Bird poop and spiders..it finally happened to me

[DanW]

I have to use the fishing line clips on my bow rail to keep the swallows off. The fishing line can get messy but it does work to keep the birds off. Mostly. There’s usually one swallow that figures out a way around the fishing line, but its better than 30 swallows sitting on the rail!

The swallows sometimes like to sit on my VHF antenna too (has to be folded down to fit inside the shed) but I haven’t figured out a solution for that yet.

Dan

 

[mrsrobinson]

I have to use the fishing line clips on my bow rail to keep the swallows off. The fishing line can get messy but it does work to keep the birds off. Mostly. There’s usually one swallow that figures out a way around the fishing line, but its better than 30 swallows sitting on the rail!

The swallows sometimes like to sit on my VHF antenna too (has to be folded down to fit inside the shed) but I haven’t figured out a solution for that yet.

Dan

Thanks Dan, I'm starting to research the fishing line approach. You mentioned clips, is there a kit of some kind I can order? I'm seeing all kinds of stainless steel Slinky like solutions on Amazon, and spikes as well, not sure I want to wrap that all around the rails though. Not a big deal while at the dock, but if we go out or go to another Marina taking it off will be a pain in the butt.

 

[Blueone]

Thanks Dan, I'm starting to research the fishing line approach. You mentioned clips, is there a kit of some kind I can order? I'm seeing all kinds of stainless steel Slinky like solutions on Amazon, and spikes as well, not sure I want to wrap that all around the rails though. Not a big deal while at the dock, but if we go out or go to another Marina taking it off will be a pain in the butt.

They are just plastic clips for your bow rail size…. Very simple

 

[firecadet613]

https://www.amazon.com/Birds-Bird-Deterrent-for-Boats/dp/B01GN8479M

 

[DanW]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077SFVN8...colid=3ZEZ4KSSWL3K&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

I originally couldn’t find anything to buy. So, I took the clips that are used to hang power cords from your rail and put screws on the cord side. Then I ran fishing line between the screws. Generally the same idea as the ones you can buy, but somewhat homemade.

Dan

 

[my3sons]

You need a decoy with square rails. They definitely prefer them. We get our share of bird crap, but mostly from flyovers. There are hundreds of these swallows in constant flight around our boats. That’s our boat in the background on the left. We have a count down to August 20th every year. That seems to be the day that the damn things head for Capistrano, or wherever.

 

[Soulshine]

For 39 years now birds never crapped on my seats.

I had everything reupholstered a month ago and a bird flew in, perched on the back of the helm seat and shit raspberries all over the place

I'm pissed.

 

[mrsrobinson]

@firecadet613 @DanW those look perfect. Now I just need to figure out the size of the rail on my boat.

 

[dwna1a]

Best thing I’ve found is using HomeDefence once a week. The key is to not only do your lines and overhead but do the slips near you. We’ve gotten with every slip holder and now we do all slips and the gangway. Everyone chips in and I usually do it on Saturday morning.

Next wash the boat once a week, I use Smoove’s boat wash. It gives the boat a nice protective coat and seems to make it easier to get whatever off.