Controlling Pests on your Boat

Spiders, rats, mice, birds, insects, raccoons, and other unwanted pests are at best annoying and at worst can damage your boat. Luckily, there are things you can do to help deter infestations before they start. Use these strategies from White’s Marine Center to help keep pests out of your boat.

A Thorough Clean

One of the pest ways to prevent pest infestations in your boat is by keeping your vessel as clean as possible. Things like trash and leaves are often used by pests as nesting, so removing them will make your watercraft less appealing. It’s especially important to clean up if you have any food on your boats. Food, including food traces such as crumbs or spills, tends to attract pests, so any food stored on your boat longer than a week needs to be removed. Certain activities, like fishing and grilling, can also create a food-like smell, so take steps to remove said smell. 

Use Scented Deterrents

While scent can make your boat more appealing to pests, it can also be used to deter them. Mix ammonia with cayenne pepper and rub/spray it on the edges of your vessel to keep insects away. Reapply this solution about once a month, and use protective goggles/gloves when handling it. 

If you’d rather not have to deal with the solution, you can also use mothballs to help keep pests out of your boat. Hand the mothballs from tubes, put them in sheets of fabric around your boat’s edges, or stow them away in compartments. Larger animals like racoons and otters can be deterred by placing dryer sheets and heavily scented soaps around your vessel. 

Ultrasonic Sound Devices

A more high-tech solution to keeping pests out of your boat is with ultrasonic devices. These devices emit ultrasonic frequencies that help keep animals away. The best part is that they are completely inaudible to humans!

 Covers

If you’re worried about keeping pests out of your boat while it's in storage, a good cover can go a long way towards making that happen. Of course, the cover needs to completely engulf your boat to be effective. Pests are great at squeezing into even the narrowest of spaces, so occasionally check to make sure that your boat’s cover is fully intact. 

Shop boats at White’s Marine Center in Pittsburg, Missouri. We’re proud to serve communities like Kansas City and Springfield, Missouri. We also offer boat parts, service, and financing. We hope you’ll come see us soon!