[ekenna]

We went down to our boat last night and scared a large bird off our boat. Its either a double breasted cormorant or a common loon. This morning when we woke up we spent an hour trying to scrub the bird doo and partially diagested fish off our boat but not very well . Since we the weather was calling for rain later and the wind was kicking we went for a quick sail to turkey point and back. Then we went in to the field doc tried to clean up with simple green and a hose. The deck still has gunk on it. Anyone have suggestions on how to do a better job of cleaning the deck?

The more important question is does anyone have any suggestions on how to keep the bird off our boat. We thought about hanging something that spins or maybe a pie plate from a shroud or maybe getting plastic owl which works for some birds. Anyone know a method that works?

 

[T37Chef]

My boat neighbor leaves some artificial snakes on his deck here and there, works pretty well.

 

[eryka]

Hanging strips cut from a mylar-lined potato chip bag in the rigging has worked well for us in the past. Or, used CDs.

 

[josrulz]

We've used Boat Brite Bird and Spider droppings stain remover with pretty decent success. Stuff that's we'd spent forever scrubbing either came out completely or lightened up enough that we were much happier than before.

We have no affiliation with them, just saying it worked pretty well for us.

Captain Johns Boat Brite Marine Bird & Spider Droppings Remover, easy use, effetive boat cleaner, environmentally safe

 

[Faster]

Here's a recent thread discussing this:

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/gener...related/57890-bird-poo-sux-pix-deterrent.html

 

[chrihomou]

Can you give some more sample question and answers. How great your info is! It really useful for me. Thanks.

 

[jmf7654987]

On the east coast we have some pretty nasty birds like cormorants which made a point of messing up my boat. Bird spikes on the spreaders, or the homemade variety, such as cable ties pointing up and cut at an angle, helps. However we still had a problem and tried all the common solutions, none of which really worked well under all conditions and for the entire boat. The best bird deterrent solution we found to keep birds off our boat can be found at the site birddefensesystems.com This bird deterrent device is a kind of shield that prevents the birds from reaching the boat. It does take a few minutes to setup and take down, but that is a lot less than the time we used to spend cleaning. That same site describes a little bit about how it works here: birddefensesystems.com/how-does-the-bds100-bird-deterrent-work

 

[SanderO]

bird spikes on the spreaders... seems to work for us.

 

[travlin-easy]

this is the best thing I've found, but not cheap - $50. It's an osprey wind sock.

The birds absolutely will not get near the boat when I have this thing flying.

Gary

 

[chef2sail]

this is the best thing I've found, but not cheap - $50. It's an osprey wind sock.

The birds absolutely will not get near the boat when I have this thing flying.
W
Gary

I love it Gary
Where did you get it

 

[ianjoub]

Pellet gun!

 

[travlin-easy]

Dave, I bought it from Amazon last year because the birds were destroying my new paint job. No problem's since I installed it. Take a look at https://www.amazon.com/Osprey-Assem...qid=1474417882&sr=8-9&keywords=bird+wind+sock It really doesn't take a lot of wind to get it to fly, and with just 6 MPH of wind the wings flap and it dives and swoops around as if it was trying to catch something.

This thing really looks alive, and the folks down in south Florida swear by them. The only problem I had with it was it became tangles in the rigging when the wind changed. I solved that problem by attaching it to a 20-foot long bamboo stick attached to the back pier piling. My biggest fear is that some kid will come along and steal it, which would really piss me off.

All the best,

Gary

 

[travlin-easy]

Ian, I own a high velocity .177 caliber pellet gun that is incredibly accurate and topped with a 4-power scope. However, there are specific federal laws against shooting certain species of birds, mostly those that poop on boats. Shoot one of them and the fine can be as much as $10,000 and some jail time. Nah! I'll stick to the non-lethal methods.

Gary

 

[SanderO]

Ian, I own a high velocity .177 caliber pellet gun that is incredibly accurate and topped with a 4-power scope. However, there are specific federal laws against shooting certain species of birds, mostly those that poop on boats. Shoot one of them and the fine can be as much as $10,000 and some jail time. Nah! I'll stick to the non-lethal methods.

Gary

What are you suggesting.... that someone sit there guarding their boat 24/7 to shoot birds? 99% of sailors are leaving their boats moored for 90% of the time the are in the water.. and probably are at the mooring for a few hrs unless they sleep aboard when moored or anchored. Rarely do I see birds perch or poop on occupied vessels.

 

[capecodda]

In my neighborhood, there are 2 angry birds for boat damage:

Cormorants - They are the worst for their deposits. Like concrete if you don't get to it right away. We've found they like to sit on the spreaders. Once they find you, the boat becomes the harbor latrine and they visit regularly. We put a piece of stainless wire about knee height to a cormorant above each spreader. It seems to provide enough discouragement so they'll pick someone else's boat.

Ospreys - They like to sit on top of the mast where they get a good look into the water for fish. Although they usually don't stay long enough to leave anything behind, they are heavy and they break stuff like masthead wind instruments. We've been using commercial stuff that looks like a brush with a pile of spikes pointed up.

I'm going to try one of those Osprey kites Gary's talking about...I wonder what the other Ospreys will think?

 

[travlin-easy]

SanderO, it was Ian that suggested using a pellet gun - not me.

Gary

 

[ianjoub]

What are you suggesting.... that someone sit there guarding their boat 24/7 to shoot birds? 99% of sailors are leaving their boats moored for 90% of the time the are in the water.. and probably are at the mooring for a few hrs unless they sleep aboard when moored or anchored. Rarely do I see birds perch or poop on occupied vessels.

Tongue in cheek comes to mind.

 

[zeehag]

if you are serious about keeping birdees of your boat when you are rarely there, tarp it. keep tarps low and place lines laced over em to help affix em to the boat. ta daa no more doo on deck.
nothing else works. sorry--i see everything here and have since 1990. ha h aha ha ha ha ha
as for cleaning it off decks, salt water scrubbing with a deck brush does wonderful work cutting yuk. then scrubbing with soapy water using deck brush, and rinse. it doesnt come off without work.
i know worst marine actually has deck brushes usable from a standing position, so it is a job made easier.

 

[CLucas]

if you are serious about keeping birdees of your boat when you are rarely there, tarp it. keep tarps low and place lines laced over em to help affix em to the boat. ta daa no more doo on deck.
nothing else works. sorry--i see everything here and have since 1990. ha h aha ha ha ha ha
as for cleaning it off decks, salt water scrubbing with a deck brush does wonderful work cutting yuk. then scrubbing with soapy water using deck brush, and rinse. it doesnt come off without work.
i know worst marine actually has deck brushes usable from a standing position, so it is a job made easier.

Woody Wax won't scare away birds, but is a pretty good treatment for non-skid surfaces. Bird poop and fish guts clean off fairly easily.

 

[zeehag]

helpful hint from not heloise---
i have seen , in places wherein frigates and ospreys love mast sitting to hunt fishies, folks placed a lawn leaf rake--- there are orange plastic ones here--on masthead.. no more place to sit, no more poop. call the system frigate be gone. and the orange roooster crown is kinda cute.