Seagulls!

[BetweenBoats]

I could spend as much money having my boat cleaned as I do mooring it, given the amount of seagull crap it attracts.

Within 24 hours of it being cleaned, it is covered in excrement again.

Marina management say there is nothing they can do and leaves it to me to resolve with cleaning and old wives tales counter-measures.

Is that reasonable? It is generally accepted that marina management are absolved of a responsibility to create a clean and safe environment for boats and people?

 

[Blue Sunray]

I rather suspect that the marina management don't think that there is much that they can do given that seagulls are a protected species under the wildlife and countryside act (goodness knows why).

 

[sprocker]

I am rather lucky in our marina, in that the boats on each side of me never move, so they are covered in seagull crap. It seems that seagulls feel safe sitting on boats covered in their own crap, so they crap some more.

Selfish attitude I know, but while they are crapping on those boats, they are leaving mine alone.

 

[BruceK]

Colour may play a part in it. When I had burgundy covers they would be covered in guano overnight. Tan covers, nothing.

 

[Mike k]

I have tried all sorts , humming tape, rubber snakes, plastic owl and stull they come. Oh and that's on tan canvas so that colour preference could just be a welsh thing Bruce

 

[BruceK]

I feel your pain but don't burst my little belief bubble. I am finally enjoying some respite from the horrid things.

 

[KevB]

Try one of these on a short line tied to your aerial.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hawk-Kite-Bird-Scarer-Protect-Farmers-Crops-Comes-With-A-Free-Line-Rig-/161017411935?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item257d62b95f

 

[rafiki_]

I think Seagull Sh!te should be on PeteM's list of products for his ne business. I can't think of another substance that sticks as well as Seagull Sh!te. It is better than Loctite!

 

[salar]

Marina management say there is nothing they can do and leaves it to me to resolve with cleaning and old wives tales counter-measures.

Is that reasonable? It is generally accepted that marina management are absolved of a responsibility to create a clean and safe environment for boats and people?

Yes it is reasonable. I guess you must live a long way inland. Seagulls flying around is part of coastal life and what they do out of the stern end is something all boat owners have to deal with to some extent. We have a worse problem in September, the starlings gorge on blackberries and it upsets their digestive system, so they deposit purple runs all over nice white gelcoat.

 

[Questor]

Try one of these on a short line tied to your aerial.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hawk-Kite-Bird-Scarer-Protect-Farmers-Crops-Comes-With-A-Free-Line-Rig-/161017411935?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item257d62b95f

But does it work?

 

[Divemaster1]

But does it work?

Cheapest thing I found working when in a marina where seagulls were common (Peterhead), was simply a fishing line with a bit slack from each side of high point to bow ...

Observed Seagulls approaching and just as they were about to land, they saw the line and flapped off and circled, tried to land again, but backed off. Looked like they could not see the line from far, then thought it safe, only to discover something again when trying to land... Don't think they like uncertainty... so my boat mostly clean, others not so ... Now in a different marina, with no problems like that..

 

[lanerboy]

Our marina Dean and Reddyhoff in Weymouth have had a Hawk flying around a few times and I must say my boat is now a lot better than it was since the hawk has been here the seagulls seem to be staying away a little but for how long I am not sure

 

[gjgm]

But does it work?

Quite a few of these appeared a year or so ago locally. No one seems to be using them now, though the issue was starlings...

 

[Bojangles]

But does it work?

Seen one of these attached to a boat on a mooring in Loch Goil last weekend, it seemed to work. It even managed to "land" on the sea and I thought it would be knackered but 5 minutes later it was flying again, not sure how long it would last though?

 

[kmboxers]

Give these guys a go....

http://www.pestfix.co.uk

 

[Andy Bav]

A number of boats along our pontoon in Torquay used bunting from the local joke shop. I tried it and noticed a big difference. They also had a Hawk handler (?) wandering around in the summer, and every now and again play a recording of a bird in distress, I think.

 

[sunquest]

The hawk works fine for me and others in the marina. The secret is to take it down for a few days at regular intervals otherwise the seagulls get used to them.