A couple of questions re unwanted guests.

[Appleyard]

During our summer cruising in the Med,we were bothered by mossies in a few places. Despite having fitted nets and using repellent,the odd one or two managed to get through and eat at our expense and discomfort. Has anybody experience of the 12 volt plug in thingys? do they work.?We have used candles and coils which burn ,giving off a vapour but I don't like them in the boat. Also,more seriously,we have had the odd rat on the boat at night,one managed to get downstairs and I had a helluva job getting rid of it. How to stop them? I have fitted empty water bottles to the mooring lines and anchor chain,but they still managed to get aboard,possibly by jumping from an adjacent boat. I have seen a plug-in gizmo which is claimed to repel the bu&&ers ,again, anyone used it?

 

[michael_w]

I found "Off", with DEET managed to keep the Florida mozzies at bay. Nothing else worked.

I've read somewhere that the only effective rat guards are made of steel and at least 2m in diameter. Hmmn, bit tricky to stow on the AWB.

Anchor off is the easy solution.

 

[bobgosling]

Ultra-violet zappers will not work with mozzies. They are attracted to CO2 , not UV. There is a type of zapper which uses a source of CO2 as an attractant but I can't remember its name at the moment. Will post if I remember it.

 

[pampas]

Watched three rats do a circus trapeze act and get on board when we were alongside at Arica, big as cats, caught two days later and sent for the long swim. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[davidpbo]

Avon Skin So Soft dry oil spray which can be bought on line here has quite a large following in Scotland and I believe with the forces as a Mossie deterent. Malibu Aftersun was also suggested and tried by us to reasonable effect.

Apologies if I have duplicated this post.

David

 

[Benbow]

[ QUOTE ]
Has anybody experience of the 12 volt plug in thingys? do they work.?

[/ QUOTE ]

Do you mean the mini heated pads that you plug in and put a little insecticide impregnated mat on? if so they do help but are not totally effective in my experience. But they are much nicer than the coils which create an irritating smoke and leave a horrible fine ash beneath them.

I have only seen mains-powered versions, I guess the problem with a 12V version would be a presumably significant power consumption.

 

[HenryB]

By far the most effective mossie device that we have used is made by RAID and is widely available in Greece and France, and probably elsewhere. It is odourless and (almost) silent.
The cartridge lasts about 6 weeks and the battery about 12 weeks.

Raid are part of the SC Johnson group, I can't find it on their UK site, but here's a link to it on their French site

http://www.scjohnson.fr/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=869

I can't remember the exact cost, but it's about 10 euros. We set one running each evening and use a net over the companionway, and no problems with mossies.

Regards,

 

[kandoma]

we use a 230 volt with very good result. We used to have a 12 Volt unit, but we gave up on it, because it used paper backed plates and we could not find them anymore. The one we are using now is based on a liquid and one filling is good for up to 1 month of use. We keep the 12-230 Volt inverter during the night on, the powerdrain is absolutly minimal.

Peter

 

[Appleyard]

Thanks Hendry..sounds the business! will get some next time

 

[Lakesailor]

Yes, there is a specific mossie repelant which I have mentioned several times on here. No-one seems interested though and keep harping on about Deet-related products and other marketing-led stuff.

If you are serious about never being bitten by a mossie again www.shoo.org

Order in the UK from Here

 

[Appleyard]

I am aware of their acrobatic ability...however ..question was how do we keep them off the boat ?

 

[tangomoon]

shotgun for the rats but don't aim below the waterline!

 

[rich]

+The RAID has worked very well, we have used it in France & Greece.

 

[happybonzo]

There is this piece of software and it does for lots of "things"
http://business.vsnl.com/bhagyesh/anti_mosquito.zip
and
Avon "Skin so Soft" - the Woodland Fresh version
and
Mosquito Milk - from Boots, allegedly works for Scottish Midges

 

[samwise]

We used a 230 volt plug in "thingy" on our trip South this summer and only got bitten when we forgot to switch it on. Of course you need shorepower to make it work, which means marinas, although the mossies did not seem to be a problem on the anchorages. Regarding lotions for people, Jungle Formula is still our first choice.

 

[rogerthebodger]

RAID is very common in South Africa and we do get very BIG mossies here

Tend to find candles were better when I had my yacht in Durban

 

[JKay]

Do you still get "peaceful sleep" cos that was brilliant stuff

cheers China

Joe

 

[jonayuen]

We keep a 12 v. version of a thing that takes tablets (Sterminio or something like that) in the boat, and it works well enough that it was nicknamed 'The Device of Death' last summer. I remember checking power drain with an ammeter and it wasn't that much. I also have a 220v version that has travelled to Ethiopia a couple of times, and I prefer it to the coils.

I don't think they work for rats, though....

 

[vyv_cox]

We use 240 V ultrasonic rodent repellers at home, where we had a persistent mouse problem. Since turning them on we have seen no sign of them. They are intended for all rodents, which I assume includes rats. Not much use outside a marina, but then I suppose the problem doesn't exist then anyway.

 

[pcatterall]

The mains operated ones worked well for us in our camper. SWIMBO is very sensitive to mossie bites so we are very carefull. I guess that even using an inverter wouldnt use too much juice??