Zebra Mussels

[Daryl]

Well I have been reading that zebra mussels are finally showing up in Lake Texoma. Some of you guys up north may have some experience with these pest. Is there anything you can do to retard or stop them from getting on your boat hull or mechanicals. I do not have a problem, I am just thinking about prevention.:smt100

 

[Stray Cat]

Sorry to hear you are or will soon be infested. If your slip is 8 ft. deep or more, you may not have too much of a problem with them clinging to your running gear. If you're shallow like I am 4 ft, they will will bum a ride with you by clinging to any crevice they can. Where the trim tabs meet the hull, on top of the trim tabs they like it there...anything that doesn't rotate fast, or have bottom paint on it, they can hang on to it.

One thing that really helps is frequent use of your boat. I know of some "dock queens" that rarely move and there are loads of them clinging to the running gear at the end of a 6 month season, on one, there was enough to block the water intakes on an I/O to cause it to overheat.

They don't like Hydrocoat bottom paint, never had one stick to my hull. Oh, and if you go to scrape them off by hand, wear gloves, they are very sharp.

 

[Summer Fun II]

We had one guy at the marina that rubbed cooking oil on his outdrive. :wow:
He said it worked. But I don't think so !!. :smt043