. If buying mouse bait look at the ingredients like brodifacoum or bromadiolone. The "home owner" grade stuff will say the active ingredient is cellulose and doesn't work.
Dryer sheets inside has worked for my trailer.
What Werner says. Trap them at this time of the season--outside the boat. Use every type trap you can think of including the time tested peanut butter on a soda can drowning bucket.
depending on the weight of your boat, but my buddy has a 16' lund, it has a floor in it, tiller steer 40hp, I have no idea what it weighs, he jacks it up, pulls the wheels off it and puts the trailer down on metal 5 gallon pails, one under the tongue and two at the rear, he says he's never had a mouse climb up those pails to get in the boat
Sounds like something that would work, a little too much work for me though........so my plan is going to be....Quote:
Originally Posted by bdog
Spray and kill all the grass/weeds around the boat trailer,
Put some traps outside the boat to catch any mice before they try and climb the trailer
Throw some Irish Spring bars of soap in the boat, followed up with some fabric softener sheets....
Hopefully that will do it..wish me luck :)
The peanut butter on a pop bottle cleaned out our moose camp pretty quick. Put one of these in a boat with antifreeze instead of water.....Quote:
Originally Posted by sawbill
I had the same problem, with mice. I like to store the boat ready to fish with rods, tackle boxes, etc under the custom fitted cover. After realizing some damage to cork handles and seat foam,etc. I discovered the cure, moth balls. I always have some in the compartments and load the boat with extras for the winter. No problems since. I now use the same method for winter storage of the camper.
Mothballs in every compartment of my boat. And also shaved Irish Spring in a margarine tub also in every compartment. No issues last year and the smell was still quite strong when we pulled the cover off.
Mothballs in open trays in each compartment. Then come spring air it out for 3-4 days and you are good to go.
I went with the mothballs and dryer sheets..... Just went to look at it the other day and it looks to be in good shape.... I guess when I pull it out next month we will know for sure....Quote:
Originally Posted by 410001661
Here's hoping for another good season
We use moth balls wrapped in dryer sheets. I have a 14 foot al. so make up about 10 of these packs to scatter around , works great.
My mechanic not only recommended moth balls in the boat, he said I should put several inside the motor itself to keep them from chewing the wiring!
That chewed wiring happened to one guy in our moose hunt crew - went to use his boat to head down the lake to hunt, and found momma mouse and babies inside motor, and wiring chewed!!
Problem with trapping, especially with the drowning in bucket method, is the stink of death when you return.
Rodenticide is good. Make sure you place way more than you you ever think the mice would eat. Also keep in mind the mice won't die till an average five days after first feeding. Accept a certain amount of damage to still occur to foam and removal of droppings. They will be the same colour as your bait. The dye in the mouse dropping is purposely added to indicate the rodent is in process of dying and help track travel.
Personally, I would do both of two methods:
1. Vicks Vapo Rub. Buy Vicks Vapo Rub and rub to tire rims, leaf springs, trailer framing, ropes, tarp, vegetation underneath, etc. The first line of defense to repel rodents plus animals such as raccoons. Focus on shaded/dark spots under and near the boat where rodents will tend to stop while foraging (work the shadows where they feel more comfortable). Also think how they will get from grass to boat interior and smear along the travel ways. Combination of mental vapour in their sensitive noses and the the Vaseline on their fur, paws, whiskers and taste, they won't bother to continue near your boat. Plenty of other structure to forage and investigate instead.
2. Second line of defense is the use of rodenticide inside the boat, just in case some got in. Moth Balls (naphthalene) inside the boat is good option too instead of bait.
Remember when choosing your game plan to protect against mice: Peanut Butter works amazing. I like Sunflower butter. Most rodenticides have about 23 different attractants. Keep in mind your bait/attractant may be attracting them in (you may be creating the problem). Focus on prevention. How can they get in? What are the travel ways to get in? What can you do prevent the mice from getting from the ground to getting inside where they can do damage.
I also use Vicks Vapo Rub around the house when needed. If I see raccoons on my deck, then I will rub Vicks on my down spouts so they don't get on the roof top (or will use 80W Gear Oil so they don't climb up). I have also used Vicks on base of my apple and pear trees on certain winters if rabbits start eating the lower bark and lower branches.
Need to wash off in spring other wise the Vaseline collects dust and leaves a dirty greasy look.
My aluminum boat has never been an issue as I remove the seats, life jackets etc. in the fall before storage.
Opened up the camper last week and zero mice again this year.
I completely sanitize it in the fall with all food and paper products removed.
Wash the floor with mop and glow.
Mothballs in every drawer and cupboard and then hang dryer sheets on all curtains.
I laid down gravel and there is no soil or grass underneath the camper.
It is parked next to my utility shed where I do all the mouse baiting and trapping.
Keeps them away and disinterested from the camper.
I have been doing this for years with success.
I have made several secure bait boxes . Out of plastic , drill or tool boxes. place mouse cubes inside . Put one along house wall , one in workshop. amazing how much bait gets used. secure against pets and kids. works well . old243
Surprised nobody has mentioned peppermint oil. It's what's used in all the commercial repellants. Mice, rats, chipmunks can't stand it. I buy the oil at a health food store. Put about 1ml into a spray bottle and fill the rest with water. Mist spray whatever and the mice completely avoid it. I use it on my truck fuse box and air cleaner box, stored skidoos and zero turn mower, inside the frame on my trailers, etc. Reapply every 6 months. re: mothballs - be careful using these in any confined space where you'll be breathing the air, as napthalene is actually very nasty stuff if you read the MSDS on it. I can't stand the residual stench of it and it will melt and destroy certain rubbers and plastics. My friend put mothballs under the cowling on his new 50hp Yamaha outboard. When he removed the cover in the spring, the mothballs had totally ruined the top plastic flywheel cover, rubber on his throttle cable, starter pawn catch, etc.
Here's the MSD stuff for mothballs
Potential Health Effects
Eye: Naphthalene is an eye irritant. The vapor causes eye irritation at 15 ppm. Eye contact with the solid material may result in conjunctivitis, superficial injury to the cornea, diminished visual acuity, and other effects. It may cause cataracts.
Skin: Causes mild skin irritation. May be absorbed through the skin in harmful amounts. Incidence of skin hypersensitivity is not widespread in the general population &, based on the long history of use of naphthalene as a consumer product, this effect is mostly confined to industrial exposure where coal tar contamination may be present.
Ingestion: Harmful if swallowed. May cause liver and kidney damage. May cause methemoglobinemia, cyanosis (bluish discoloration of skin due to deficient oxygenation of the blood), convulsions, and death. May cause severe digestive tract irritation with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Ingestion of large quantities may cause severe hemolytic anemia and hemoglobinuria.
Inhalation: Harmful if inhaled. Causes respiratory tract irritation. Readily absorbed when inhaled. Material volatilizes at room temperature. Hemolytic anemia (destruction of red blood cells) is the primary health concern for humans exposed to naphthalene for either short or long periods of time. Other effects may include nausea, profuse perspiration, vomiting, kidney damage and liver damage. Optic neuritis (inflammation of the optic nerve) has been observed. Cataracts have also occurred.
Chronic: Prolonged or repeated skin contact may cause dermatitis. May cause liver and kidney damage. May cause anemia and other blood cell abnormalities. Animal studies have reported that fetal effects/abnormalities may occur when maternal toxicity is seen. Effects may be delayed. Chronic exposure may cause lung damage. Laboratory experiments have resulted in mutagenic effects. Chronic exposure may cause corneal injury, optical neuritis, blurred vision, and possible cataract formation. Chronic inhalation, skin absorption or ingestion of naphthalene have caused severe hemolytic anemia.
Don't forget the other benefits of Naphthalene. The only difference between 87 octane gasoline and 91 is the addition of naphthalene. At the end of the season to keep the pests out, is you can add some to your gasoline to slightly increase the octane.
Agreed though. Remove the moth balls from the boat and vent before sleeping on your boat for extended periods of time.
Add some to your gas tank to help dispose of.