Spring Surprise

So opened up my Crestliner for the first time this year. Looks like my project just got a lot bigger. :-(

Not sure if that’s rats or squirrels. I’ve caught/dispatched about 20 squirrels in the last 2 weeks with a Squirrelinator. The thing works awesome and I’ve put a serious dent in the rodent population on my property. Highly recommend that trap.

Oh boy. I hope it didn't munch on the wiring.

I have to admit, I've been looking forward to seeing the tri-hull again. But not this!

Boat mites! I've seen it before. Not a good thing.
Kidding aside, that's effin awful. Sorry to see the added work to your project. You may want to get a hungry cat.

Squirrels make GREAT hot-wings. Really! Pop them in the head with a pellet gun, skin, then take the 4 leg quarters and parboil in salt water for a few minutes, then treat like any other hot wings. Delicious game-day snack!

I suspect the culprit was one of those little bandits with the mask. 6 of them were observed in the backyard not long ago. We have plenty of squirrels, but they stay in the trees when not foraging. No rats, no chipmunks, can't see mice getting up in there, but guess can't rule it out.

LaqueRatt said:

I suspect the culprit was one of those little bandits with the mask. 6 of them were observed in the backyard not long ago.

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Time to lock and load!

Try to keep your aim above the water line.

Actually, I'm getting that same advice a lot. Methinx though it would be hard on the boat. Man, I cannot believe they managed to squeeze in next to the motor. Got it cinched up even tighter now.

Why oh why did they have to go after my seats?! They weathered 50 years of use until I got my hands on the boat and now they're trashed. Sometimes think I'm a boat jinx. Only good thing is it would have been much worse if this happened after replacing/reupholstering the seats.

Anybody got any other ideas for keeping critters out? I put some moth balls in there yesterday. Pretty sure coons don't like them. If it wasn't a coon, it was probably the neighborhood possum, but he's not much of a climber.

thill said:

Squirrels make GREAT hot-wings. Really! Pop them in the head with a pellet gun, skin, then take the 4 leg quarters and parboil in salt water for a few minutes, then treat like any other hot wings. Delicious game-day snack!

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I may have to report this post

LaqueRatt said:

Actually, I'm getting that same advice a lot. Methinx though it would be hard on the boat. Man, I cannot believe they managed to squeeze in next to the motor. Got it cinched up even tighter now.

Why oh why did they have to go after my seats?! They weathered 50 years of use until I got my hands on the boat and now they're trashed. Sometimes think I'm a boat jinx. Only good thing is it would have been much worse if this happened after replacing/reupholstering the seats.

Anybody got any other ideas for keeping critters out? I put some moth balls in there yesterday. Pretty sure coons don't like them. If it wasn't a coon, it was probably the neighborhood possum, but he's not much of a climber.

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Coons are tough to keep out they have opposable thumbs and can learn to undo latches on things. We had problems with them getting into the chicken coop when we first moved to WV. A Rottweiler and a 12gauge fixed my problem.

Moth balls should work, especially if contained under a cover.

Coons are SO cute, but SO destructive! We had a family get into our chicken coop and they killed and injured something like 18 birds. Didn't even eat them, just killed and bit the legs off some. It was a horrible, pitiful sight. Now, they are not welcome around here. I trained Rocky to specifically target coons, and we have not had a single incident since.

Hey Boosh, don't knock it until you try it. They really DO make great hot-wings.

You would never know where they came from after they are processed. It's the processing of any animal that is the not-fun part... We raise our own food, but I always hate processing day. But doing it yourself teaches you to never waste food, be it garden, honey or livestock.

thill said:

Moth balls should work, especially if contained under a cover.

Coons are SO cute, but SO destructive! We had a family get into our chicken coop and they killed and injured something like 18 birds. Didn't even eat them, just killed and bit the legs off some. It was a horrible, pitiful sight. Now, they are not welcome around here. I trained Rocky to specifically target coons, and we have not had a single incident since.

Hey Boosh, don't knock it until you try it. They really DO make great hot-wings.

You would never know where they came from after they are processed. It's the processing of any animal that is the not-fun part... We raise our own food, but I always hate processing day. But doing it yourself teaches you to never waste food, be it garden, honey or livestock.

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Any Coon recipes?

Around here the marmots are the most destructive rodents. Don’t see many coons or squirrels and when I do see one they get a quick introduction to the PSP air rifle.

By the way the Washington State animal is the marmot. It’s beyond me why any state would have a rodent for a state animal.

Still Afloat said:

Around here the marmots are the most destructive rodents. Don’t see many coons or squirrels and when I do see one they get a quick introduction to the PSP air rifle.

By the way the Washington State animal is the marmot. It’s beyond me why any state would have a rodent for a state animal.

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Airgun guy here as well, they make awesome pest control devices !

Actually, we sort of enjoy the coons......at least up until now! Living in the woods you have to make peace with the varmints. The only ones I don't tolerate are moles and chipmunks. Have very effective traps for both.

As for squirrel for dinner, I give it a thumbs up. IF you know what you're doing. In my younger days my hunting buddy had a gorgeous blonde wife. When we brought home a bunch of squirrels after we dressed them, she prepared and fried them. Oh man, that stuff was good. When we were sitting around sucking down brews she'd bring bowls of it out of the kitchen. Even those who were a bit reluctant to try it said it was great. Years later I called her up for her recipe which involved an overnight marinade. I'm not much of a cook I have to admit. My results were not good. Couldn't even eat it.

I've told him many times what a fool he was to let that gal get away.

Back on topic, has anyone used that self adhesive leather/vinyl repair material that costs just a few bucks? Wonder if that might get me by until I can scrape up some new seats.

If you have coons you will soon have bears. Provided that you are in bear country. Both are cute but, I prefer to keep them away from my property.

thill said:

Squirrels make GREAT hot-wings. Really! Pop them in the head with a pellet gun, skin, then take the 4 leg quarters and parboil in salt water for a few minutes, then treat like any other hot wings. Delicious game-day snack!

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I like them breaded, fried and then simmered in orange juice.

Coons look cuddily, but if you ever have an opportunity to pet or touch one, their "fur" is like bristles on a broom and the babies constantly chew on everything in sight, including you hands and fingers. It never even occurred to me that they'd want to get into my boat. Sometimes I feel like such a doofus.

You guys got me hungry for some squirrel now, but truthfully those little buggers don't concern me much. The worst they do it dig a lot of holes in the yard in the fall when the nuts are falling.