Insect Screens...

sailorgirl

sailorgirl

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Having been eaten alive whilst at anchor in Sines, Portugal last night I need some help to get a peaceful nights sleep. Mossie nets for the main hatches are a WIP with net and stuff ready to go when I next find 240v and can get the sewing machine out but what about porthole screens? Has anyone made them, if so how?

I was thinking of buying some of the wire mesh they sell for insect screens for patio doors etc if I can find it somewhere then using a template, cut out shapes to fit in the open porthole and cover the sharp edges with tape but any suggestions welcome.

S
 
Hi Sailorgirl
Have heard of people using that GRP woven type matting as an insect screen for portholes, maybe would also work for deck hatches if you can trap between hatch frame and boat
 
Perhaps not so useful where you are now, although there may be some local equivalents. In B&Q we bought a sheet of cloth mesh flyscreen with self adhesive velcro strip that we attach to the inside of hatches. Not only does it keep insects out, it traps an incredible amount of dust and debris, filtering air into the boat.
 
We've made up screens for all the hatches and portlights out of some heavy guage plastic netting. Seemed and fitted with elastic, they're held in place by the elastic going over a small screw at each corner. Not he best looking arrangement but cost effective and whilst not 100%mossie proof they do cut down the swarms.....
 
vyv_cox said:
Perhaps not so useful where you are now, although there may be some local equivalents. In B&Q we bought a sheet of cloth mesh flyscreen with self adhesive velcro strip that we attach to the inside of hatches. Not only does it keep insects out, it traps an incredible amount of dust and debris, filtering air into the boat.
Click to expand...

The above is so good it really works. We have it at every port light and hatch. it is available in most big supermarkets on your travels and may be available in hardware shops.

Peter
 
My wife made up some for our boat after buying some material from a shop somewhere in Galicia. We asked for something to keep out mozzies and bought yards of white stuff that could equally do for a veil. The mesh might be slightly too big for smallest of beasties so my wife used it doubled, this means that holes will be offset & small airgap (seems to keep everything out).

I think that she just cut an oblong, folded it in half and stitched a fabric tape (doubled over) on the edges. It's held in place with Velcro and works very well. Cost was negligible. So tape, material and Velcro seems to be cheap, effective, easy to setup and store.

We also made up one for the main hatch. It has tiny sink plug type chain stitched around the edge and 2 pieces of dowel stitched in one half. Just a matter of laying the dowels across the hatch and pulling them apart. The chain falls into the space beside the hatch slides and seals the top section. The other half hangs down over the entrance. Works well but is a little fiddly to setup (unlike the ones held with velcro).
 
sailorgirl said:
Having been eaten alive whilst at anchor in Sines, Portugal last night I need some help to get a peaceful nights sleep. Mossie nets for the main hatches are a WIP with net and stuff ready to go when I next find 240v and can get the sewing machine out but what about porthole screens? Has anyone made them, if so how?

I was thinking of buying some of the wire mesh they sell for insect screens for patio doors etc if I can find it somewhere then using a template, cut out shapes to fit in the open porthole and cover the sharp edges with tape but any suggestions welcome.

S
Click to expand...

really sympathise with you plight

a suggestion: make up the screens for the portholes an hem them. find some curtain wire - the stuff that was used for net curtains or a mouse for getting wires through.

put some in the hem so the flyscreen "springs" into place and stay put
 
geem said:
Ours are plywood frames cut out to fit in the portlight holes with mozzy net stapled onto to the plywood. Simple and effective
Click to expand...

Same here. As made by a previous owner. For the saloon hatch I used a bit of net curtain with curtain weights; it was a brute to sew. The companionway has a double mosquito net from Millets.

Very satisfactory standing on the inside looking at the little beasties trying to get in. An electric tennis racket and a torch are very effective at catching them at night. Think of anti-aircraft searchlights!
 
Brilliant - thank you all! With all the various ideas I think I can go shopping in Morocco (we arrived in Rabat this afternoon) and find something that will do. I have yards of mossie net on board but it wasn't sure how to support it in the porthole... now I think I can find something in the souk that'll work.

And the Skipper has always fancied one of those electric bats... I might let him treat himself to one
 
We anchored in a bay a couple of months ago when it was about 38C below during the day and still above 30C around midnight. I dug out a new and untested cockpit light with 15 LEDs. As soon as it was on I could see that the LEDs were very blue as spotted a few mozzies around it. I sat down with my Kindle and looked up to see a cloud of the beggars. Time to test HT the electric bat. Bloody hell, it was like waving a sparkler and I had a mini-firework display. It died down after 10 mins. until I thought to tap the awning. Off again for another 10 mins. Never did settle down to read but it passed the time. Pretty certain I'll be reborn as a gnat for sake of Karma.
 
The photo reminded me of our solution when in Spain. A double bed sized mozzie net as sold for travel in the tropics works well over the bimini poles, and tucked down well at the sides! I have also used it over the door to our cabin, so that the other hatches were open wide to let in air. We did find that our fixed nets over the hatches reduced air flow when it was very hot!

No such problems now we are home, though it works for wasps too!
 
+1 we used the stiffer sort of mossy netting and a very thin ply frame these will store in very small place even under a mattress they are used in the companion way top. Over the hatch we use flexible net weighted down with a circle of heavy rope sewn to the edges.
 
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