Bird mess on boat

[BetweenBoats]

This year, every time I leave my boat for two weeks, I come back to it covered in seagull mess/poo/guano.

Not just a few splatters, but I would say foredeck and canopies 25% covered.

Marina says it’s not there responsibility - they can’t control the seagulls.

Is this ok? I think not, I think that they should do something - is this the policy of most marinas?

Won’t name the marina, let’s say they are a south coast uk marina

 

[Assassin]

Shotguns are very effective.

 

[Greg2]

Seagulls dumping all over your boat is obviously a nuisance but not sure what you would expect the marina to do?

 

[lynallbel]

Scaregull, or the other one with the redflags whos name i cannot remember.
Both work well

 

[Momac]

is this the policy of most marinas?

Not most marinas . All of them !

I guess some locations have more of a bird problem than others.
Ours had a large population of Canada Geese at the weekend.

 

[nicho]

One marina we were berthed at brought a guy with a falcon (or similar) to scare away the starlings that were depositing purple crap all over our boats (removed by a cotton bud soaked in Milton). The starlings simply stared the falcon out, chirping the bid equivalent of "come on then if you think you're hard enough" and kept on crapping!

 

[Portofino]

Get a boat without guardrails and a radar arch .

They perch somewhere else :encouragement:

Problem solved

 

[BruceK]

Seagulls dumping all over your boat is obviously a nuisance but not sure what you would expect the marina to do?

Well hell, surely it's the job of all the marina staff to stand around the boat yelling Shoo! Shoo!

As mentioned Scaregull works well as does monofilament netting. Sometimes moving the boat to another berth in the marina works wonders too as they find somewhere else to roost. Out of interest what is the colour of your canvas? Empirical evidence seems to show certain colours attract more and certain repel more. We've all seen that one car in the carpark that seems to have been the sole target for aerial bombardment. Usually silver. I have a dark charcoal grey canopy that they seem to love and had a tan coloured one that was guano free. Similarly burgundy attracted them and green repelled them. Just local observation, whether there is any truth in it who knows. Desperation leads to all sorts of beliefs.

 

[jrudge]

Seagulls dumping all over your boat is obviously a nuisance but not sure what you would expect the marina to do?

I suppose it depends on the extent to which it is a problem. If really bad then to protect their own business I would imagine they would have bird scarers etc just like an airfield does. There are well trodden paths of bird control if you can be bothered - which in the instance means if there is a compelling case to the marina of if they are simply content to have their client who pay them large amounts of money have their expensive toys S*** on!

The Op can also install his one scaring stuff, or just move to the med which will be cheaper and happier all round! Holidays in southampton darling? I cant imagine the look or words I would receive in return!

 

[benchmark]

 

[RobWales]

Based out here in Puerto Mogan Gran Canaria I was having major problems, not with gulls but pigeons which are numerous here in the Port!
They sit on the boats and just constantly dump!!!
First deterrent I tried (big plastic owl) placed on top of my flybridge bimini worked.....well for 2 days then they used the owl as a perch....!!!
2nd deterrent has been in place a month and not one bird will venture near....
A couple of CD's strung on clear fishing gut connected between my vhf aerials is all it takes.....the perfect solution.
Anyone want to buy an owl?

 

[Seastoke]

Don’t know who told. Me but a false snake does it for me £3. Worth a try ,I also have a laminated photo of Kawasaki

 

[Croftie]

Get a boat without guardrails and a radar arch .

They perch somewhere else :encouragement:

Problem solved

Tell the ducks that who make home on my bathing platform.
I love duck after they have been in the oven but not the ones that s*it on my boat..

 

[stelican]

Based out here in Puerto Mogan Gran Canaria I was having major problems, not with gulls but pigeons which are numerous here in the Port!
They sit on the boats and just constantly dump!!!
First deterrent I tried (big plastic owl) placed on top of my flybridge bimini worked.....well for 2 days then they used the owl as a perch....!!!
2nd deterrent has been in place a month and not one bird will venture near....
A couple of CD's strung on clear fishing gut connected between my vhf aerials is all it takes.....the perfect solution.
Anyone want to buy an owl?

Is the owl going cheep

 

[longjohnsilver]

Netting is your friend.