OK guys…need advice on how to prevent kitty-cats (and other critters) from getting into the cabin area of the boat.
Here is the problem. Last spring as I was doing the spring cleaning in the cabin of the overnighter, I noticed a large amount of cat hair all over the place. I had suspected the cats were getting into the cabin but couldn’t figure out how. I double checked the door latches and such and seamed to be in good working order. So, this past Sunday while it was raining cats and dogs I decide to clean the cabin of the Sailfish. Again lots of cat hair. During a break in the rain I went and got the shop vac to clean up the cat hair. I locked the doors before I left. Got back and opened the door and much to my surprise one of the kitties greeted me :? . I stood there trying to figure how the hell she got in there. Perhaps she slipped in unnoticed while I was busy cleaning. So I put her outside, closed the doors, and started back to cleaning. Then I hear tiny feet. Next thing I see is the kitty as she emerges from behind the cabinet on the port side. What the Hell :shock: ? So I run my hand up behind the cabinet and find out that the area between the hull and cabin is open. So I walk back to the cockpit and look up under the side rail and see an opening between the hull and walkway around the cabin large enough to get your arm in. To confirm my suspicion I ran a long piece of wire from the cockpit along side of the hull until it stopped. Went back into the cabin and yep….there was the wire :shock: . So it appears that I have solved my mystery of the cat hair and it appears that Grady White never thought of the problem of small animals finding their way into the cabin area. And if a cat can get in so can other critters of that size (or smaller) including some unwanted slithery ones that are found down here in the south (water moccasins). Cats are not too big of a problem. But the slithery critters may not like the idea of me meeting up with them in the cabin.
Now I’ve got to figure out a way to keep critters from getting into the cabin. I was thinking of using some stainless steel mesh wire, cutting it, and then bending it to shape. Then, either Epoxy or fiber glassing the edges of the mesh wire to the inside of the hull and walkway so it is ridged. The area would still be open but would provide a barrier to stop unwanted guest shacking up in the cabin. What do you guys think?
Here is the problem. Last spring as I was doing the spring cleaning in the cabin of the overnighter, I noticed a large amount of cat hair all over the place. I had suspected the cats were getting into the cabin but couldn’t figure out how. I double checked the door latches and such and seamed to be in good working order. So, this past Sunday while it was raining cats and dogs I decide to clean the cabin of the Sailfish. Again lots of cat hair. During a break in the rain I went and got the shop vac to clean up the cat hair. I locked the doors before I left. Got back and opened the door and much to my surprise one of the kitties greeted me :? . I stood there trying to figure how the hell she got in there. Perhaps she slipped in unnoticed while I was busy cleaning. So I put her outside, closed the doors, and started back to cleaning. Then I hear tiny feet. Next thing I see is the kitty as she emerges from behind the cabinet on the port side. What the Hell :shock: ? So I run my hand up behind the cabinet and find out that the area between the hull and cabin is open. So I walk back to the cockpit and look up under the side rail and see an opening between the hull and walkway around the cabin large enough to get your arm in. To confirm my suspicion I ran a long piece of wire from the cockpit along side of the hull until it stopped. Went back into the cabin and yep….there was the wire :shock: . So it appears that I have solved my mystery of the cat hair and it appears that Grady White never thought of the problem of small animals finding their way into the cabin area. And if a cat can get in so can other critters of that size (or smaller) including some unwanted slithery ones that are found down here in the south (water moccasins). Cats are not too big of a problem. But the slithery critters may not like the idea of me meeting up with them in the cabin.
Now I’ve got to figure out a way to keep critters from getting into the cabin. I was thinking of using some stainless steel mesh wire, cutting it, and then bending it to shape. Then, either Epoxy or fiber glassing the edges of the mesh wire to the inside of the hull and walkway so it is ridged. The area would still be open but would provide a barrier to stop unwanted guest shacking up in the cabin. What do you guys think?
At least that is outside.
