Teakguard vs. duck poop

[88Skier]

It appeared to have simply washed off, but there is still duck poop micro organisms lodged into the teak.  Now everytime you sit on the platform you will be sitting in a sea of duck poop offspring........

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It's called Duck Itch. It's a nasty rash that will break out all over you. I don't sit on the platform.

[obski]

It appeared to have simply washed off, but there is still duck poop micro organisms lodged into the teak.  Now everytime you sit on the platform you will be sitting in a sea of duck poop offspring........

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Hey, now you have to realize that I keep the boat in the lovely Willamette River, where they just announced today that there was another raw sewage overflow into the river so that you should keep your head out of the water. When one is contending with that, what's the big deal about sitting in some micro leftover duck poop?

[88Skier]

My proto type Duck Guard that I was sure would work has been a miserable failure. Not only are the ducks not annoyed by the fishing net, I think they think its a hammock. obski, if you are dealing with a few poops on your platform, count your blessings. I am dealing with many on the platform and currently a few every morning on the cover. As the ducklings get bigger, there will be poundage on the cover. They're too small to get up on it presently. I have a new idea and will start using that when I get it built. I will let you know how that works.

[obski]

Good grief. I am counting my blessings that I can at least count the piles, which it sounds like more than you can do.

I applied some more Teakguard and the deck is looking ok.

My kids think the ducks are "cute".

[JasonK]

The bottom of my platform is 3 inches above the water. The ducks don't get on it. Try a 2x6 across the back so the ducks have to climb/jump or fly onto it. ?? 88skier, how do the ducks get on top of your boat cover? Landing? Make a big 3 blade fan that spins in the wind. Then they couldn't land.?? just an idea.

They get on the mastercarft next to me though. His full cover isn't tight enough, the ducks still sit on the covered platform because it sags enough.

[88Skier]

My kids don't think they're cute because they get to clean it off when I'm not around.

I use teak oil and it doesn't protect against ducks as well as Teak Guard. Teak Guard seals the wood and the oils from duck s--t don't penetrate. My platform had been sanded down and looked like new 2 weeks ago. It's got nasty stains all over it now.

[88Skier]

The ducks swim and hop up on the platform. Then they hop up on the boat. Without the platform, I don't think they could get on the boat. I'm going to try a whirly gig, but they're pretty much not offended by much. I swear, if I'm out in the boat around dusk, when I get back to my mooring, they're hanging out, waiting for me to put my boat away.

[chathamsolutions]

...

I'm getting tired of scrubbing off the duck poop every time I use the boat.  WARNING:  The following may be disgusting to some - it was to me.  The last time I was at the boat there was the now usual piles of poop and one big glob of duck diarrhea.  Yuck.  The bad of that was it looked pretty disgusting.  The good was that it washed right off when the swim platform was submersed in the water just by stepping the platform.

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I swear, if I'm out in the boat around dusk, when I get back to my mooring, they're hanging out, waiting for me to put my boat away.

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He, he, he.

It sounds like you two are just about ready to try the old Duck Man/Andy go get 'em slow pitch softball approach.

BTW - if your platforms stay out of the water, ever think of using something like fly tape? You know the stuff that you put down and flys stick to it. They even have it for rodents. A duck wouldn't get stuck in it, but would sure get annoyed. Maybe keep a piece of plywood at your dock the size of your platform that has the stuff on it already...

[88Skier]

That's a great idea. A few calms night contending with that and they might just move on to the Moomba up the lake. I've seen the rodent stuff and it is sticky. I'm trying it.

[doughickey]

Somebody sent theri Canada Geese back to Canada.

I came up to my summer spot last week. Arrived to find a good 40-50 "sets" of Goose droppings on my sand beach. Not just the lumps... but the dark oozing stuff that stains the sand all around. Took me over an hour to relocate said geese-fecies and associated sand.

The next morning I watched as 4 adult geese escorted their 17 younge goslings (or whatever those darn poop-makers are called) onto the beach. I ran down yelling.... and they scampered into the water.

So.... I pulled the old owl out of the closet, mounted it on a base, and placed it in the sand by the water's edge. (stands about 16" tall.)

The next morning I watched as this same group came to investigate. They swam right to the shore.... and stared at the owl.... who was staring right back. They swam around a bit in the water... but left to find another outdoor toilet. never touched the sand. Also, never ventured over to my BU at the dock.

Hey, there's a new (old) Moomba on the Lake just like 88 described. Maybe that's where they've gone.

The owl seemed to work for me... so far.

[Baddog]

88,

Duck Poop?? Duck poop ain't s*#t compared to goose poop!

I too have been plagued with Goose grossness on my platform. I have been most successful with chicken wire spread across the platform at a 45 degree angle attached to the stern rings and handle with those really cool rubber coated jumbo twist ties from Lowes. The chicken wire does tend to rust over time but is very cheap to replace.

I am experimenting with a plastic pick-up truck tail gate replacement thingy that should accomplish the same thing without rusting. Stay tuned.

[88Skier]

Goose poop is worse. Fortunately, geese like the golf courses and not this lake. We've got seagulls too, but they seem to like the Bayliners more than the Bu's and only one of them usually hangs out on a boat. Tailgate net is a good idea. Let us know how it works.