Here is a bit off topic question - How to cover a boat outdoors through the winter months to avoid having it become a nesting area for rodents?
I have a CLC Expedition Wherry that for the past 2 winters I have stored set off the ground on a custom built 2x frame and then covered/wrapped with a heavy duty tarp on an A frame contraption. The cockpit is up and the support frame rests on soft pads to protect the deck and coaming. The tarp does not really rest on the boat but on the framing and is tied well to keep it secure - no flapping in the wind or open spots for water. No water gets in the boat.
HOWEVER both years I ended up with mouse or squirrel nests that have resulted in nasty stains on the deck (for some reason, not in the cockpit). These deep stains requiring heavy cleaning, sanding and repainting. What a spring nuisance!!!
I’m wondering if I would be better off to build a more open cover. A tent roof on 6 legs, set up off the boat, wide enough to well protect the boat, with the tarp covering near to the ground but off the ground by 6" to 12". Do you all think the open cover would be discouraging to rodents as it would not be the warm, safer predator proof and snuggle nest of the well wrapped boat? Anyone have experience with rodent free boat storage that does not include a garage or other fully closed in structure? Any modifiers to suggest to improve my open tent plan?
Thank you. You could make my boating season start earlier each year.
You can try a heavy dose of mothballs, refreshed every month or so, because your set-up has ventillation (which is a good thing). Probably about 3 cups for your wherry, spaced forward/middle/aft. And put the mothballs in glass/ceramic container (old bowls or pint canning jars or whatever) so that they aren’t in contact with your finish. You should expect to get a wiff of mothballs if you walk near the boat on a calm day - if your situation doesn’t allow for this scent to be present, you’ll have to try other options. You might also consider storing things like sails and lines elsewhere, both so they don’t get turned into nests, and so they don’t smell like grandma’s closet come spring. Most animals will avoid this set-up, even though I’d never make promises. Per Jurasic Park: “Life will always find a way.” Which also means if your cover isn’t made of sealed metal and a mouse really want into the boat, the mouse will get into the boat. I’ve had mice chew their way into a refrigerator in the garage, right through the plastic interior lining.
Or, you could set traps, if you are willing to check them frequently.
Perhaps a more succinct way to ask this question -
Does anyone store their boat uncovered in a carport or similar unwalled structure? Do you have issues with rodents?
Thanks Jeff for your reply. I live in the woods so rodents are regular neighbors. Trapping is not practical - bait just attracts more critters. I understand that there should be no potential nesting material in with the boat such as lines, sails, life preservers or any other “soft” materials. I think I created too cozy and safe environment for them under the closed-in tarp so I’m wondering if leaving the boat covered but more open to cold, and predators could be more effective.
have you considered storing upside down and empty. i once had critter problems but it was because i created a place they could bed down. having the boat upside down fixed that problem plus it had the added advantage that if water somhow got throuh, the boat would not fill up. keep your hatches on but loose to keep critters out butto allow it to breath.
I leave my 4 wooden kayaks outside, upside down, uncovered, and empty on a rack all year here in the Lower Hudson Valley. In the winter I remove the seats (Redfish) and leave the hatch covers on. There may be a cobweb or 2 in the spring but it’s never a major issue. The one thing I should be doing is covering the skeg slots somehow. That’s my task for this fall.
I’m embarrassed to report that I never considered storing deck down. Geez - so obvious. The mice have been nesting on the decks. Would be difficult to do that if the decks were facing down right? Thank you for the dope slap gents!
I couldn’t see past my current set up which has it on a support system fitted to the hull under the bulkheads for optimum load carry. Would be easy enough to make a rack to carry deck down. That’s another project in a project filled world, lol. I can do it! Well worth the effort. Thanks again.
Rodents and the vintage option? Maybe - never thought about it before. I wonder if the natives lost any canoes to beavers. I wouldn’t be surprized if they did!
A full size canoe could sure help to plug up a water flow.
On this same question - does anyone store boats other than kayak or canoe types upside down through the winter? For example how about a Light house tender peapod or a skerry? Of course without the rigging on board and with a proper support structure. If you only have outdoor storage as an option the upside down boat creates its own roof. Does this work for anyone?
Thanks for that Howard. I guess this has never been a question for me before. The last rowing skiff I had was kept on a trailer and covered all winter. This is what I see - or am aware of - in my Maine coast village. I’m now realizing that covered boats on a trailer - that aren’t tightly shrink wrapped - are vulnerable to unwelcome squatters. Maybe it took me moving deeper into the woods for this to become an issue. I’m rolling the small boats over from here on out.
Agreed, upside down does not work well when storing on the trailer itself. So trailer stored as you say needs a top shelf cover.
Around here, if not being moved, and a smaller dinghy like a laser or sunfinsh or any rowing craft, when not on trailer they are upside down on as simple as sawhorses or more complex racks formed to the deck shape
