Birds in the Cabin?

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fellinger

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I have a 95' 272 Sailfish. For the past season or so dumpster chickens aka pigeons have been getting into my cabin from the port side under the shelf. Has anyone experienced this problem? How did you solve the problem and keep these rats with wings out of your boat?

Fred
 
Wow, first time I heard that one! You always hear about mice, and such, but I can't say I've ever heard about pigeons gettin' in!

I guess the first recommendation would be to stop docking the boat in the alley behind Joe's Diner!!! :)

Can you access their "pathway" either from the cabin side or the cockpit side? What about some wire mesh (chicken wire?) secured in place with expanding foam? Maybe the foam, by itself, would be enough? Stainless or brass wool might be even better since it wouldn't rust over time. I do know that steel wool (regular/brass/SS/whatever) keeps mice out since they won't chew through it.
 
Hi,

I have not, but I'd put out some poison for them (rat may work) and get rid of them.

Reminds me of when I was a kid and they tried to build a nest under the eves of my parents house. I waited until the coldest night and then brought out the hose connected to a feed in the cellar. I uses a fire hose like nozzel and blasted them and as they flew away soaken wet, they droped from the sky like softballs - frozen solid. Never had the problem again.
 
On my boat, I had animals getting into the cabin. It turns out that on the 208, there are open paths to the helm and then the cabin under the gunnel. I got some chicken wire mesh. I cut and fitted cardboard templates and used them to cut the metal screening leaving the edges about 1/2 or so bigger then the cutout. The cut the mesh leaving the edges spiked. The screens then were jammed into the under gunnel openings and have been stopping the pests for many years.The sharp ends of the edges and the extra size allow the screens hold well.
I don't know if your construction is similar but maybe my approach might help.
 
I actually race homing pigeons so I don't have the hatred for pigeons like others. Get a hawk or owl statue and put it on the boat and move it around. That should keep them away.
 
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Thanks guys. I think I will try to get some plastic construction fence and put it under the helm.
 
Pigeons eat seeds. Do not put rat poison in there . It is just a waste of money. I would find the points of ingress or egress and fix the problem there. You could introduce a fiesty house cat but then you have cat issues. Lol. The fake hawk and owl ideas are good too.
 
Hi Fellinger,

On my 208, I had a problem with a bird that kept making nests in my battery box. Same route that Seasick described—under the gunnels. Solved it by plugging up the path. So, I think that something like what Seasick recommended should work. But, then be ready to anticipate what they’ll try next!

I also really like Fishtales’s approach!
 
So far, I have solutioned no animal intrusions into the boat using a simple radio. I keep it in the cabin playing just loud enough to barely hear it when on the outside of the boat.
I was having cats and possums coming into the boat, not sure if birds were trying before, but so far now over last 3 years, no problems.
 
This works for me to keep birds off my boat: Bird Deterrent for boats
It is a mesh based device that prevents birds from getting on to the boat. Takes a little getting used to but now it takes me about 5 minutes to set it up and take it down and stow it. There is more info for using it on power boats here: BDS200 bird deterrent for power boats Good luck.
 
I had a problem with bats, not birds. I just blocked the space under the gunwales with pieces of pool noodles that I had laying around in the boat. I had been using them for holding snelled hooks with long leaders. They are nice and flexible, filled up the spaces nicely, and stay in place.
 
Good idea. The foam will stop bats ( but not squirrels. or raccoons)
 
Had the same issue on my 208 shoved small fender bumpers up there on a angle. Issue resolved.
 
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