Mice in my boat...how do i keep them out?

[floppingcrappie]

Today I put the boat away for the winter, but this past weekend I took the boat out one last time only to find my battery wires to the starting motor had been chewed on and were shorting. I replaced them and motor runs like a top now, but I would appreciate any ideas on how to keep them out of the boat? (I am using mouse traps)

["G"]

Bait blocks put some in storage compartments and some in the battery area. You can find some that are water resistant. Local farm supply stores have them or you can go to Doityourselfpestcontrol.com

[FurFlyin]

Put a cat in the boat.

Sorry. Single feed rait bait and/or sticky traps.

Single feed just means they'll consume a lethal dose in one feeding. You don't want the more common and cheaper multi feed baits.

[floppingcrappie]

Put a cat in the boat.

Sorry. Single feed rait bait and/or sticky traps.

Single feed just means they'll consume a lethal dose in one feeding. You don't want the more common and cheaper multi feed baits.

HAHA, but then I'd need a litter box.

[jdfisherman]

Here's a few ideas. Look for a product called cab fresh at local farm supply or online. It is mesh bags filled with natural repellents to keep mice away. It has a strong odor but doesn't smell bad. I use these in combine and other equipment I store on farm for the winter as well as my boat. Another is buy some peppermint oil (grocery store near the spices) and pour some onto cotton balls and place in your boat. I always cover my boat in the winter with a sheet of clear plastic instead of the cover and also prop all my storage doors open just a bit so I don't create a dark hiding spot for mice during the winter. I remove life jackets and and anything I think a mouse could chew on or make a nest in and store that stuff in plastic totes.I have a couple buddies who do the same and even remove their engine covers so mice can't get under them and have a heyday with engine wiring. Always seemed to me the more light and exposure something has the less mice like to bother it.I use poison as well but I just put it in plastic bait station boxes around my shed and one box right underneath the boat.

[jaxsprat]

I go to store and buy Clothes Dryer sheet, 50-100 to a box, I get ones with the strongest scent like violet spring etc, and place these scattered thru out the boat . Mice& rats do not like the odor and stay out. Or u could dump about a dozen moth balls in a old pie tin and place about six of these in boat. Been using the dryer sheet for years and never had a problem, put two boxes in for a 17 foot boat.

[Ketchn]

Moth balls work but you have to freshen them every so often as do the clothes dryer sheets ,they to have to be freshened after a while ....I do know they will reek havoc on a boat and have 2 different buds that got electronics tore up by them . We think one of the culprits was squirrels btw

[Crestliner08]

Have used dryer sheets for over 10 years now, to protect boat and snowblower from mice and other critters. Inexpensive and they work.

[huntinslabs]

From a camping forum so i have no first hand knowledge but they claim cotton balls soaked in peppermint oil wrapped in aluminum foil will keep them away.

[Cane Pole]

Mousetrap placed on a 5 gallon bucket lid (or anything similar) loaded with peanut butter placed inside boat. This gets the every time. Squirrels have also been a problem. Shooting them solves the problem. Use air rifle, 22, 357, or 155 Howitzer.