Bugs on the water

'Nother noob question. I look forward to lots of nights at anchor. I also look forward to minimizing air conditioned nights by following the seasons to take advantage of cool nights and warm days. That means open windows and time on deck. How do you folks avoid bugs when the wind dies? Don't they have a way of ruining those perfect anchorages?

Screens on Windows and ports.

For a screen on your main door to the sleeping areas, just go to the store and buy about 8' of fiberglass screen material and a couple feet of Velcro. Put some 3" pieces of one side of the Velcro around your door frame. Put the matching pieces of Velcro on the screen so that they match up to the locations of the pieces on the door frame.


When you want to leave the salon door open, just start at the top and attach the screen/Velcro to the Velcro pieces on the door frame. Work your way down to the bottom and BINGO, you have a screen door for around $20.

We have a similar arrangement, only they are fixed to the door frames via press domes. Of course if you go out on deck, then lightweight long sleeves and trousers and mossy repellant sprays are the way to go. Also anchor further out from land if possible.

And you gotta have one of those battery operated bug zappers that look like a tennis racket. Functional and fun.

jleonard said:

And you gotta have one of those battery operated bug zappers that look like a tennis racket. Functional and fun.

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Oh yeah...and one of those. The smoke nicely when struck...

Besides screens or running the A/C turn off outside lights when possible. One night when I left them on one the next morning the decks were littered with thousands of tiny moths (non biting but still made a mess) it took buckets of water to wash them down the scuppers.

Peter B said:

We have a similar arrangement, only they are fixed to the door frames via press domes. Of course if you go out on deck, then lightweight long sleeves and trousers and mossy repellant sprays are the way to go. Also anchor further out from land if possible.

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We imbedded magnets in the trim around each door, then sewed magnets at matching locations in a lining around the screen. Very easy to deploy and remove.

When outside, we use mosquito coils, which are usually effective.

Bugs are a way of life in our cruising grounds.

They will find you! They will suck your blood! You will become one of them!

There is also these, many available if you search the net.


Trademark Home Auto Open and Close Magnetic Screen Door - Walmart.com

Ive been wondering if these would work while not underway

http://m.basspro.com/ThermaCELL-Mosquito-Repellent-Outdoor-LED-Lantern/product/10215996/

Gmarr said:

Ive been wondering if these would work while not underway

ThermaCELL Mosquito Repellent Outdoor LED Lantern | Bass Pro Shops: The Best Hunting, Fishing, Camping & Outdoor Gear

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I've eyed the roll up screen approach for our cabin in the woods as bugs are inevitable there. And ThermaCell works well, but not as well as Pic Coils. Both are influenced by the breeze, but Pic Coils produce a visible stream you can see and position more accurately.