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Tips for Preventing Pests on Your Boat

Jan. 18 2024 Maintenance By Chatlee Boat & Marine

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Regular and proactive maintenance can help keep your boat shiny and performing like it did when it was new. A well-kept vessel lasts longer, performs more reliably on the water, and helps enhance your riding experience by keeping you safe and comfortable. However, refueling your boat and replacing faulty components isn’t enough—you’ll need to maintain your vessel regularly and remove any pesky infestations. Pests can damage your wood, fabric, and upholstery and leave unsightly droppings everywhere. To prevent this, keep your boat pest-free using the tips in this guide!

Clean Your Boat Often

The foremost strategy for maintaining a pest-free boat is cleaning it often. As you’re aware, pests are attracted to food and can nest comfortably in trash and piles of materials. So, never leave food stored on your vessel, and clean up any spills immediately. Encourage your passengers to dispose of leftovers responsibly and avoid leaving anything behind that can lure critters and mammals.

Use Scented Deterrents

If you intend to leave your boat unused for a few weeks or months, you might be anxious about pests entering it and making it their home. Don’t worry, you can use scented deterrents to keep them away.

Certain smells repel pests, which you can use to keep your boat pest-free. Toss heavily scented soap bars, dryer sheets, and mothballs throughout your vessel, especially the spots where they are likely to move freely. You can also try cayenne pepper or ammonia spray to ward off pests and keep your machine clean and ready for your next outing.

Install Ultrasonic Sound Devices

Many boat owners have benefitted from investing in ultrasonic sound devices to keep pests away from their boats. You can use one of these to make your boat more comfortable and welcoming.

We hope these tips help keep your boat pest-free. If you need more ideas or want to upgrade your vessel to the latest model, visit Chatlee Boat & Marine. We’re in Sanford, NC, and are proud to serve our patrons from Raleigh and Greensboro!