Mosquito Net, or Whatever to cover the companionway .. question
 

Last summer, along the coast of Maine, I was anchored in a couple of spots
that had mosquito's the size of turkeys.

I want to be prepared this summer .::: what do you all do about the
companionway to keep out the mosquitos?

I have been thinking of making a couple of companionway sliding screens ..
haven't figured out the method yet.

Any help? Thoughts?

Mosquito Net, or Whatever to cover the companionway .. question
 

"NE Sailboat" wrote in message
news:1qIbh.9745$Kw2.4445@trndny05...
Last summer, along the coast of Maine, I was anchored in a couple of spots
that had mosquito's the size of turkeys.

I want to be prepared this summer .::: what do you all do about the
companionway to keep out the mosquitos?

I have been thinking of making a couple of companionway sliding screens ..
haven't figured out the method yet.

Any help? Thoughts?


Durned of those buggers ain't smart enough to come in through any cracks you
might leave between the screen and the frame. So I am thinking that using
Velcro would be the best bet -- but probably annoying to constantly open and
close.

Mosquito Net, or Whatever to cover the companionway .. question
 

Well if the mosquitos are that big.just leave your hatch half way closed ;)
But for regular mosquitos and no-see-ums, you can get the proper fabric from
Campmor.
I think a lot of folks just drape an oversize panel over the companionway
with fitted dowel rods to either support or weight the screen.

"KLC Lewis" wrote in message
et...

"NE Sailboat" wrote in message
news:1qIbh.9745$Kw2.4445@trndny05...
Last summer, along the coast of Maine, I was anchored in a couple of
spots that had mosquito's the size of turkeys.

I want to be prepared this summer .::: what do you all do about the
companionway to keep out the mosquitos?

I have been thinking of making a couple of companionway sliding screens
.. haven't figured out the method yet.

Any help? Thoughts?


Durned of those buggers ain't smart enough to come in through any cracks
you might leave between the screen and the frame. So I am thinking that
using Velcro would be the best bet -- but probably annoying to constantly
open and close.

Mosquito Net, or Whatever to cover the companionway .. question
 

In article ,
Dave wrote:

On Thu, 30 Nov 2006 21:54:05 GMT, "NE Sailboat" said:

I have been thinking of making a couple of companionway sliding screens ..
haven't figured out the method yet.

For a very few bucks, you can buy a netting cover for a baby carriage, and
unless you're unlucky it can be stretched over the companionway and top of
the hatch rather nicely. I use one of the hatch boards to hold the bottom in
place.

Second alternative: For the forward hatch, go to a camping store and pick up
one of those netting covers designed to be hung over a cot. Drape it over
the forward hatch.

Third alternative: At marine stores you can pick up of about $70 a
rectangular piece of netting with lead weights sewn into the seams on three
edges, and cords to tie the front of the netting to your grab rail.

I had my 12 year old daughter make one of these with cheapo chain,
outdoor fabric, and mosquito netting. It was very effective, extremely
cheap, and she thought it looked cool.

For the hatchway, we duct taped oversized mosquito netting to the fixed
top of the open hatchway which allowed us to get maximum airflow, close
the hatch from inside if it rained without mucking up the screen, and
easily exiting in case someone was having a gas attack ;-)

I don't like the idea of a hatchboard in the companionway because you
cannot leave the hatch cover open and I love ventilation in the summer
especially if I am sharing the space with another person.

Harlan

--
To respond, obviously drop the "nospan"?

Mosquito Net, or Whatever to cover the companionway .. question
 

NE Sailboat wrote:
Last summer, along the coast of Maine, I was anchored in a couple of spots
that had mosquito's the size of turkeys.

I want to be prepared this summer .::: what do you all do about the
companionway to keep out the mosquitos?

I have been thinking of making a couple of companionway sliding screens ..
haven't figured out the method yet.

Any help? Thoughts?

On my previous boat I had hatchboards that had screens in them. They
were essentially frames to hold the screen. The new boat has a
powerboat style "patio door" so we were able to put in a roll up
screen door. However this won't work for most monohull hatches.

On a overhead hatches, we've added a mess of these and really love them:
http://uk.oceanair.co.uk/da/10495

We got ours at:
www.SSFabricProducts.com

about $150 and well worth it.

Mosquito Net, or Whatever to cover the companionway .. question
 

Besides the screens, you might think of carrying PIC coils or something
similar. I carry them and have a little holder that allows you to place
them anywhere, even hang them up. Not only will they repel bugs, they
will kill any that slipped in past your screens. Available at most
camping stores and on the web as well.

Mosquito Net, or Whatever to cover the companionway .. question
 

In article ,
Dave wrote:

On Thu, 30 Nov 2006 20:18:19 -0500, Harlan Lachman
said:

I don't like the idea of a hatchboard in the companionway because you
cannot leave the hatch cover open and I love ventilation in the summer
especially if I am sharing the space with another person.

Dunno what your hatch boards look like, but I've got two. The lower one
holds the bottom of the netting in place.

Dave, I should have specified I was talking about a sailboat. The
vertical board which is (almost) always removable can easily be replaced
with a cut to size-framed mosquito net. However, in order to accommodate
fat boys like me, most sailboats also add a horizontal slider to
facilitate access to the cabin. Inserting a screened mosquito netted
hatch board into this opening would be problematic for the reasons I
wrote. Hence, my use of oversized netting taped over this space (and as
another brilliant poster noted, held in place in the cockpit with winch
handles).

harlan

--
To respond, obviously drop the "nospan"?

Mosquito Net, or Whatever to cover the companionway .. question
 

Several good suggestions from others so far, but on Itchen we've found that
mosquitoes are not the only problem when cruising SW FLorida and the
Abacos - no-see-ums can be a big nuisance around dusk.
After buying mosquito netting from a sporting goods store and draping it
over all open hatchways we found it 100% effective against mosquitoes BUT
next to useless against "no-see-ums". On the suggestion of a store clerk we
went to a local JoAnn's Fabric store and bought a few yards of voile --
costs next to nothing.
This was 100% effective against everything and still allowed decent air
circulation. Saleslady commented that she had been selling a lot of it
lately to cruising folk! .Another very effective tip, again from a Florida
sporting goods store clerk, was to get a can of pyrethrum-based spray-on
mosquito killer and spray it lightly on portlight screens and the mosquito
netting. When the no-see-ums land and try to crawl through the screen mesh,
they die. As for burning mosquito coils, they are helpful -- but if used in
excess down-below in a closed space they are not good for your health.

Scott


SNIP I want to be prepared this summer .::: what do you all do about
the
companionway to keep out the mosquitos?

I have been thinking of making a couple of companionway sliding screens
.. haven't figured out the method yet.

Any help? Thoughts?
SNIP

Mosquito Net, or Whatever to cover the companionway .. question
 

http://www.vtarmynavy.com/mosquito_netting.htm


NE Sailboat wrote:
Last summer, along the coast of Maine, I was anchored in a couple of spots
that had mosquito's the size of turkeys.

I want to be prepared this summer .::: what do you all do about the
companionway to keep out the mosquitos?

I have been thinking of making a couple of companionway sliding screens ..
haven't figured out the method yet.

Any help? Thoughts?

Mosquito Net, or Whatever to cover the companionway .. question
 

NE Sailboat wrote:
...mosquito's the size of turkeys...
...[make] companionway sliding screens...

I've done this twice: boat 1 on Great Lakes: when way offshore in an
insect hatch, you know where all the little corpses go:-)
boat 2 in SW New Zealand, it's sandflies dn there, serious bad news.

both companionway openings approx 2ftx1ft high.

1. black walnut varnished, bronze screen from (I think) Jamestown Distributors,
once frame assembled and fitted to boat, we routed out a suitable groove on the face.
pressed in the screen with a suitable tool, covered with 1/2 round walnut facing
approx 1/2 inch wide, tacked on w/ little bronze nails. Mucho work.

2. sandwich 2 layers 1/2 inch ply, synthetic fabric screen from Mitre10==Builders'Square
layer one screwed onto layer two thru the screening, w/ ss wood screws: ply
painted white. Not as beautiful: much less work.

lovely consequence is watching the little buggers clambering around on the outside,
you on the inside w/ ack-ack handy: flying insect spray.

Mosquito Net, or Whatever to cover the companionway .. question
 

Tom Lightbody wrote in
:

lovely consequence is watching the little buggers clambering around on
the outside, you on the inside w/ ack-ack handy: flying insect spray.



When you all get those screens and chemicals ready, I have the perfect
place for you to test your installations and defenses all summer:

29-05-26N by 80-56-25W, the marina at Inlet Harbor, which is a long way,
by the channel markers and ICW, from Ponce Inlet, FL. Coming from sea
down the inlet, go South with the markers and N up the Ponce De Leon Cut
until you run aground on its northern end. (Some nice guys in bassboats
will help haul you off...they did us.) From your grounding, look to the
East and you'll see the marina down another sand banked channel you'll
only drag, occasionally at 5'.

Spend the night on the face dock, and go to the great party at the
dockfront bar. Beautiful girls, unless the wife is along, of course.
You'll notice at the outdoor bar there are cans of OFF liberally
distributed for the patrons, probably to prevent stampedes to the parking
lot as the wave of Florida's Finest come in waves like German bombers to
the Blitz.

Now, about midnight, as you are eaten alive because the bar has closed,
reducing the available blood supply nature needs, turn on your cabin
light so you can see the installed mosquito screens. Thousands of huge
mosquitoes will be on the screens from spring to fall testing your
defenses. PRAY it doesn't RAIN! The locals warned me. Clear and warm
was just awful!

Now, if you have no leaks, whatsoever, these mosquitoes will be on the
OUTSIDE of the screen trying to get IN. Our defenses were abyssmal on
Lionheart. There were 80% MORE mosquitoes, already gorged, their sacks
full of blood, trying to get OUT! The screens were merely confusing
their EXIT.

Post your results so we'll know you're still ALIVE or if you need us to
send replacement blood, if you're too weak to go back to sea, where it's
reasonably safer.....

It doesn't say so on the maps or Google Earth, but the locals call this
place "Mosquito Bay" for a reason....

I slept on a table in the marina office after the security guard gave me
a giant OFF sprayer that failed and took pity on me. I have trouble
sleeping while being EATEN ALIVE!

Larry
GOD, DON'T SPRAY INSECTICIDE AT THEM! IT ONLY ****ES THEM OFF AS THEY
RADIO FOR REINFORCEMENTS!!

Mosquito Net, or Whatever to cover the companionway .. question
 

Screening and nettings work to some extent. The no-see-up netting I put
on all my portlights a few years ago is now degrading and falling
apart. Bummer... that was a lot of work. I keep PIC coils on board for
when it really gets bad. Those are the little green coils that smolder
for hours, releasing something that both repels them and kills any that
got inside. I bought a metal holder that allows them to be placed
anywhere, even hung from the overhead. Probably not the solution for
all times, but really works when things get bad. You can find them at
pretty much any camping store, or on the web I'm sure.

Mosquito Net, or Whatever to cover the companionway .. question
 

In article 1qIbh.9745$Kw2.4445@trndny05,
"NE Sailboat" wrote:

Last summer, along the coast of Maine, I was anchored in a couple of spots
that had mosquito's the size of turkeys.

I want to be prepared this summer .::: what do you all do about the
companionway to keep out the mosquitos?

I have been thinking of making a couple of companionway sliding screens ..
haven't figured out the method yet.

We've used velcro & netting for a decade or so. Getting in and out is a
bit of a PITA, but the necessary "flick" to get it closed from the
outside is fairly easy to learn.

We have two "grades": Mosquito/fly & no-seeums. The larger mesh gives
slightly better ventilation. BTW, we sometimes fly the wind scoop with
the screen on the forward hatch, tough to do well with the weighted
screening.

The weighted variant is easier, cheaper and faster, but it's not as
tight a seal.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/