Rats and damage

[catmandoo]

Had a rat locked on my boat for 4 weeks . not a pleasant sight afterwards .
Any ideas about deterring rats ? I already have practical experience in disposal and do not want to repeat the event .
For information they eat plastic , washing up liquid, leather, cable,wood and can penetrate beer cans also leave little packages all over the place. They are also good at enlarging finger holes on doors etc - the little reamers!!!!
I am all chewed up about it .

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[Stemar]

Never had rats, but had a squirrel on my boat once - I'm still trying to figure out how it got there - a swinging mooring 100 from the mud at low tide, 1/4 a mile at high.

Anyway, back to the subject. Rats are smart and curious, so unless you can block every hole over a centimeter in diameter, you've got to keep them from climbing on.

They'll climb any rope and any vertical surface they can get a grip on - rough sawn timber is an open invitation. a vertical, well-varnished surface should defeat them, but I wouldn't trust unfinished planed wood. Oh, and they can jump quite a long way!

The only bits of a fibreglass hull that I'd consider proof against climbing rats would be the overhangs, beyond the vertical, as long as there's a good distance.

Good luck!

BTW, if all else fails there are rapid knock-down snacks you can get for your little pets. Some of them seem to dry the little darlings out, so they don't stink. Don't put these where birds* might find them, though.

Good luck!

*Except seagulls ;-)

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[catmandoo]

have seen cones on boat hawsers but don't think they are rat proof. I also
don't have a cat .The first mate does not like them and I would not leave
one on the boat all the time .

By the way I used a sticky compound to catch the rat and instructions
recommend smearing same around the access areas . Not practical however as
it would further annoy the 1st mate and my boating ventures would be
finished for ever .

What about ultrasonic devices? Surely there is some one out there who
successfully repelled boarders? Must have a proven means to convince my
crew to come back.


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[chas]

On bigger ships we used to put rat guards on the mooring lines. These were discs about 2 ft in diameter which were fitted on the lines. They seemed to work, except in Georgetown, Guyana, where the rats were so big that they were able to stretch over the guard with back feet on the line one side and front feet the other. Defence was an OD with a pickaxe handle by the fairlead.

They (the rats, not ODs) can swim and climb up anchor cable as well.

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[tom52]

One of the things Sunsail dont feature in their brochure is the problem with rats in the Ionian. Especially at Spartahori ( spelling ?).
The locals used 2 litre lemonade plastic bottles with the bottom cut off. This was threaded on the mooring line. A knot in the line held the bottle in the appropriate position (inside the narrow neck of the bottle which prevented it slipping further).
The bottle was still free to spin. The longer and smoother the plastic bottle the better. Rat steps on bottle... bottle spins.... rat swims


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[catmandoo]

Thats along the lines I was thinking of . I will try to take it further with something to attach easily without threading through line eg clip on and put it to the test . Plastic lemonade bottles OK though for starters

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[tom52]

Whatever the fixing method bottle must be able to spin and be smooth so as not give any purchase for rat to grip and be long enough not to be bypassed.
Good luck !

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[Jean]

Had two such visits over recent years, once to sails stored in garage over winter, jib well chewed up, plus, more serious, last January, rat found its way into motorhome (chewed through bulkhead wiring under bonnet to gain access, harness affected had immobiliser and alarm wiring in it too). Caught it OK but not until after it had done around £4000 worth of damage. Fortunately, the insurance paid up but initially rejected the claim. This all happened within around 7 days and it looked like a bomb site so best bet is try and keep them out

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