Winter storage mice tips....

[fratri]

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

[werner.reiche]

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).

[js4fn]

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

[boogaloo]

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

[machron]

Irish Spring Bar soap has worked for me in trailers and in boats. One bar per compartment seems to do the trick.

[benjhind]

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.

[Woodsman]

Dryer sheets inside has worked for my trailer.

[sawbill]

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.

[bdog]

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

[fratri]

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....
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