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I have had problems with spiders all summer. My boat has been in a slip and from the beginning, every time I used it there would be tons of spider webs, and the little devils who spun them, in the rigging, in the lifelines, pulpit, pushpit, etc., and especially under the main sail cover. Fewer were inside, but they were there too. Anyone else have this problem? Any suggestions on how to cure it and avoid it?

Dryer sheets are supposed to keep spiders away. It worked for us last summer, but doesn't seem to be keeping them away this year. So either it was only coincidence that kept them away last year, or we've inadvertantly caused the breeding of dryer sheet tolerant mutants

Arachnophobia
Not the only prior discussion, but a pretty comprehensive one. Good title, too~!

Spiders are a major problem for us at our marina. We use a product called Spiderkill II, which is a clear spray that you apply about once a month. It stops about 95% of them from coming back. We purchase it at Bassetts hardware in Port Clinton, or at West Marine. I think this is the contact info (don't have a bottle here, just at the boat)

Certified Marine Products
4439 State Rd.
Clevleand, OH 44109.
(216) 739-0436
[email protected]

You need an insecticide.
Comes in 2 main categorie.
1. Systemic type.....as in a coating that you put on areas likely to be visited by them....they pick up the insecticide on their feet, and 'good-night-nurse'.
You should be able to get it in domestic spray packs and they will probably call it 'surface spray' or something similar.
2. Knock-down.....as it, when you spray them, that knocks them down. That too will come in a domestic spray pack, like your fly spray.

Spiders can multiply quickly, and when threatened ours literally cover themselve with dozens of their young, and flea to saftey.....so they are pretty mobile.

So try and locate the source of entry, and use surface spray there.
Next locate where they live and use knock-down on them 1st, then surface spray for those you missed.

Up till 6yrs back, we had a major problem with Red-backs....believe me, they are dangerous to humans.....the house was covered in webs....literally hundred and hundreds of these Red-backs...then along came a Indonesian Gheko (maybe 4") and the place is clean as a whistle. We have to put up with the 'clicking' noise of them, and they leave poop marks (like fly ones) behind the picture frames, but that's ok...no more Redbacks.
So, if you have a predator to spiders, and can tolerate their presence, then introduce them.
In the industry it is called an Intergrated Pest Management Program
You know, all clean and green and ergonomic etc etc.

Cheers
Phillip

Hi Phiilip

"redbacks" are those the ones that live in the toilet and climb up ,sting you on the cheek and your a gonner?

if i lived in Aussie,id have a dozen pet lizards

i have a daughter who will take a horse over some of the most dangerous fences that you are ever likely to see,on horseback she has real courage,but show the girl a spider and shes off the other thing that she is scared of is open water,guess she wont be coming sailing