Spiders on Boat

[a64pilot]

While I won't have a cat aboard, they will prey upon anything small enough.
I had a cat when we lived in Texas, she played hell with the local tarantula population.
You don't want to open your closet and have one of those things jump out, trust me.

[DefinitelyMe]

Be careful if you decide to use chemical pesticides.

1) They are often incredibly toxic to marine life. Even tiny quantities in water (and i do mean tiny) can cause widespread death.

2) Spiders are generally much more sensitive to pesticides than the pest species, such as roaches, ants, termites, flies, mosquitos etc. so you may end up making the situation worse by killing all the spiders and then having nothing to keep the other populations in check. The answer to this problem is NOT to use even more pesticides, as the pest species will then develop a resistance very quickly indeed.

Provided there are not hundreds (or thousands!) of them and that they are not a species that is capable of doing you actual bodily harm i would leave the spiders well alone and let them do their thing. If there are hundreds of them, ask yourself why there are hundreds of them in the first place! They must have a food source............

[rw58ph]

I heard it said the spiders on a boat was assign of good luck! Anyway I do not mind spiders on the boat as long as they stay on the exterior. If they venture inside I usually try to caught them and release them out side. Especially in the summer when the flies, nats, mosquitoes are out.

In the summer time we have a bug zapper hung from the boom which attract flying insects and stick strips hung where they tend to hang out. We also have a fan pointed at the salon door as its said they will not fly though fast moving are.

[Steve W]

Haven't seen a spider inside the boat since I took someone's advice and put a couple of mothballs inside. Also had good luck spraying the critters with ant & roachkiller as they descend into the cockpit from their hiding places in the bimini at night. They like to hang out where the bimini frame enters the bimini and I spray there about once a month. I'd rather not kill them, but when one dropped into the Admiral's rum & coke, that was it for her. Happy wife on boat = happy life on boat.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by DefinitelyMe

so you may end up making the situation worse by killing all the spiders and then having nothing to keep the other populations in check.

Provided there are not hundreds (or thousands!) of them and that they are not a species that is capable of doing you actual bodily harm i would leave the spiders well alone and let them do their thing. If there are hundreds of them, ask yourself why there are hundreds of them in the first place! They must have a food source............

Exactly!

[SailFastTri]

Do an internet search on "diatomaceous earth". Food-grade diatomaceous earth is non-toxic to mammals and fish, but kills all kinds of bugs. You can even mix it with rice and grains to kill larvae that might grow (I read that but haven't tried it). I sprinkle it around the edges of kitchen counters and behind cabinets, and it stops ant invasions within a few days. I sprinkle it around to keep spiders and other bugs in check in my unfinished basement also. A 5 pound bag is around $10 (prices vary) on Amazon.

All that said, it's not a repellant nor instant cure, but it does create a hostile environment for bugs.

PS -- the only caution is (like any silica dust) don't breath it.

[Chenega]

Originally Posted by amanphoto

I dock my boat in a slip (dock) and there there is an abundance of spiders. How do you keep bugs off your boat?

Get out of the slip and onto a mooring. On the Connecticut River, dockside spiders are a common occurrence and nuisance. It can take a long time to get rid of them and it's a battle that can't be won. Forget the poison... Move away from the dock - Spiders make a quick mess of a boat.

[boatman61]

As long as its not a recluse.. a widow.. or one of those little Aussie ones that hide in the loo and bite yer nutz... they're fine by me..

[Dulcesuenos]

Originally Posted by boatman61

As long as its not a recluse.. a widow.. or one of those little Aussie ones that hide in the loo and bite yer nutz... they're fine by me..

The dreaded Butt spider!!! Aren't spiders why its bad luck to bring bananas on a boat?

Sent from my LG-LS980 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[CarinaPDX]

I had a terrible time with spiders here in the PNW before I went cruising. Once underway they disappeared, and for 15 years I had no problems. Literally as soon as I returned to the US the battle began. My conclusion: go cruising and leave the USA.

Now I spray Home Defense on the dock lines and around the hatches to discourage the invaders. I also moved out from the shore a bit as they do get around my defenses by abseiling off the cottonwoods along the shore.

Greg

[transmitterdan]

Spiders congregate where there is light at night. They will set up webs in the path of bugs "going into the light". Too many marinas have excessive lighting that attracts flying insects which in turn attract spiders. The spiders' night time feast ends up on the deck every morning as black spots. Typically these are not browns or recluse as these are much more agoraphobic.

Convincing the marina to turn off unnecessary lights might help. Some of us have been known to unscrew certain light bulbs in the interest of global warming. The reduction is spiders was just a nice side benefit.

Boaty, you need to stay out of any loo infested with bugs. Then the spiders won't be there.

[P27]

Try spider kill II by clipped marine Cleveland OH. I purchased mine at my marine on Chautauqua lake VERY effective

[P27]

Sorry meant to say clipped marine

[P27]

Trying again can't type worth a darn on touch screen it is clipper marine

[sailcruiser]

Is this the right product?

http://spiderkill.com/

If so you might want to read the MSDS. Highly toxic to many things like fish and bees.

http://spiderkill.com/ClipperSpiderK...-440-44330.pdf

Too toxic IMHO.
SC