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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Bees in the boom

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bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/07/2013 : 19:55:46

While removing main sail cover this morning noticed a couple yellow jackets exiting from the rear of the boom. When I returned from sailing noticed a couple more flying in entering the rear of the boom. I did get sail cover on. Any suggestions, boom will come off in the fall. I can wait till cold weather sets in, BUT don't want me or passengers getting stung here. Any ideas?

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2013 : 20:45:36

WMD. Chemical warfare. A simple shot where they entered... Game over.

Were you looking for something more eco-friendly?

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2013 : 04:07:47

Bees and wasps usually won't sting unless you are aggressive towards them. Don't swat at them. If they land on your arm, let them alone. They'll fly away after a few seconds.

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bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2013 : 06:28:05

Steve, I was very cordial towards the two yellow jackets I saw entering the rear of my boom. I suspect there is a nest being constructed. They didn't bother me at all. However at times my face isn't too far from that end of the boom and the pigtail is located right there. I am thinking about wrapping that end of the boom with a baggie, cutting a small hole and spraying bee killer into the boom. I've been hit by yellow jackets before. Not good.

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Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2013 : 07:12:55

A yellow jacket nest can have a lot of traffic, and you never know what they'll consider aggressive. They have given me strong "messages" when I've inadvertently bothered a nest. They're not like wasps--they go after you. If you have a allergic person on the boat and they get hit, it could be a big problem. I'd zap 'em.

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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2013 : 08:03:50

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stinkpotter
 WMD. Chemical warfare. A simple shot where they entered... Game over.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I agree, but strongly suggest that you do it at nighttime when they are asleep in their nest. Spray a big dose inside the boom to make sure you fumigate the whole thing. It would be nice if you could use a tube to direct the spray through a narrow opening around a sheave.

Prepare to leave the boat immediately after spraying. I'd also suggest wearing long sleeves and a PFD just in case something unexpected happens.

Edited by - TakeFive on 08/08/2013 09:36:03

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2013 : 08:27:37

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by bear
 Steve, I was very cordial towards the two yellow jackets I saw entering the rear of my boom. I suspect there is a nest being constructed. They didn't bother me at all. However at times my face isn't too far from that end of the boom and the pigtail is located right there. I am thinking about wrapping that end of the boom with a baggie, cutting a small hole and spraying bee killer into the boom. I've been hit by yellow jackets before. Not good.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Sounds like a good plan. Gas 'em...and then run!

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bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2013 : 08:37:44

I've thought about finding a can of something that has a tube with it. There are exit points/screw holes along the boom. Dave, I like your product, where can I buy it? I will cover both ends of the boom with baggies or something here. Cant even think of being stung while out sailing. I do have cooler weather coming in another month. They got a helluva ride yesterday if they were still in there. Not too many times have I had spray hitting me. Thanx Guys

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Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2013 : 09:31:22

This:

[url="http://www.spectracide.com/Products-and-Solutions/Stinging-Insect-Killers/SpectracidePRO-Wasp-and-Hornet-Killer.aspx"]SpectracidePro[/url]

Knock down from 20' away.

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bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2013 : 09:55:44

THANX Davy

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2013 : 10:43:37

I've nailed a few of those suckers mid-flight with Wasp and Hornet by Raid - they drop immediately.

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2013 : 13:04:35

Definitely wait until it's as cool as possible so they're more lethargic & less likely to take offense. Here's a little article on how to do them in: http://www.wikihow.com/Kill-Yellow-Jackets

I had a friend almost die from anaphylactic shock when she stepped in a ground hornet's nest here in Washington. Fortunately the high school intern who was with her had the presence of mind to get help on the radio instead of trying to directly help her when she went down. The doctor told her that she had maybe 20 minutes left when the paramedics got to her. She actually doesn't remember much about the attack. Unsurprisingly, they dropped & left all the surveying equipment they were carrying when it happened.

Guess who got to go get it all? I waited to just before sunrise when it was as cool as possible to walk into the site to gather up all the gear and was very-very careful around the log she'd stepped over and dropped into the nest on the other side. Fortunately I didn't even see one of them and was able to retrieve all the gear and all the trash left behind by the paramedics. She now carries a SteriPen (?) so she can inject herself if something similar happens again.

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islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2013 : 13:41:29

Davy J has the right product. Shoots a stream 30ft. I just got a can myself to do in a nest that is in my wood pile.

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bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2013 : 13:57:47

Yeah I think I'll bring along another person or have the marina owner just stand by. If I could find a hood of some sort I can keep the rest of my body covered. Thanx again folks. I'll report the results of my efforts.

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5376 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2013 : 15:32:09

Cabelas sells a hat bug net that covers your entire head. Not a bad item to have. Long pants and long sleeve turtleneck. Wrap rubber bands around the sleeves and ankles

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bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 08/09/2013 : 00:15:38

The marina owners said they would go down in the night or early in the morning and load the boom up with proper bee killer for me as an initial attempt. Nice people here.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 08/09/2013 : 07:12:03

In the past few weeks, when I returned to the slip, there were mud-dauber wasps hovering around waiting for me. I watched their movement and found a substantial mud nest being built in the electrical "cubby"--it was a 3-4" blob on one wire. Another one was under construction on top of my VHF above the helm. Both are gone now, as are the builders. They work alone and aren't particularly aggressive.

In the past few weeks, we've had a bunch of huge cicada-killer wasps digging big holes under sidewalks and curbs, making large piles of dirt in the lawn and street. I haven't heard of one attacking a person, but I sure wouldn't want to be the first I heard about! Perhaps I should leave nature alone, but I might hit the more obvious holes with a hornet spray so they don't carry away one of the small dogs around here...

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 08/09/2013 : 08:26:19

We saw a cicada-killing wasp this week near my racing buddy's boat in the dry storage pen. Never seen one before, so now I know what it is. Always learning something new here. Thanks.

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bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 08/10/2013 : 14:56:45

Marina folks sprayed for bees, they didn't want my 70 year old body scrambling out of the area in case we didn't catch them dormant. Will reply back with any additional info. THANX again folks.

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bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 08/10/2013 : 19:09:01

The person who did the spraying used a jet spray and sprayed inside the boom along the top of the pulleys. She said 6 yellow jackets came out and fell dead onto the tub deck. No more came out on a secondary spraying today. I will have my can of bee killer with me now. The End??

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frogger
Navigator

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USA
184 Posts

Response Posted - 08/15/2013 : 05:49:42

I always keep two cans of the hornet & wasp killer (foam type) on my boat at all times. Typical place for them to build nest is inside the anchor locker and under the sail cover. I routinely spray into the anchor locker before opening it. Very easy to simply rinse it off. I am simply too old and slow so WMD is the only way for me.

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bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 08/15/2013 : 07:25:00

I guess we removed about 7 yellow jackets that fell out of the back of the boom. Sprayed twice more and no more yellow jackets. Marina people gave me a "stick" much like chapstick to rub immediately on a bee sting if someone ever gets stung.

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mowrangler
1st Mate

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USA
66 Posts

Response Posted - 08/16/2013 : 11:46:39

I had some that came out of my C250 at the hole where the rope for the centerboard comes out. I sprayed the heck out of them, but one made it out and landed in the cockpit. In a not-so-brilliant move on my part, I thought I'd step on it but missed... and it flew up the leg of my shorts... and stung me on the thigh... I'm sure it was quite a sight for my neighbors as I was hopping around and swatting at my groin.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 08/16/2013 : 19:20:47

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by mowrangler
 ...In a not-so-brilliant move on my part, I thought I'd step on it but missed... and it flew up the leg of my shorts... and stung me on the thigh...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">...and died a hero.

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