Seagull scarers/deterrents- any suggestions???

[sparkie]

Hi all, never had a problem when I had my sailboat, but now I'm motorised (still on the same mooring) the local seagulls have discovered my new boat and are rapidly covering it and the canopies in S--T.. Very annoying, and not healthy. I've trawled through the threads on here and other sources on t'internet but there doesn't seem to be any consensus on what works best. Some of the commercial devices are quite expensive, so before investing I need to know if any of them are any good, or if cheap and cheerful (e.g. plastic bags tied to string etc??) work just as well. Any help gratefully received. Cheers.

 

[Seastoke]

Rubber snake

Hi all, never had a problem when I had my sailboat, but now I'm motorised (still on the same mooring) the local seagulls have discovered my new boat and are rapidly covering it and the canopies in S--T.. Very annoying, and not healthy. I've trawled through the threads on here and other sources on t'internet but there doesn't seem to be any consensus on what works best. Some of the commercial devices are quite expensive, so before investing I need to know if any of them are any good, or if cheap and cheerful (e.g. plastic bags tied to string etc??) work just as well. Any help gratefully received. Cheers.

 

[sparkie]

Rubber snake

Really? Thought that was a seaside myth? Have you tried it yourself....???

 

[Hurricane]

Really? Thought that was a seaside myth? Have you tried it yourself....???

Yes, a rubber snake frightens the ?hit out of them.

 

[Elessar]

Really? Thought that was a seaside myth? Have you tried it yourself....???

I watched a seagull pick up and carry off a plastic snake from a nearby boat.

 

[Elessar]

Hi all, never had a problem when I had my sailboat, but now I'm motorised (still on the same mooring) the local seagulls have discovered my new boat and are rapidly covering it and the canopies in S--T.. Very annoying, and not healthy. I've trawled through the threads on here and other sources on t'internet but there doesn't seem to be any consensus on what works best. Some of the commercial devices are quite expensive, so before investing I need to know if any of them are any good, or if cheap and cheerful (e.g. plastic bags tied to string etc??) work just as well. Any help gratefully received. Cheers.

They poo where they see poo as they see it as a safe place and they are habitual.
Keep the boat clean and scare them away for a week or so and it should subside.

They took to my old sport boat landing on the canvas. It was really bad.

I cleaned it and stayed on the boat then as they landed I hit the underside with force. After a few days they went elsewhere.

Never solved the pigeon problem when I kept the boat in Richmond though.

 

[NoviceRod]

I tried one of those ultrasonic emitters, but 43% of the population can actually hear them. Neighbouring boat owners were disturbed, so I abandoned the use of it. It did not have much effect on the seagulls!

 

[sparkie]

I tried one of those ultrasonic emitters, but 43% of the population can actually hear them. Neighbouring boat owners were disturbed, so I abandoned the use of it. It did not have much effect on the seagulls!

Yes I was thinking of trying one until I read the reviews. No problem with neighbours but if it doesn't work then not much use.

 

[cherod]

A lazer pointer scares them away , maybe persistent use over a few days might permanently deter them

 

[The Q]

They poo where they see poo as they see it as a safe place and they are habitual.
Keep the boat clean and scare them away for a week or so and it should subside.

it doesn't deem to the help with the XXXXXXXX geese on our quay heading at the club..

 

[skipmac]

In the NE USA where seagulls and especially cormorants are a big problem a lot of boaters use the whirly gig things and I never see bird poop on them. Sold under the brand name Bird B Gone but may be available under other names. BIRD-B-GONE Repeller 360°™ Bird Repellent | West Marine

But Ellesar is right. Once the birds have identified a spot they want to return and it's really difficult to run them off once they've picked a spot. I finally had to leave a mooring when the local cormorants started roosting on my boat.

 

[Farmer Piles]

Many use similar ones down here in Cornwall. They seem to work well. Mine did until I trod on It!!

 

[Boathook]

I watched a seagull pick up and carry off a plastic snake from a nearby boat.

I've seen seagulls and other birds perched on a plastic owl in the past. Where I'm moored people seem to use a variety of items to keep the birds off. Ideally you need to change the method on a random basis.

 

[Daydream believer]

one of these or I could loan you my mother in law

 

[Farmer Piles]

Is she with an NHS dentist?

 

[stephen_h]

I hoisted a rubber snake up the mast to scare the Starlings away that perched on the rigging.

Didn't make a blind bit of difference, the same with spinning CD's.

 

[sparkie]

Thanks for all the input so far. It seems to confirm that there's no accepted solution. I'll keep on looking......!

 

[Daydream believer]

Is she with an NHS dentist?

She was --but she ate him, for accusing her of having fishy breath

 

[Martxer]

Anyone tried something like this?
Peregrine Hawk Kites, World Leader in Bird Control Products

 

[Gumpy]

I had problems with Shytehawks at our marina well inland.
I rigged a short 4ft mast in the middle of the boat and ran a couple of strings of cheap plastic bunting the length of the boat.
Result was no more Shytehawks on my boat, so far