A friendly deterrent to feathered friends
Issue 95 : Mar/Apr 2014
We recently took a marina vacation — a break from worrying about shifting winds and cold fronts while anchoring out. Since we rarely spend any time at marinas, this was a novel experience. The weather turned a weeklong vacation into a month, giving us an opportunity to meet other boaters, see how the other half lives, and exchange our anchoring woes for marina woes.
One problem we rarely have when anchored out is birds on the boat. The boat’s motion, activity on deck, and our two cats generally keep them away. But, at the marina, the deck was more frequently clear for feathered visitors while our cats were locked inside due to their wanderlust and we spent a lot of time socializing. Luckily, others had already solved this problem in a simple way.
Of the dozens of bird-proofing techniques we have seen on boats, not one has been as easy to install — or uninstall when you want to go sailing — as this one. Birds frequently land on the lifelines, but we learned that monofilament line will deter them. We tied a piece of fishing line the length of the boat from pushpit to pulpit, threading it through the eyes of each stanchion and pulling the line taut. In this position, the monofilament is invisible and will not interfere with sailing the boat. To make it work as a bird deterrent, we placed clothespins along the lifelines to raise the fishing line a few inches above the lifelines. Birds cannot land on the monofilament and are thus unable to sit on our lifelines. When we are ready to go sailing again, we remove the clothespins and the fishing line rests invisibly on the lifelines.
For those who must leave their boats unattended for extended periods, this method will help keep your decks clear of the calling cards so frequently left by flying visitors. It takes minutes to install and seconds to get the boat ready to sail again. If only every boating problem were so easy to solve!
Connie McBride and her husband, Dave, have been cruising for 12 years, most recently cross-country in a van. They are now back on Eurisko and readying her for the next adventure. Keep up with their travels at www.simplysailingonline.com.
Thank you to Sailrite Enterprises, Inc., for providing free access to back issues of Good Old Boat through intellectual property rights. Sailrite.com
