[JKL]

Anyone found any method to keep birds (and their droppings) off your docked boat? It is our first year at a Marina but have seen some real messes on boat/covers there. Thanks for your feedback.

[Steve91T]

Originally Posted by JKL

Anyone found any method to keep birds (and their droppings) off your docked boat? It is our first year at a Marina but have seen some real messes on boat/covers there. Thanks for your feedback.

A lawn chair, case of beer, and a BB gun.

Fake owls? Airplane hangers usually have them, not sure how well the work.

[JKL]

that is funny!!! but not something I think I will try

[mikeyt]

The only fake owls that i've seen work to some degree are the ones that have the bobbing heads. Trouble is the birds get used to seeing them sitting in one spot after a while they'll start pooping on the owl. Unfortunately i dont think there is anything that is guaranteed to prevent the little darlin's from decorating your Mariah other than moving it.

[Hudson River Steve]

Sea Gulls hate having nearly invisible fishing line strung up. They will hit it once and never come back. Not sure if it works with other birds or if you want the look of fishing line around your dock.

[jchemotti]

I have a very good solution to the sea gull issue, which has taken me a few years to tweak and now it's pretty reliable...there's a product called "Daddi Long Legs" which is essentially made of wires with weights on the end, which fan out to form a spider-like arrangement...the gulls won't land because the base of the thing rotates in the wave motion of the boat and the breeze, and they are light and easy to rig up. We have 3 sets of the 8' on our 18' boat - - they attach to a weighted sandbag, which we then bungee or tie to one of the fittings on the side of the boat. Ours is out on a lake mooring, and I used to get so angry when I saw those darn gulls hangin out on it - that was before we purchased a new cover this year, which goes the entire length from bow to stern, and I was darned-sure that I wasn't going to have any bird messes on it.
It can be pricey - an 8'diameter is $47 online, plus about $35 for the sandbag, but after I tried and failed at all kinds of home-made gizmos, I realized my stress level was worth it...you can also get them in smaller sizes...
here's the liink: Daddi Long Legs®

One note of use...if you buy one and attatch it to a sandbag, install the screws from the bottom up, so there's no rubbing of screw-tips against your cover...

[ShabahZ280]

Here's a few I've seen on Lake Erie... They're basically wires that spin around to keep our friends from landing.

This one's wind powered.
Welcome Aboard to Gullsweep, the finest bird deterrent for boats

This one's motorized and powered by solar power.
Solar Powered Bird Repeller (Bird B Gone) - Dock Accessories


They work to a point, but it can't stop the "fly by" attacks... Your best defense is probably this: