Electric Fence

[Princess52]

I have a confession to make...... I loath seagulls.

Last autumn I moved my new v52 from one marina to another because of the little bast.... Crapping on my boat. I even forfeited 3 months marina fees.

This year in my new marina they are now (trying to) nesting on the roof or bow sun pad. I also have a dozen empty muscle shells each time I visit the boat .I am having to wrap the boat up like a bloody Christmas tree with tape flapping all over the place.

So I have been thinking about a small electric fence similar to one I would previously use to protect my chickens from foxes. Now I am thinking about protecting a Princess from seagulls.

I could insulate the hand rail on the roof with insulating tape where it comes into contact with the wire. I would then run an small electric fence wire from one side of the roof to the other, connect it to the energiser and run the earth wire into the water. Because the roof is fibreglass if the wire rests on it there should be no issue.
I appreciate seagulls are protected but non lethal deterrent should also protect me wasting hours of my life cleaning off seagull shite.

Technically would I have any issues?

 

[kashurst]

have you tried a big fake snake on the foredeck?

 

[andrewbarker]

I don't really understand the concept. If the birds landed anywhere else on the coachroof, surely they could crap at leisure, have a snooze and then b****r off.

I'm also not sure, even if they did contact the wire, whether the GRP would earth their feet on a dry sunny day.

 

[BruceK]

I might give this a go. http://www.gullstop.co.uk/balcony_guard_ultrasonic_bird_deterrent.asp
There are more expensive units and presumably more effective but I they are audible and may get your neighbours backs up.

 

[wipe_out]

I think the Seagulls are loathed by most boaters who want to keep their boats nice and clean..

The "Christmas tree" solution worked for us fairly well but some of the braver ones still land.. The "Gull Sweep" type things are a good option too but does need a bit of wind to keep it moving..

 

[Lon nan Gruagach]

Forget dangling the earth wire in the sea, it will have no effect on a dry day.
What you will need is 2 wire close to each other, one the zap and one the earth, electric fence posts are good for this.
get some fence posts and cut them to sections that hold 2 wires each, attach these to all perching places and comb-over style across any flat surfaces.
You will also need electric fence warning signs* to keep on the right side of the other beak.
One of the lower energy zappers should do the trick, but you will probably want the on/off switch away from your now Frankestiens lab of a boat.
* do not attach the signs while the zap wire is live, even though the signs are plastic, the legend paint conducts (and turns the air blue)

 

[Princess52]

Surely the water is an earth? When I set up electric fences on the old farm the wire was one big circle through the fibreglass posts which essentially insulated it discharging into the ground. The zapper was then grounded/earthed which would/should be achieved in salt water, hence when touched/landed on (even if only the wire) they would get a shock. The wire is essentially nylon string interwoven with thin stainless steel wire.

I agree signs would need to be displayed but given the height of boat it would/should not be accidentally touched.

The idea being is to break the habit of nesting on my boat because any attempt would be unpleasant. I would see it as a relatively inexpensive strategy to educate the local population of seagulls. Once educated I doubt it would be needed again.

It's a little radical but I wonder if it has been tried before?

 

[BruceK]

Watch the annodes.

 

[Dave_Seager]

Surely the water is an earth? When I set up electric fences on the old farm the wire was one big circle through the fibreglass posts which essentially insulated it discharging into the ground. The zapper was then grounded/earthed which would/should be achieved in salt water, hence when touched/landed on (even if only the wire) they would get a shock.

The seagulls would need very long legs to have their feet in the water when touching the electrified cabin top. It might work better for flamingoes.