How Keep Pest Birds Off Your Stored Boat

If you store your boat on the side of your home, you probably cover it to protect it from the weather. But if you’re like most boat owners who keep their boats at home, you’ve had to contend with bird droppings on your masts, antenna arrays and canvass covers. 

If you live close to any body of water, or if your boat is docked next to your home, bird problems multiply quickly. Gulls, cormorants and geese love to perch and nest on your canvas covers.  Over time, even the toughest covers will become brittle and tear if bird droppings are not washed off frequently.

Leave your boat uncovered and you risk even greater damage to outboard engines, antenna arrays, windows and sliding doors. To keep pest birds away from your boat, professional bird control experts recommend the following:

Bird Spiders

Set up one or two Bird Spiders on “bird problem” areas of your boat and forget about pest birds. Spiders have numerous spindly arms that whip about in the slightest breeze to whisk birds away. Gulls, cormorants, pelicans and pigeons will simply avoid your vessel and move on. Bird spiders come in 2-, 4-, 6- and 8-foot diameter arm lengths so you can match he spider to your specific area frequented by birds. The best bird spiders are made in the USA and feature a glue-on base for simple mounting. There’s even a removable sand-bag base that lets you place a spider on uneven or angled surfaces. Additional mounting bases let you place spiders on masts and radar units. The best bird spiders will feature a UV-protected polycarbonate base for lasting durability. 

Repeller 360°

This is another wind-powered device that gets the job done. Easy to set up, the Repeller 360° features two "sails" mounted at either ends of a 6' stainless steel arm. Each sail has a reflective bird predator eye. When the wind spins the arms a full 360°, they intimidate and frighten any birds daring to land on your boat. The wind powered arms rotate continuously, covering a full 6-foot diameter to prevent even the most determined pest birds from landing on your vessel.

Stainless Steel Bird Spikes

The king of bird deterrents, Stainless Steel Bird Spikes have been used by boat owners for years around the world. These anti-perching, anti-roosting devices won’t allow pest birds--particularly large birds like gulls, cormorants and geese--access to land anywhere you place them on your boat. The best bird spikes are made of stainless steel embedded in a UV-protected polycarbonate base. They're made in the USA and guaranteed for 10 years. The spikes come in four different splay widths--1”, 3”, 5” and 8”, yet each can be mounted on just a 1.5”  narrow base. These quality made spikes will feature a glue trough and pre-drilled mounting holes for fast, easy installation.

Effective Bird Control for Boats and Marinas

Birds can be a costly nuisance around boats and marinas. When they perch and roost on seaside structures, bird droppings can deface and damage signs, windows, rooftop HVAC units and rain gutters. Docks, railings, walkways, boat houses, pilings and swim platforms can quickly become inundated with bird droppings, leaving an unsightly mess that can create a slip-and-fall hazard. Large birds like gulls, geese, ducks and cormorants can “unload” sizable droppings that require frequent and costly cleanups.

Without effective bird control, boat owners and boat rental outfits need to constantly clean their boats of droppings. Left to accumulate, these droppings can damage boat covers, spreaders, window gaskets, sails, outboard engines, sliding doors, deck surfaces and antenna arrays. 

Both boat owners and seaside businesses need to be proactive when it comes to bird deterrents. Achieving effective bird control calls for proven devices that deter birds humanely and keep them away. Here are some devices you should consider to keep pest birds away from your boat or marina business:

The Repeller 360

Using a large, wind-powered sweeping arm, The Repeller 360 is designed to keep large birds like pigeons, crows, gulls, cormorants and raptors away from both boats and marina structures. The Repeller 360° is “armed” with  large, reflective “predator eyes” that add to its threatening appearance and function. The device is easy to set up on virtually any flat surface. Rotating continuously in the slightest breeze, The Repeller 360 covers a full 6-foot diameter to keep birds away.

Bird Spiders

Also wind powered and quite effective,  Bird Spiders feature wildly flailing arms that whip about in the breeze to frighten birds away. A few bird spiders placed strategically on rooftops, canvas covers and boat decks will cause gulls, cormorants, pelicans and pigeons to simply move on. Bird spiders come in 2-, 4-, 6- and 8-foot diameter arm lengths to create wider and wider  circles of deterrence. The best bird spiders are made in the USA and feature a glue-on base for effortless mounting. These spiders will also have a UV-protected polycarbonate base for lasting durability in harsh water-front weather. Removable  sand bag bases are also available, which let you set bird spiders up virtually anywhere. Additional mounting bases allow for easy placement on masts and radar units.

Stainless Steel Bird Spikes

Used by boat owners and marinas worldwide, Stainless Steel Bird Spikes provide anti-perching, ant-roosting protection for rooflines, parapet walls, signage  and other lofty areas. Installed on boats,they prevent birds from landing on masts, rooftops, and areas around antenna systems. The most rugged and seaworthy bird spikes are made in the USA of stainless steel, with pins embedded in a UV-protected polycarbonate base. These spikes are guaranteed for 10 years. The spikes come in 1”, 3”, 5” and 8” widths and have a 1.5”  base, which allows you to mount the spikes on very narrow surfaces. The best spikes also have a built-in a glue trough and feature pre-drilled mounting holes for fast, easy installation.

Finally, an Easy Way to Keep Birds off Your Boat and Boat Dock

There are still plenty of weeks left to enjoy your boat. Excursions and boat parties seem to ramp up as the summer ends. If you’re planning a party or holiday excursion with friends and family, the last thing you want to worry about are pest birds—like gulls, crows and pigeons—dumping all over your dock and boat.

You know form past experience that cleaning up bird droppings and rotting fish parts can be a real nuisance. You’ve also learned that if you lay out any kind of food on a boat, you’ll draw uninvited guests. Unless you’ve implemented some bird control on your boat or dock, gulls will dive in and pick food plates clean--in a matter of seconds. Besides the loss of food, birds carry any of 60 known diseases, so you certainly don’t want that in your food or anywhere near you boat.

If you’ve tried other bird deterrent methods with no success, and if you’re tired of scrubbing off bird droppings from bow to stern, it’s time to use what the professional bird control experts recommend. It’s time to invest in some serious, humane and proven effective pest bird deterrents.

One new device is rapidly gaining popularity among boat owners. It’s called the Repeller 360°. This nifty little device spins in the wind (no external power is required) to prevent large birds such as gulls, pigeons and crows from landing on boat dock and docked boat. The device sweeps around in a 6-foot diameter circle and keeps birds from landing and roosting near it. Two "sails" mounted at both ends of a Repeller 360°’s stainless steel arms feature reflective bird predator eyes. When the arms spin in the wind, birds won’t go near the perceived threat.

The Repeller 360° is quality constructed and made in the USA. Its stainless steel arms are securely attached to a UV-protected polycarbonate base. Installation is a snap. Just place the Repeller 360° over the center pin and press down to hold the unit in place. Insert the locking pin at the side for a secure hold. Unfold the arms so the sails are positioned opposite of each other. Adhere the stickers to each sail. And that’s it. You can also get various mounting options, including removable boat bases available through Bird-B-Gone. The unit is easy to store away for later use.

The best place to mount a Repeller 360° is on the flat areas of your boat or canvas covers. Its day and night sweeping action will act like a sentry to keep gulls away. On the dock, you should place a few on dock pillars or posts and let the wind do the rest.

Your boat or dock will now be protected from pest gulls, crows, pigeons and other birds. Sure beats standing on your dock or boat 24/7 with a hose or air horn.

How to Keep Birds Off Your Boat

by Alex A. Kecskes

It’s spring, and if you’re a boat owner, it’s time to open up your boat for all those parties and excursions with friends and relatives, and for those racing events that bring trophies to your mantle. Unfortunately, unless you implemented some effective bird control measures last year, your pride and joy will be covered with bird droppings from bow to stern.

Acidic bird droppings can stain and degrade canvas covers and damage rotating antennas and other electronic gear. Bird droppings can also create a dangerous slip-and-fall hazard for you and your guests. Removing dried bird droppings is no simple task, even with powerful cleaners. There’s also the problem of dead fish and bones that gulls leave on your decks and covers. If you host a party on your boat, you’ll have to be ever-vigililent for birds dive bombing for food and annoying guests.

Either way, if you failed to protect your boat with bird deterrents, you’ve got a number of problems on your hands. But you won’t make the same mistake this year. You’ve learned your lesson: keep birds off your boat with effective bird control devices—the kind the professionals use—or suffer the consequences of pest birds.
Here are two effective bird deterrents the pros use to keep birds off their boats:

Solar-Powered Bird Repeller

This nifty device uses rotating, motor-driven “arms” to harmlessly prevent birds from landing on your boat. You place the unit wherever pest birds tend to gather most often and the repeller does the rest. Its arms spin around continuously at 30 RPM to deter even the most determined birds. The best bird repellers feature adjustable arms that protect up to a 5-foot diameter area of your boat. And since the unit is solar powered, it saves energy. It even works at night because it has the ability to store electricity during the day.

Bird Spiders

These devices feature wildly flailing arms that bounce and whip about in the breeze. No bird worth his salt will go near one of these bad boys. They’re maintenance free and easy to set up on decks, rooftops, and virtually any flat surface of your boat. They'll keep gulls, cormorants, pelicans and pigeons off your boat covers and canvases. Bird spiders come in various sizes--including 2-, 4-, 6- and 8-foot diameter arm lengths to create ever widening diameters of protection. Look for bird spiders that feature a glue-on base for easy mounting. Some spiders come with railing mounts for easy attachment to boat rails. Other attachments include a removable sand bag base that makes it easy to place them on boat canvas and Biminis. Additional boat bases let you mount spiders on masts and radar units. Bird spiders are easily moved to areas wherever pest birds tend to gather on your boat. The best bird spiders have a U.V.-protected polycarbonate base for lasting durability in harsh sea weather.

A Bird-Free Boat for Summer

by Alex A. Kecskes

 As a boat owner, you want to keep your boat in ship-shape condition, ready to sail without a lot of clean-up or maintenance. That means your radar units, canvas covers, masts and Biminis must be free of bird droppings and debris.  If you're an experienced boat owner, you know that preparation is the key to keeping your boat in tip-top condition.  You know that an ounce of prevention now can keep you boat free of pest birds for all those summer excursions, harbor cruises and parties. The last thing your guests want to see is bird droppings all over your boat as they snack on food and drinks. You also don't want your guests--especially landlubbers--to trip on your deck because of bird droppings, which you know can be slipperier than a banana peel.

Problem:  Unless you're prepared with effective bird control measures, your boat can easily become the victim of many types of pest birds. These include egrets, blue herons, crows, doves, and seagulls, even an occasional pelican. Some species of seagulls, such as the Heerman's gull are protected by law. Destruction or removal of a nest may result in legal penalties. So the idea is to keep birds from gathering and nesting on your boat in the first place. No matter which species invade your boat, you'll have quite a mess on your hands. The droppings and food scraps they carry can be both annoying and destructive, especially if left to gather on masts, spreaders, and riggings. In most cases, the droppings, once dried, can be nearly impossible to remove from certain surfaces. Cormorant droppings, for example, can be like epoxy. The worst part is, the high concentration of uric acid--extremely high in sea bird droppings--can erode stainless steel, discolor paint, and permanently stain your jell coat and blue covers. Bird droppings can also carry any of 60 known diseases, so if you're cleaning off the dust, be very careful.

Fortunately, there are ways to keep birds off boats. But you must act now before your boat becomes home to these pests.

Solution: To whip birds away from those high areas of your boat that birds find irresistible, consider investing in Bird Spiders. These popular and highly effective bird deterrents typically have stainless steel "arms" that wave wildly in the breeze to discourage all manner of pest birds. Birds don't like to feel threatened and bird spiders make them feel unwelcome. They come in 2-, 4-, 6-, and 8-foot diameter arm lengths to cover ever-increasing areas of deterrence. They're easy to place on masts, spreaders and railings. Some spiders come with an optional base, so you can literally place them anywhere pest birds tend to gather. They're also easily removed and stored when you're ready to set sail.

For the very tip of top of masts and other high areas of your vessel, consider installing some Bird Spikes. These intimidating looking bird deterrents simply won't allow birds to land. They come in stainless steel and in 3-, 5- and 8-inch widths to deter virtually any size pest bird. The best spikes feature a U.V. -protected polycarbonate base, which is 1.5-inches wide, so you can easily attach it with zip ties. Bird spikes won't harm birds and have been approved by humane groups worldwide--including the U.S. Humane Society and PICAS (Pigeon Control Advisory Service).

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Boat Bird Control for the Spring and Summer

Many sailors have a real love affair with their boats. They may not have a fancy yacht, a 50-foot trawler or some go-fast "cigarette," but they're always sanding, painting or cleaning their boat every chance they get. A clean, ship-shape boat says a lot about its owner. And most owners say a lot about their boat—to friends, family, fellow sailors, even strangers. One thing they all have in common is their disdain for pest birds. Which brings us to a major problem faced by virtually every boat owner.

Problem: Pest birds come in all sizes and shapes--gulls, cormorants, pelicans and pigeons. They love to flock around your masts, spreaders and riggings. And what they leave behind isn't pretty: bird droppings that smell and deface and eat into everything: canvas covers, rigging, sails, radar antenna gear, just about every surface on your boat. Brazen gulls will fearlessly squat on your boat, leaving you to contend with corrosive droppings, dead fish parts and nesting materials. Not exactly the image you want for your next party or outing with friend and family. These droppings can also carry any number of diseases. And they're hard to remove, usually requiring sanding.  They can even cause people to slip and fall on deck—especially children.

Solution: If you're on a tight budget and want to protect your boat from invading birds, you might consider using some Visual Bird Scare Deterrents. Many boat owners have tried these with considerable success. They're inexpensive and you can easily attach them all over your boat. Bird Scare Deterrents are basically the banners, flash tape and balloons you see on so many boats. They create an “Optical Distraction Zone” that makes birds really nervous.

The banners and iridescent reflective foil or flash tape are easily attached to your masts, railings, and towers. They reflect sunlight and crackle in the breeze, creating an audio-visual deterrent that will scare most birds away—to the other guy's boat. Inflatable bird scare balloons work on the same principle. They feature a giant lifelike reflective predator eye that makes pest birds feel like they're about to be pounced upon. Finally, there are the teardrop-shaped Scare-Eye Diverters, which birds will avoid. They feature the same giant predator eye; in fact, some even have iridescent foil eyes to really give pest birds the creeps. Others scare-eye diverters will feature glow-in-the-dark backsides to keep birds away at night.

The secret to keeping birds away form your boat is to install these scare deterrents in high visibility areas where birds see them. And to do so now, before the birds come to your boat for the summer. Finally, make sure you move these deterrents around from time to time.  Birds will eventually get used to them.

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Bird Spiders for Boats

by Alex A. Kecskes
Whether you're the captain or the owner of a recreational trawler, sloop or competition catamaran, you take pride in your vessel and you want to keep it looking ship shape and clean. As the summer months approach, you'll want to be taking guest and friends out on harbor and ocean cruises, or perhaps a nice fishing outing. Everyone will be looking at your boat. You'll no doubt be serving food and drinks on your boat. All the more reason to invest in bird-proofing devices to keep it looking good for those excursions and for all those dockside parties you'll be having.

Problem: Birds love to hang around boats. As an experienced sailor/fisherman, you've tried to scare birds off your boat before. Last year, you tugged the stays and rattled the rigging, which scared off a few birds, but also caused an avalanche of dried bird poop to land on you and your deck. Not a good idea. The bird poop that didn't rain down on you jammed up the rigging, your rotating radar, lighting, even your anchor. In fact, bird droppings were everywhere last year—from stern to bow pulpit.

Cleaning the bird droppings off your boat is no picnic. Simple brushing won't get the stuff off; it usually takes a Brillo pad and some heavy duty scrubbing. And one thing you learned in the past: bird poop is dangerously slippery when wet.

The good news is you don't have to deal with pest birds, year after year. You can be proactive and implement some effective bird proofing measures. You can finally use the kind of bird deterrents the pros use to keep birds off their 100-footers. Set up these deterrents and pest birds will stay away from your boat and pester the other guy's boat.

Solution: Bird Control Spiders. These devices are compact, easy to place and easy to move. They feature wildly flailing arms that bounce and whip about in the breeze to intimidate pest birds and discourage them from landing. Best of all, you can set them up on decks, rooftops, and virtually any flat surface of your boat. They're also ideal for protection your boat covers and canvases. Bird spiders come in various sizes--including 2-, 4- and 8-foot diameter arm lengths to create ever widening diameters of protection. And spiders are proven effective against a wide variety of pest birds, including gulls, pigeons, cormorants, and raptors. They're also maintenance free.

The best bird control spiders feature a glue-on base, which allows them to be easily attached to most surfaces. Some spiders come with railing mounts for easy attachment to boat rails. Other attachments include a removable sand bag base that makes it easy to place them on boat canvas and Biminis. Additional boat bases allow you to mount spiders on masts and radar units. The good thing about bird spiders is that you can easily move them around to areas where large flocks of pest birds have become especially bothersome. The best bird spiders have a U.V.-protected polycarbonate base for lasting durability in seaside environs.

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