What do you do for your spring start up

[13SylvanLE]

YellowK9.... Try Bounce dryer sheets (mice hate them)...they smell way better than mothballs and when you uncover you'll have a nice fresh smell. We used to put them everywhere in our Travel Trailer and never had any mice in there ever. A lot of RV'ers use them (supposed to be a great mice deterrent). Haven't had my boat through the winter yet but that's what I will be trying.

[BobG]

YellowK9.... Try Bounce dryer sheets (mice hate them)...they smell way better than mothballs and when you uncover you'll have a nice fresh smell. We used to put them everywhere in our Travel Trailer and never had any mice in there ever. A lot of RV'ers use them (supposed to be a great mice deterrent). Haven't had my boat through the winter yet but that's what I will be trying.

That sounds like just the ticket...to have a BEAR spend the winter in my boat!

[redbeard]

Well I've used the dryer sheets and still had mice, so now I use mothballs and dryer sheets. These hillbilly mice just can't follow the rules.

[ROLAND]

My routine used to be similar to all of the above. This year I added clean out mouse nest and fix chewed up wiring!! I never dreamed the little bastards would make a home inside my cowling and spend their idle time chewing wires in half and chewing insulation off the remaining wires!!! I've had mice get into the boat before (and I put out rat poison for them). I never dreamed they'd find their way under my motor cowling. What tipped me off to trouble was the pellets of rat poison that I noticed when I pulled the cover off ...............Oh well, all is spliced and fixed now and I plugged the air intake hole into the cowling and added some moth balls. I will wage more serous war next winter

A year or two back, a neighbor of mine had his boat in his back yard...cover on it and all tied down for the winter.... in the spring when he went to uncover his boat and get it ready for spring, he noticed a big hole in the cover... turns out a family of squirrels got in there and made the boat thier home for the winter... by the time they got thru chewing on his seats and wiring, he had 5K in damage....... his insurance did not cover it.... he was one pissed off neighbor.

[landlockedsailor]

Sounds like much of spring startup depends on what you did with boat over the winter. Newbie here, we'll be storing our boat in a pole barn and are thinking we shouldn't put the cover on it. Any insights?

[HandymanHerb]

In Florida we take out the long sleeve shirts and put in extra beer

[katieclooney]

In Florida we take out the long sleeve shirts and put in extra beer

Unfair

[steveiam]

YellowK9.... Try Bounce dryer sheets (mice hate them)...they smell way better than mothballs and when you uncover you'll have a nice fresh smell. We used to put them everywhere in our Travel Trailer and never had any mice in there ever. A lot of RV'ers use them (supposed to be a great mice deterrent). Haven't had my boat through the winter yet but that's what I will be trying.

That sounds like just the ticket...to have a BEAR spend the winter in my boat!

So Bob, is what you are saying is that the mice will prevent the bears?

[redbeard]

Sounds like much of spring startup depends on what you did with boat over the winter. Newbie here, we'll be storing our boat in a pole barn and are thinking we shouldn't put the cover on it. Any insights?

Just my but you asked. I would put the cover on just to keep the dust and fly poop off the seats, that way its clean and ready to go when you are and it doesn't take that long to remove the cover. I can be on the water in 30 min form the time I get to the lake, and that's taking the cover off hooking up the trailer and going to the ramp unloading and parking by my self.

[BobG]

So Bob, is what you are saying is that the mice will prevent the bears?

No, you have it backwards! Once the bears move in, and start hibernating, the confounded squirrels will probably move in too, because the body heat of the bears will make it a nice comfortable winter nest. So in the spring, the boat will be filled with empty picnic baskets, and shredded pine-cones! Keeping the mice out isn't a problem - just get an owl to nest in there!

[yellowk9]

The next rat snake I find will be released into my party barge Snakes don't bother me, but rats/mice piss me off I'm hoping the regular disturbance of the boat and the warmer temps will motivate the mice to stay out for the summer. I've never had a problem in the summer before. This winter I'll have rat poison, dryer sheets, AND mothballs deployed. A little stink is better than a ruined motor or seats.

[badmoonrising]

These guys, hanging out at the marina today...

[BobG]

These guys, hanging out at the marina today...

That is AWESOME! What are they?

[MPosey519]

These guys, hanging out at the marina today...

That is AWESOME! What are they?

Bunny Rabbits

[BobG]

Bunny Rabbits

HEY! I know you are what you eat, but I didn't ask what they had for breakfast!