Boat storage pest prevention

Protecting your property and keeping pests out of your fishing boat is something to think about year-round. Insects and rodents are relentless and, given the chance, will invade a boat in search of shelter, food, and water.

I know anglers who experienced boat damage from mice chewing on electrical wires and gnawing foam flotation. Wasps and ants are other pests you don’t want in a boat. Carpenter ants have a big appetite for wood and can wreak havoc in a boat.

The good news is, straightforward strategies used to prevent pests from invading your home or cottage also work for protecting your fishing boat. This starts with keeping the boat clean.

Post-fishing cleanup

I’ve become extra vigilant about vacuuming up crumbs and cleaning spills since my kids started joining me on the water. If a child leaves the dining room floor littered with food scraps at home, expect their food-to-mouth accuracy to be worse in a rocking boat. I’m also guilty of leaving chip and trail mix carnage on the deck. Get rid of this stuff, pronto.

“A once-over with a cordless vac is part of my post-fish routine and will keep my boat's resale value up.”

De-stinkify

Take a few minutes with soap and warm water to wipe clean fish slime, blood, or excrement. The same logic applies to keeping live wells spic and span, which is also a critical practice for preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species.

Cover and seal

Make it difficult for pests to get inside the boat. Cover it with a tarp. When charging batteries, keeping the electrical cord off the ground gives ants and other bugs one less option for crawling into your rig.

Products that help

Scent-heavy products can deter insects and rodents. Putting dryer sheets in boat compartments and placing a bar of Irish Spring soap in the bilge area are two measures I’ve had recommended. There are commercial pest-control products, but keep in mind these may not be safe for pets and children. One friend whose dock happens to be under the branches of an ant infested pine tree keeps ant traps in his boat.

Use these measures when the boat is at the dock, in your driveway, or long-term storage. And if you're not big on cleaning, at least check those compartments once in a while. You never know what life form is in there.

Tips

• Don’t assume shrink wrap will ward off pests. I learned this the hard way a couple years back, discovering mice droppings and sunflower seed stashes throughout my rig after it spent the winter outdoors. Mice will chew up life jackets left in compartments.
• Spraying peppermint essential oil and water solution is a trick a buddy of mine uses to keep spiders and other vermin away.

Originally published in the Spring 2025 issue of Ontario OUT of DOORS

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