Rats or mice munching on tubes???

[archie720]

Am thinking of storing my RIB in a barn over winter and was wondering if anyone has ever had experience of rates or mice having a good chew on the tubes.

If so, apart from having a secure cover, are there any practical steps one can take to try and prevent this from happening other than covering the entire boat in vaseline!

Just dont want to come back in March and find i need to order a new set of tubes.

[Rodan]

Put it on some of those stone 'toadstools' olde barns are on - stops the rats!

[codprawn]

There IS a real danger - and rats are brilliant climbers - will even drop from rafters etc.

My next door neighbour had his inflatable canoe eaten by rats in his attic - he was not amused!!!

A lot depends on the barn - just make sure there is no food stored there or anything and try to cover the boat over - as long as it's up on it's trailer it should be all right.

[Mollers]

Uuumm? Mine's also in a barn. The guy's on this site rattled on about fires. Furry friends are more of a worry

[prairie tuber]

Cats or a dacshund that lived in the barn would help mininmize the presence of rats & mice. A pet owl in the barn would be even more effective.

[Searider]

Surely as long as it's kept inflated the rats / mice won't feel the need to chew on it.

I suspect they only chew on sails etc as they are soft and look like they might make good bedding.

[Biggles]

Originally Posted by prairie tuber

Cats or a dacshund that lived in the barn would help mininmize the presence of rats & mice. A pet owl in the barn would be even more effective.

A pet Owl. We've all got those in the UK.

And how hard is Owl pooh to get off boats.....

[Stephen-RIB]

I am just repairing a rib for a customer which is riddle with rodent damage so they definetly do like eating the stuff. I even had a boat brought to me with a live mouse still inside of it!!

I would make sure the tubes are pumped pretty hard, leave some poison down and keep an eye on it. Maybe get the farm yard cat to make its bed in the boat?

Cheers

Stephen

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by Searider

Surely as long as it's kept inflated the rats / mice won't feel the need to chew on it.

I suspect they only chew on sails etc as they are soft and look like they might make good bedding.

http://www.aaanimalcontrol.com/ratchew.htm

Rats will chew anything - they do it to keep their teeth in good conditions - they will even chew through wires and nibble the bars of a cage!!!

[Searider]

Originally Posted by codprawn

http://www.aaanimalcontrol.com/ratchew.htm

Rats will chew anything - they do it to keep their teeth in good conditions - they will even chew through wires and nibble the bars of a cage!!!

fair comment, but if they can't get their mouth around something it will be difficult to chew I reckon.