Mice in Boat.

[Jasmid53]

Mice and other rodents are famous for boarding boats and ships. The Com Pac 19 I just bought had not been used for one year at least. During that time the mice had a field day. No noticeable damage to the boat, but there's mice crap in all the tight spaces. Opened up all the small access holes and vacumed out what I could. I'm sure there is plenty more mice crap under the berths where I can't access. Anybody else have this problem? Should I worry too much about the places I can't get to. And any suggestions keeping new mice from moving in. I won't use poison as I have a dog and screech owls nest near by. Cleaned up most of what was visible today.

[Mas]

Critters are amazing! A raccoon ate her way into a boat in our boatyard that had been ignored for a bit. Simply chewed away some of the hatch boards....oh there was food left aboard.....my, my a dry place with food and comfortable bunks! Raccoons had also made their way on board the ex presidential yacht Sequoia. She is now completely shrink wrapped.

If you use the boat you will have no problems, meanwhile in the off season leave NO food aboard. We have used moth balls in our pop up camper that does sit for blocks of time. Also sealed up all possible access points or temptations. Have no idea if the moth balls actually work but have had no damage whereas an older camper had more than once till i sealed ALL potential holes and placed moth balls in or near the potential access points.

Clearly try to air her out as much as possible and though mice can be cute, vermin poop and pee is just that.

[captronr]

Mice droppings can lead to Hantavirus infections--nothing you want to get.  Here in the midwest, where farmers sweep out their grain bins when they empty them, are highly susceptible since there is limited ventilation inside. 

Mice like food, plus cloth and foam (makes great nests).

I use a poisin block from big box storess.   I asked our bug spray guy if it harmed people or dogs.  He said a dog would have to eat 25 of them before it might have an effect.   

I've put them inside and on top of my tarped boats several years (of course, leave no food aboard).  I use a small plastic lid under the small blocks.

Ron

[alsantini]

I have not had mice in my Eclipse or my P-21 but the Eclipse comes to Florida in the winter and the P-21 was stored inside a building at the fair grounds.  I would clean it completely and remove everything - even the cushions.  I would also put drier sheets in.  Not sure it helped but it sure smelled good in the spring.
BUT, I fought mink in my MCScow while it sat along side the lake.  Eventually one of the sailors who also had problems stumbled upon a mixture that really deterred the mink.  Cayenne pepper dissolved in ammonia.  The ammonia carries the pepper and allows it to stick.  The mink did not like it and left the boat alone.  Not sure how mice would react to it but....  BTW, spray it downwind - it is nasty until the ammonia dries off.  Sail On  Al

[JBC]

Peppermint. Works. Smells better than ammonia but will make your boat smell like a candy factory  for a while! Small bottles can be found at natural foods stores. Poured a few drops on a damp sponge and left in closed cabin on our 16 which is kept outdoors. Not sure how they got in, but they didn't return.

Jett

[Jasmid53]

The previous owner took care to not leave food in the boat. And he stored the cushions inside. The boat was just a nice shelter from those Maine winters. He did try using fabric softening sheets, but I think the mice just used them as bedding. There really aren't that many ways to get into the boat so, I think I will just tape over the openings. I know duct tape can leave glue behind, but I think it will be easier to clean that off than what the mice leave behind. I might try some of the suggested concoctions to see if they work. I have some natural insect repellent. Smells somewhat like Old Time Woodsman insect repellent if any of you are familiar with it, but not as strong. I like the smell and it worked great keeping ants away. What ever I do I won't know till spring if any of it worked.

[nies]

Use masking tape rather than duct tape..................works great and does not leave any glue........nies