One of the most common questions I hear when visiting the marina is “how do you get rid of spiders on your boat?” This is an annual struggle for many boat owners. Spiders seem to find their way into every nook and cranny of your hull. Inside and out: spiders make their homes everywhere!
So how do you get rid of spiders? And more importantly, how do you keep them off your boat and your dock? This article will explore various options for spider control in marine applications.
First, let’s talk about what not to do. Many people have used “bug bombs” and foggers in their homes or garages in the past. While those may be good solutions around the house, they are not a good idea on your boat. Most spider repellent foggers contain harmful chemicals. You may not have any problem using it in your garage or large house (as long as you keep your pets and kids outside for a few hours or days). But using a fogger on your boat can be problematic. These potentially harmful chemicals cover every surface inside your boat and can be incredibly difficult to remove. The smell can be overpowering. And in such a small space, you can find yourself dealing with odors and pesticides for weeks after you bomb your ship. I do not recommend this method for my fellow boat owners.
If you spend time with other boaters, chances are someone told you to just leave the spiders alone. They feed on other pests and can be beneficial in many ways. If you and your spouse can live with your spiders, go for it! I’m all about “live and let live”.
Here are a couple of other tricks:
- Place a couple of dryer sheets in the entire boat. I’m not entirely sure why this seems to work, but I’ve heard from some local surfers that they swear by this method. It works for mosquitoes too! Just put a dryer sheet in your pocket when you’re outside.
- Vacuum your boat thoroughly. While this isn’t a silver bullet, doing this once a year can make a world of difference. Remove everything you can from the interior of your boat. Shake everything out and clean it completely. Meanwhile, vacuum every corner of your boat. Open all the gates, lift all the covers and get into the smallest space you can.
- Install screens in as many openings as possible. This is another obvious solution. But many people overlook it!
- Be sure to remove any eggs you find! You may only notice a couple of spiders hanging out, but rest assured, they may have ugly hidden eggs that contain hundreds of spiders.
- Try putting some mothballs in a coffee can and leave the can open in your boat when you’re not there. When you take your canister out for the day, simply pop the lid on the can and set sail!
I hope some of these solutions can help you enjoy the boating season even more for years to come! Best of luck. One of these solutions will surely help you get rid of spiders on your boat.