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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Wasp Infestation!!

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smatda
Deckhand

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5 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/16/2003 : 15:33:18

Anyone got a good remedy for wasp infestations--in particular, mud daubers? They build their clay encasements inside the engine compartment of our Honda OB, and inside the flaked main on the boom.

They have even gone so far as to clog up the anchor well drain and the water discharge/breather hoses on the engine.

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

Steve Matda
C-25 #3060
S/V Dropkick
Bristol, VA

Edited by - on

Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

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Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2003 : 15:44:52

Steve,

We have the same menacing problem here in Oklahoma. You'll also probably find them in every nook and cranny of the interior, including inside the aluminum pop-top lifting tubes. More concerning to me are the live spiders they bring in to feed the pupae.

Screening the inside of the slots on the top crib board and plugging the holes on either side of the companionway keeps them out of the interior. Although, I didn't like the look of the screening and didn't like stoppering and unstoppering the holes every time. So, I've just gotten in the habit of making a quick once over of the interior every so often.

The sails, covers and outboard get washed down with the deck first thing each time I go to the boat for the weekend; gets rid of the mud dauber nests and the lake spiders.

Good luck and let me know if you find a solution!

J.B. Manley, Antares '86 FK/SR #4849
Grand Lake O' The Cherokees, NE Oklahoma

Edited by - on

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3323 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2003 : 17:39:56

Steve - I have found one solution. Their usual entry point is thru' the spaces on each side of the companionway (I have wire mesh over the slots in the upper board). If you cut up a cat flea collar and tape the pieces in these holes so that they have to crawl over the collar, they don't enter. Sounds dumb - but it worked for me! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle>
Derek

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3dc30b3127cce942c608d6f1e0000001010" border=0>
TRFK#2262"This Side Up"

Edited by - on

Dave B
Admiral

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Mali
863 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2003 : 19:39:55

They got us last year--a big nest in the main inside the sail cover... That reinforced to me that the best prevention is to GO SAILING! When you're boat is not in the slip or on the trailer now and then, the wasps can't find it and go elsewhere!

I once had wasps nesting in my previous little trailer boat parked next to the garage--when I moved it 25' onto the driveway, they couldn't find their nests. The boats that are infested in our club are the ones that never leave their slips.

So get out there! <img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle> (I'll bet Val doesn't have muddaubers on Calista!)

Dave Bristle, 1985 C-25 #5032 "Passage" SR/FK/Dinette/Honda in SW CT

Edited by - dave b on 07/16/2003 20:57:06

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Mark Loyacano
Navigator

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USA
247 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2003 : 20:04:09

I buy no pest strips at ace hardware (or local farm stores) and hang one in the boat. These are a plastic frame enclosed yellow wax substance made to be hung in enclosed ares. They keep the wasps, spiders and other insects away.

They last about three to four months. The used one, instead of throwing it away, fits in my outboard motor. Mud daubers were nesting around the carburetor.

Mark L.
Cat 25 SR/SK #549

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2003 : 21:01:02

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote> The boats that are infested in our club are the ones that never leave their slips.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Confucious say, "A boat underway gathers no wasps...and no bird sh*t, spider webs, dirt, fishflies,..."

<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>Don Lucier<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2d904b3127cce9f7cd9ffdf1d0000003010" border=0>
North Star SR/FK

Edited by - on

smatda
Deckhand

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5 Posts

Response Posted - 07/17/2003 : 01:24:28

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
The boats that are infested in our club are the ones that never leave their slips.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

First five years we owned her, we were out almost every weekend. During the last four years wives and children came....and you know the rest.

And boy, are we paying for it now!! I've got a boat "to do" list that is a foot long!! <img src=icon_smile_blackeye.gif border=0 align=middle>

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5908 Posts

Response Posted - 07/17/2003 : 13:41:01

I wrap bungees around the mast at the top and bottom of the mainsail cover, and wrap a bungee around the boom at the aft end of the mainsail cover. My mainsail cover has a Velcro closure along the entire length of the boom. Those little rascals can still find a way in, but not very often.

I made a Sunbrella cover for the hatchboards. It snaps to the snap fittings that are used for the pop top cover, and the top of it is just folded over the top hatchboard. It seals the vents in the top hatchboard and also the spaces in the sliding hatch track.

Some people make Sunbrella covers for their outboard motors to keep out the insects.

Steve Milby "Captiva Wind" C-25 T/FK #2554

Edited by - on

bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 07/17/2003 : 14:55:49

Remedy For Wasps and other creatures,
Once on the Sailnet magazine website in the articles section
one of the remedies for unwanted visitors was "Bounce" fabric softener. I have used the sheets that come in the boxes for two years.
I lay them in the cup holders and stuff two sheets of them on top of the hatch board near where the sliding top meets the hatch board when leaving for more than a day. So far so good inside. A good breeze will remove the odor they leave when the sheets are removed to go sailing. Haven't had a problem around the exterior of the boat yet to warrant using them outside.
"Bear" on Brandy

Edited by - on

Bruce Baker
Captain

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USA
402 Posts

Response Posted - 07/17/2003 : 15:39:37

A big can of Raid works for me!

Bruce Baker
Falls Church, VA
"Yee Ha" 3573
'83SR/SK

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 07/17/2003 : 15:50:57

THAT DAVE, he's something else, how did he know I don't have the problem.

The solution, I guess is to retire and sail everyday, That's what I do and I don't have wasps, at least not the flying kind.

Val on Calista # 3936

PS, Steve, hi, I couldn't help myself and mean no disrespect to you but I wondered if your given name was watsa

Val Bisagni]<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3df11b3127cce94709c5ff2e90000000010" border=0>

Edited by - on

Dave B
Admiral

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Mali
863 Posts

Response Posted - 07/17/2003 : 20:57:57

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Some people make Sunbrella covers for their outboard motors to keep out the insects.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>
Those people will be disappointed... Sunbrella covers are precisely what those mud-daubers love to get inside of. It certainly won't keep them out of a motor.

Dave Bristle, 1985 C-25 #5032 "Passage" SR/FK/Dinette/Honda in SW CT

Edited by - on

Mark Loyacano
Navigator

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USA
247 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2003 : 09:36:49

The no pest strip(s) I have used for years are made by "PROZAP". They call it a "BUG GUARD".
Wasps hate it. They fly into the cabin area and promply leave. Spiders crawl into the boat and if they get trapped inside for long, die. Nothing nests anymore. The odor is minimal and for extended stays on the boat we put the Bug Guard away (in a plastic bag). As soon as the boat is opened up and airs out there is no issue with the bug guard.
One decorative plastic bug guard lasts a couple to three months. It hangs in the cabin on its own hook. There are some easy to follow cautions on the label. These are very effective and "friendly" to have on the boat. One of these gets our boat through late fall and Winter storage. The used ones go in our outboard motor.

Mark L.
Cat 25 SR/SK #549

Edited by - on

smatda
Deckhand

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5 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2003 : 13:27:26

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
PS, Steve, hi, I couldn't help myself and mean no disrespect to you but I wondered if your given name was watsa
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

No disrespect taken! Actually you can't mess it up any more that it has been by other people. My first name is Steve, my last name is Matda (pronounced ma-tuh)--an old Hungarian name. You wouldn't believe the mail we get..Motta, Molda, Madna, you name it...

Back to the wasp question...has anybody used Citronella oil? I'm wondering if it might be effective under the engine cowl...or would it soften or eat the rubber hoses?

Steve Matda
S/V Dropkick
'82 C-25 #3060
Bristol, VA

Edited by - on

dave holtgrave
Captain

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USA
427 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2003 : 15:05:32

hey mark
where do you get the product you discribed?
thanks
dave holtgrave
5722 sk/tr

Edited by - on

Mark Loyacano
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
247 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2003 : 15:17:06

Ace Hardware, any farm supply store, Home Depot, et all. Prozap isn't the only brand ... but it seems to be the easiest to find.

Mark L.
Cat 25 SR/SK #549

Edited by - on

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