Birds !!

Brian · 03 January 2002, 15:14

No not that sort !
Got you reading this thread though didn't it ?

The feathered variety.
My boat is permanantly afloat and parked in a marina. Every time I go to see it, a load of birds have pooped all over it. well, at least I think it's bird poo. I won't go into details....lets just say it's a problem.
What can be done?
Apart from the appearance, there is the thought that the stuff may be corroding parts of the boat as well. I clean it all off. The boat looks beautiful again.... and two days later it looks like one of Alfred HitchCock's "The Birds" victims.
Oh woe is woe, what can be done??

Alan Mckewan · 03 January 2002, 17:34

Im in a marina as well but they seem to poop on the boats with masts rather than my rib (so far!). Suggest you park up between two yachts. Two other ribs moor close by with all-over-covers on them - Im thinking of doing the same thing - this would at least keep the guano off the tubes! Other boats use a big plastic owl or kestrel-type thing which works a bit. Some also use loads of thin string/thread spread over the boat from a post in the middle, but it takes ages to set up.

matiboy · 03 January 2002, 17:57

on top of existing cover place a cheap tarpaulin purchased for about 5 to 10 quid from local boot sale or market, at that price you can afford to throw it away after a season ????

That's what I,ve done in the past

Looks a bit naff unfortunately

Alan · 03 January 2002, 19:55

Did you have the same problem at Plymouth? Or is it more prevalent now you are in Torquay?

Not sure about a solution other than the plastic kestrel or a scarecrow. 12 bore perhaps

Alan

ChrisD · 04 January 2002, 12:55

I have seen near where I am, that quite a lot of sail boat owners run a string down the length of the boat a foot or so off the deck and tie on CD's at about 12 inch intervals.

Now they are either particularly well heeled (obviously the bigger the boat the more cd's you can afford), recently and bitterly divorced (i.e. they were the ex-wife's favorite CD's) or have found a use for all those AOL and Freeserve CD's that seem to come with every magazine you buy.

I can't really say whether it truely works, but I haven't seen any birds roosting on them so far!

Chris.