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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Bird preventer Update - Monofilament Line !

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3467 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/21/2008 : 05:45:11

It has now been almost 2 weeks since I started using the monofilament line 1" above the lifeline stanchions. Not one bird turd ! The birds do not like that line !

Recap - I tried the CDs on both the port and starboard side strung above the lifelines, but it is only about 40-50% effective and that is also with the beach ball with the big eyes hung from the genoa furling rig sheets and an owl on the back end of the boom. Still using the ball and owl but not the CDs. The fishing line is held by small dowels that I zip tied to the stanchions. The dowels can be lowered when i go sailing and raised when I go home for the day. I use the small wire tie wraps that you use to tie up plastic bags to hold the fishing line against the lifeline for when i go sailing. That is to keep the line out of the way og getting snagged by the genoa sheets or the sail. The tie wraps are easy enough to remove and install and the line and zip ties stay on the stanchions. I will take some photos next chance I get.

I noticed one of the guys with a diving platform on his motorboat invested in those boards with the spikes to keep birds and ducks off his diving platform. Some ducks take up permanent residence on some favored diving platforms and the platforms eventually look like a pig sty. coming back from sailing and entering the marina, i saw one duck found a 3-4" ledge in front of the spikes to roost...so much for using the bird spikes on diving platforms !

Larry
'89 Robin's Nest#5820, Potomac River/Quantico, Va
http://catalina25.homestead.com/olarryr.html

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Stardog
Captain

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USA
319 Posts

Response Posted - 08/21/2008 : 08:29:46

I've seen all kinds of things used to try to keep birds off. The oddest is the ball with an eye. I've seen plenty of those covered in bird poop and with birds roosting all around them. Whoever invented this is a heckuva salesman. I'm thinking an animatronic bird of prey would work; something that turns its head or slightly changes its posture every once in awhile.

This might be an option
http://absolutebirdcontrol.com/birdchasesupersonic.htm
the documentation says "Plays Distress & Predator Calls of 22 types of Birds. Calls can be heard for up to 1-acre". You might want to discuss with management if you keep your boat at a marina, as it is audible to the human ear and might annoy your neighbors. If I were going to use it, I would install in on the dock next to the boat, so I wouldn't have to mess with it everytime I went sailing. Cost of this device is ~$225, I'm sure it pays for itself with the time you save in cleaning up after the birds.

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3467 Posts

Response Posted - 08/21/2008 : 11:39:04

I contemplated devices similar to what you posted and....well the they are bit expensive but what really kills the deal for me is the AC plug in for it. My marina charges separately for AC - $20/month or $3/day. I have few reasons for AC power. My small solar panel is enough to rechrge my batteries. So, I am reluctant to go with a device that requires AC power. Though, I bet that would work.

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Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 08/21/2008 : 15:30:41

On my boat the biggest problem is spider poop. They make their webs everywhere. Monofilament would only give them another place to grab onto.

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3467 Posts

Response Posted - 08/21/2008 : 19:01:29

I have spider web issues. They are very industrious. If I clear the webs by the next day, they are back on again.

I started using a citronella spray that is a concentrate. It hooks up as a garden hose sprayer. It is somewhat effective but if it rains, then the spray will soon have to be repeated. The product is called Skeeter Defeater Spider Web...something or another.

The other day, the webs were really getting to me. So, I stopped at Home Depot and picked up a spray can for killing specifically...spiders. I use it sparingly. It really does the job...very effective. But have not used it enough to evaluate effectiveness after a rain or two. It is probably not environmentally friendly.

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