Seagulls have targetted my boat

[Mike k]

it started a month or two ago but in the last fortnight I have been bombarded with what seagulls do best . They break muscles on the topsides and perch in numbers ( up to 8) at once and do there stuff.

Looks like only two of us are affected really but a quick walk down the pontoon and nothing,,, clean boats no gulls gathering on them.

Is there any proven method to get shut or should I be moving berth?

thanks in advance

Mike

 

[rafiki_]

How often are you on board? Birds tend to go for the boats that don't see much action.

 

[powerskipper]

there is a kit that fly s on a fishing type pole and looks like an hawk that seems to work, no idea where you get it I'am afraid.

 

[kanajobe48]

Throw bacon onto the boat next door

 

[Grampus]

We have our fair share of gulls and their gifts but a boat close by has fitted a Deck-Guard that seems to be effective. ( http://www.deck-guard.com/buy_online.html ) They ship world wide.

 

[bigwow]

No seagulls our side, just sodding starlings!!

 

[Robg71]

Not sure if its politically correct to suggest 36grams of Eleys finest no4 shot.....

 

[longjohnsilver]

Gullsweep is what you need.

 

[ari]

Not sure if its politically correct to suggest 36grams of Eleys finest no4 shot.....

Don't know about the politics, but it's certainly not legally correct - amazingly they're actually a protected species!

http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/gardening/unwantedvisitors/gulls/thelaw.aspx

 

[pegasus1]

Gulls recognise a soiled area as somewhere safe to roost.
A Gullsweep solved my problems overnight.

 

[ari]

A Gullsweep solved my problems overnight.

What do you use during the day..?

 

[Seashoreman]

I had this problem just for one year and used Humming Line (?) cheap and effective. Bought from a chandlery (Seamark Nunn). Bit of a faff to set-up and may annoy residential neighbours but as I said, worked for me

 

[krbp32]

You can buy a large or medium sized owl (bird of prey ) from one of the online chandlers.

 

[longjohnsilver]

You can buy a large or medium sized owl (bird of prey ) from one of the online chandlers.

The gulls like to use those as a perch, the larger the better!

Along with a gullsweep I also use the most reliable method, netting. Not pretty but better than cleaning seagull **** off covers.

 

[nickd]

I purchased few plastic toy snakes
I leave one on the boom cover, one on cockpit tent and one on foredeck
Seems to work

 

[sarabande]

those little laser pointers, beloved of lecturers, are very useful for indicating possible problems on your mast to fellow sailors. Be careful to avoid pointing them at seagulls, as the beam frightens them.

 

[Floating Preferably]

Yes this is a real and can also be an expensive problem. Seagulls do not like movement by anything that flaps except other seagulls, so strings of ribbons or anything that moves in a very light wind will help. Netting works, but yet another bit of work every time you leave your boat. Repeat disturbance is the best thing, but if you live miles away from your boat it may not be easy.
LJS is spot on, seagulls lke convenient perches, and plastic Hawks are just that!

 

[rwoofer]

those little laser pointers, beloved of lecturers, are very useful for indicating possible problems on your mast to fellow sailors. Be careful to avoid pointing them at seagulls, as the beam frigtens them.

Responsibly positioned statement

 

[oGaryo]

there is a kit that fly s on a fishing type pole and looks like an hawk that seems to work, no idea where you get it I'am afraid.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BIRD-SCAR...oods_Kites_Kitesurfing_CA&hash=item27e2f0d872

 

[caiman]

I solved this problem by spraying fairy liquid all over the boats topsides before leaving.Particularily in the areas where the gulls were roosting.My thoughts are that the soap effected the oil in their feathers when pruning.Either that or they disliked the taste.Whatever the reason,the gulls concerned left after a short while.In the meantime the fairy made cleaning easier when returning to the boat.An owl worked for a short time but the gulls soon got wise.
Hope this helps.
Cheers