This time I’m sharing a project developed by friend and fellow Charlotte Power Squadron member Doug Carlson. Doug and I often get together for breakfast at a local diner, where the conversation usually turns to the subject of how we should use our boats more often but can never seem to find the time.
One of the problems with leaving a boat at the dock is that many different birds, mostly big birds, use it as a rest stop and leave their “calling cards.” In addition to being an unhealthy problem, bird guano can harm the gelcoat, upholstery and other fabrics. Some birds have hard shells from small mollusks and crustaceans in their droppings, which can do serious abrasive damage to the gelcoat.
Doug has been experimenting with ways to keep the birds off his boat and has come up with a solution that is both uncomplicated and capable of withstanding wind and sunlight. He uses holographic tape, which scares the birds but isn’t very strong and can be hard to fasten. He came up with a unique means of holding the tape so it stays flat and doesn’t tear. Here’s how he tells it:
I have been having trouble with bird mess on my boat when tied up to my townhome’s common dock. It is on a tidal creek in the South Carolina Low Country, and all manner of shorebirds roost and mess on anything near the water. I tried to come up with something that wasn’t objectionable to the other owners but was objectionable to the birds. I think I found a solution that works pretty well.
Supplies
I purchased a yellow plastic “For Sale” sign to use as a base. On Amazon, I found 2-inch-wide holographic Mylar tape, called Irri-Tape, which wildly reflects sunlight and crinkles noisily in the wind to deter birds. I also used several lengths of PVC pipe in two different diameters to fit in my two rod holders and my burgee holder, PVC pipe caps to fit, stainless steel screws, large barrel swivels with solid rings, small swivels, monofilament fishing leader, crimp sleeves and a canvas snap kit.
Instructions
I cut lengths of PVC pipe to fit in the rod holders on either side of the aft end of my 18-foot center console and cut a piece of smaller-diameter PVC to fit in the burgee staff holder on the bow. I cemented a cap on each of these pipes and screwed a stainless steel screw in the end to hold a large barrel swivel on each pipe.
Next, I cut three 2-inch-wide strips from the plastic “For Sale” sign. From the strips, I cut bow tie shapes, which roughly form isosceles triangles when folded in half. I punched a hole on the apex of each triangle and installed canvas snaps on the other four corners: male on one side, female on the other.
I put a loop of monofilament leader through the holes in the apex and threaded it through the split ring of a swivel with an interlock snap. I used a crimp sleeve to secure the leader.
Then, I cut a length of Irri-Tape (whatever length you’d like to dangle below the triangle), laid it in the open end of the plastic triangle and secured it between the snaps that I installed. The snaps go through the Irri-Tape to hold it in place. I clip the interlock snap to the barrel swivel screwed to the PVC pipe. One strip on each pipe is all it takes to create noise and flashing light.
Project (almost) complete
When I place these bird deterrents on the boat, the wind and sunlight keep the birds away. Because I leave my Bimini folded and covered when the boat is docked, I discovered that I need to install a similar device on top of my Bimini cover. I think I will use some hook-and-loop strapping with a similar PVC pipe design, but I haven’t come up with the final design yet. –Douglas L. Carlson
David H. Osmolski of Charlotte Power Squadron/27 has been repairing boats since high school when his first boat, a canvas-covered canoe with cedar ribs, leaked in gallons per minute and required constant repair.
