rats and bugs

[bucko]

Fellow irwinites-
I had a friend over for dinner last night who has done considerable cruising on the ICW. Since my bride and I plan to travel the ditch south next winter, we got to talking a little about his experiences. He brought up the issue of critters getting on board. We're talking roaches and even rats (besides the dirty rat that will be steering my boat ;-).
The obvious warning about cardboard boxes holding bugs I get, but he also claimed that they can crawl up the dock lines. I've heard of rats climbing the lines but not of bugs, although it seems logical. Anybody have experiences with critters to share? This friend also claimed there is something you can put on your docklines to repel them. Some kind of oil I believe.
Steve
I-38CC

[whathree]

Steve, 2 years ago we had a very dry summer and one day when we were at our slip in the marina my wife commented that she saw ants in her galley. We had just returned from a 2 month cruise (most on hook) so i couldnt figure where they were coming from. Well it wqasnt long before I saw the little buggers, walking in both directions down the deck to the port side line. down the nine (about 15 feet) to a large ant hill under the dock. I soaked the line with ant killer and that ended the problem.
Bill

[merc2dogs]

some repellants are safe on lines, in my opinion a repellant is a better option as it has immediate results, some poisons are designed to avoid notice by the bugs, so you have the bugs climbing in and dropping inside where you have to clean them up.

ken.