Bug Repellent while cruising

I anchor out a fair amount when cruising and often find buggy anchorages. Wondering if anyone has a good technique for keeping the bugs away. I personally don't like to coat myself in bug repellent and was looking for something more like a citronella candle or another form of repellent to keep an upper deck area bug free for cocktail hour or grill time. Any thoughts?

Ted

I've used a ThermaCELL with decent results. No smoke.

I'm "the guy" in any group that gets eaten by bugs. I'm fairly exothermic.

On our East Coast trip this year there was only one night in NC where the mosquitoes were bad enough to hide inside the cabin and fire up the AC. It sounded like a beehive outside the screens. We hate bug spray. Even so we keep a can of Natrapel at the helm but have never needed it. Sorry, not much help but sympathize.

Well 100% posted on bug spray. However, we use it if we are outside. One of the only one that actually works is "Bens." And yes we do use the 100% DEET.

https://bens30.com/

If not, then maybe one of the propane units????

Northern Spy said:

I've used a ThermaCELL with decent results. No smoke...

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We’re a believer in ThermaCELL. Two summers ago in Maine we tested in a back creek. It worked for us.

I like those coils that go inside the ceramic burners, wife likes Citronella candles. Yankee Candle also has some repelling candles that actually smell ok.
But you also need one or two of those tennis racket looking bug zappers. Those are amazing at clearing out an area quick. I use one to clear out the aft cabin at bedtime.
Also fantastic for spiders.

Thermacell works for us in NC. Put it out 15 minutes ahead and it clears the area up to like 10-15 feet.

Besslb said:

Thermacell works for us in NC. Put it out 15 minutes ahead and it clears the area up to like 10-15 feet.

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Another vote for ThermaCell. Works great in NY!

I use a thermocell as well while hunting fishing or boating. They do work so long as it’s not too windy. My wife always buys a couple citronella potted plants in the spring an sets them around our seating area. They smell nice if nothing else.

A cautionary tale of citronella in bear country...

I saw a documentary about someone who rescues and rehabilitates black bears. His method was pretty hands-on. Some bears recognized him years later as adults and would enthusiastically greet him when they met in the woods.

In one scene, a lady in the film crew who was holding the boom mic had put on citronella bug spray and an adult bear was rubbing all over her to get some of the scent onto itself.

After seeing this, I decided never to wear citronella bug spray in bear country!

MurrayM said:

A cautionary tale of citronella in bear country...

I saw a documentary about someone who rescues and rehabilitates black bears. His method was pretty hands-on. Some bears recognized him years later as adults and would enthusiastically greet him when they met in the woods.

In one scene, a lady in the film crew who was holding the boom mic had put on citronella bug spray and an adult bear was rubbing all over her to get some of the scent onto itself.

After seeing this, I decided never to wear citronella bug spray in bear country!

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WAIT! she lit a candle, what does that have to do with the bear rub.

Citronella candles. Is it just here or has anyone else noticed they do not work as well as they once did? Nugs land on the edge, then fly off unbothered.

I like the ThermaCELL, even works outdoor with little wind.



But I'll take the repellent all over me anytime before I'll let them bite me... just shower before bed.


Now, what's a good spray to get them out of the cabin? I use an ordinary fly spray I get at Home Depot... fair. I like to run with all the doors and windows open and often the flies congregate inside.


Also, I'll use Permethrin. But the 30% stuff and mix it for spraying. It's excellent for bugs, no seeums misquetos, etc. Off the boat I use in in the yard all the time. Works very well, but need o dry to be pet friendly. Also, soak my clothes in it for bug repellent clothing, a lot cheaper than buying clothing already protected.

Thermacell and skin so soft diluted about 50/50 with water.

The OFF coil and the Thermacell both use Allethrin, a synthetic pyrethrin. Might be OK for an enclosed space but not for an open area.

I tend to use DEET for midgies, greenheads, mosquitos, deer flies, etc. If I am dealing with ticks or fleas I will use permethrin on my clothes.

My wife won't use DEET, she lathers on oil of lemon eucalyptus. She gets attacked by mosquitos.

Soo-Valley said:

WAIT! she lit a candle, what does that have to do with the bear rub.

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As an example:

https://www.amazon.ca/Mosquitosh-Ci...26Z8Z43R2T3&psc=1&refRID=90GXM7S7Y26Z8Z43R2T3

I have two large Citronella plants on my porch every summer. They really do the job for bug control. Sometimes I bring them inside for the winter, sometimes I just compost them, they grow very quickly. I don't have any plants on the boat, we are often away for a week or more at a time. Also we often run into some pretty decent waves on Lake Michigan and don't need the flying accessories.

Someone, I don't know who, must have used a bug spray, possible with Deet, on my flybridge. Just about ruined my MFD. Still readable but annoying. I hate Deet and refuse to use it but figure it must have been a guest. But use that poison with caution.

pete

In Yucatan, traditional repellant is to smudge copal sap which smells much like church incense. Same results via commercially available copal resin incense using charcoal disks made for hookahs. Does create a fair amount of smoke and is not for indoors. Works well.

Thanks for the tip, ordering a thermacell as part of my wife's birthday gift. We get bugs at sunset in a couple of our favorite locations. Hopefully this will help

Have you tried any of the synthetic pyrethrins (chrysanthemum juice)-lasts longer than natural I'm told? Its what those mosquito fogging companies use in yards on a monthly basis.

Bug guys told me to mix it up in a spray bottle of water, spritz around the exterior of wherever you don't want to be pestered. I did this ocean side on the back deck of our condo in Aruba with great results, but had to do it daily there. Just a light misting is all that was needed.

It didn't seem to stain anything and I didn't have to wear it. It dries up quickly on fabrics, wood, and plastics without a noticeable residue. I purchased from a Do-it-Yourself bug store.

I’ve got a simple, non-chemical approach. It depends a lot on how large your sitting area is.

I use two high velocity fans positioned in a manner to keep the mosquitos away from you. I find it pretty effective.

we've had good results with fans and skin so soft on midgies/no seeums.

will be ordering thermocell based on this thread. will also try citronella on cottage porch.

I have one. It’s pretty awesome.


https://youtu.be/WRgjLXrUebw

What works EVERY time is Bounce Fabric Softener sheets for your dryer. Pin one to your shirt or just stuff one in your breast pocket. In the cabin, pin one to each screen to keep out even the no-see-ums. It will smell like a French whore house, but will keep anything BUT pasture flies out. If you are on the Southern ICW where you pass thru range land where horses and cows graze, the horse flies are vicious and will remove flesh. For these spray a high DEET content repellent on the under side of the Bimini. The flies are used to hanging upside down on the belly of an animal. They love the underside of your Bimini and if they cannot find a place to rest they will go away. I saturate the cloth with the highest DEET content spray I can find and it lasts for several days till I have to respray.

Centinela candles attracts bears hope you anchor way out!

dryer sheets ....yes. we found that if you wipe your screens with them, it will stop noseeums from coming in.

Only saw one reference to PIC coils (or Off coils). They work well even in a breeze as long as the coil is burning upwind. And unlike ThermaCell, you can see where the wind is blowing its effect.

Screen

Screen enclosure is worth every penny, a fan out the passage opening and cheap$ dryer sheets. Then it works, regardless of a reasonable wind. The wind is what was the problem with the smoke types. A good wind does help keep Miskitos at bay.

1 cup Stale beer (cheep stuff) 1cup blue mouthwash 1cup Epsom salt mix it completely put it in a spray bottle and spray around where you are sitting.

Therma cell and vitamin b patches learned the patches from an old timer in Roatan sounds crazy but it works for all bugs never get bit