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The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.
Has anyone had a problem with spiders "visiting" while the boat is docked in a slip. This is a major problem at our harbor. Just about every size and type of spider will be in residence when I return from one visit to another.
I have my 250 in a slip in Orange County, CA. Never had any problems with spiders. But I have heard of rodants hopping on boats moored at Catalina Island. The owner didnt find out until sailing home or once back home. Guess they want to live on the mainland.
I know of a guy who treats/sprays his boat for spiders and other bugs. As I understand it, this is a violation of some sort - spraying pesticides over water can't be too good for the other life that gets the overspray.
We get lots of spiders, especially on the transom area. Finally sprayed the transom with Spider-Ban and also sprayed the rub rail and the dock lines at the dock end. Bye Bye spiders.
My boat is from Oregon and noticed many spidey friends onboard. At some point I had to open the light housing on the mast and found Momma Spidey, dead Papa Spidey (source of food) and about 250 little baby spideys all trying to escape. I probably got bit, but no spidey powers as of yet to report.
Spraying huh? hmmmm.....
Edited by - Steve Blackburn on 08/31/2007 23:46:04
Here in central Arkansas we have spiders, but our big problem is dirt daubers. I've seen neglected boats having what appeared to be shoe boxes full of nests being cleaned out. I have had excellent luck lately with a can of campground fogger from Wal-Mart. I give the cabin about two squirts every time I leave the boat and when I return pick up the dead spiders and dirt daubers and an occasional wasp. Been doing it for about a month, now. There is no apparent residue, but I have killed a lot of bugs. The worst of ours is the dirt daubers building their nests in the furled sails. I don't know what kind of saliva or enzyme or what is reponsible, but nobody here has found anything which will clean the dirt spots off the sails. A trip to Sailcare does a pretty good job, but you can't just keep doing that. I have stuck some insect repellent cartridge things up in the folds of the main, but there hasn't been sufficient time to see how it works yet.
Spider Ban sprayed on lines and covers every 3 - 4 weeks is very effective. I wet slip my boat in a marina in Ontario where spiders seem to be especially prevalent. I am only able to get out on the boat every few weeks and used to find spider infestation quite a problem until I began using Spider Ban. One form comes in a convenient spray bottle - no measuring and mixing required. Just make sure you spray downwind.
Okay, I've checked the local stores full of bug sprays and haven't seen anything specifically for spiders. I just Googled Spider ban and got zilch. (Did you mean spiderman?) Where can I find this stuff?
Just did a search under the active ingredient "chlorpyrifos". Apparently banned by the EPA in the USA. Still widely available in any hardware store or garden centre in Canada.
There is an excellent product called "Spider Fighter" made by PPR Direct, Brooklyn 11232. Active ingredient is Permethrin. They have a website from which you can order but I've lost the URL (sorry!).
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Nautiduck</i> <br />We get lots of spiders, especially on the transom area. Finally sprayed the transom with Spider-Ban and also sprayed the rub rail and the dock lines at the dock end. Bye Bye spiders. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> I cant find it at my local hardware store, any idea where it might be? nothing on the net either. thanks
Go to your local ACE store and get a can of spray spider killer. Better yet get two or three cans. You'll need to spray them, along with their hidey holes, often.
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by John Russell</i> <br />Okay, I've checked the local stores full of bug sprays and haven't seen anything specifically for spiders. I just Googled Spider ban and got zilch. (Did you mean spiderman?) Where can I find this stuff? <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Cynoff WP (a.i. Cypermethrin 40.00%): Odorless wettable powder concentrate which gives an average 90 day residual. A one pound jar will make up to 48 gallons of insecticide spray. The Number One Choice of pest control operators, apartment managers and others for quarterly and yearly pest control applications. Controls same pests as Cynoff EC. Go to Cypermethrin information page for more details. Cynoff Wettable Powder
In my research, this by far is the best solution for spiders on the boat. We have a big problem in late summer with spiders. I have used this now for 2 years and I am spider free. It lasts about 2 months. I'm on a mooring and the critters get up on the boat from the transom. Just spray a light mist on the transom, and you are spider free. Keep it above the water line as it is a bit toxic to fish. I have not created any fish kills in my marina and this may be better than most insecticides as it is not used as often. It works great in the basement also.
I've only seen it in 1 lb. plastic cans (it is a very fine powder that you mix with water.) as it is a professional chemical. 1 lb. will last you an entire lifetime. About $60-$70. Split it up among a few sailors and it will bring the cost down.
Make small batches and clean the spray bottle when finished (not in the lake!) as the powder will tend to clog the sprayer very quickly. Spray the transom and around the rub rail. I would not use it in the cabin (spiders can't get there anyway.) Spray around mast to stop any that might get by and want to climb up and tie up your windex.
I spray around our dock area and it keeps it spider free all year. A small amount goes a long way. It leaves an invisible film that spiders will not cross. When they try, it kills them in several minutes. It is used around house foundation and in and around basement walls and windows.
If you don't like the insecticide route, you can use 50% clorox / 50% water in a spay bottle and spray your transom. The clorox breaks all the bonds that spiders use in their webs, If you spray a web it will "evaporate" in seconds as all the bonds break. Spiders use their web making ability to climb up your transom. They can't climb if you've sprayed a light mist about once a week. I used this technique for a while with success until I found the Cynoff. It also works great for de-webbing a basement or barn, etc.
Thanks for starting this topic Jay. We have been battling spiders of many sizes, colors and shapes for a while. We even have some that run back to the boat when you flick them off. Lots of great suggestions - thanks. Has anybody noticed any adverse effects to the gel-coat, from the chemicals?
Try "The Works", rubber gloves required and sponge. Purchase from the Dollar Store. This also takes the yellow water strips of the waterline, no scrubbing necessary. Another, and is what I use is Chlorine straight and a scrubby pad.
Is that the yellow and green stains that are on the fiberglass? I have tried everything. I just ordered a pound of the Cynoff WP off of a pest control place on Ebay.
The Works will remove the yellow stains, but it doesn't remove the green slime. The guy that helps me with my bottom job every year told me what to use on slime, but I cannot remember what the name of it. I will not see him until after mid-October so I can't find out right now.
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ. The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.