Disinfection of a sailboat

The pleasure of sailing is incomparable. The wind, the sea, the freedom… but that feeling can be quickly ruined by an invisible and persistent enemy: the presence of pests.

This week, the owner of a sailboat moored in Puerto de Mazarrón contacted us in distress. He had detected a small rodent infestation in his 10‑metre‑long vessel.

Causes of pest infestations on sailboats

Between trips, sailboats are filled with provisions, that is, food stored on board for the crossings. In addition, when a boat is moored at a dock, it is close to many neighbouring vessels, which makes it vulnerable to rodents entering, especially if a nearby boat is somewhat abandoned.

Cockroaches can also find shelter inside a vessel. The presence of food and possible hiding places, such as under the bilges—where there is heat and humidity—provide the perfect environment for them.

The case in Puerto de Mazarrón

In this case, the rodents had taken refuge in the bilges. From the droppings seen during the disinfection, everything indicates that they were mice.

The sailboat was in the ASCAR shipyards in Cartagena. The raised bilges made it much easier to disinfect the vessel.

Treatment applied

We used a very common but effective disinfectant: hydrogen peroxide, applied by targeted spraying. Although the product has a safety period of 3 hours, we advised the customer not to enter the sailboat for 24 hours.

Pest infestations on boats are common. If you notice any signs on your vessel, do not ignore them: contact us as soon as possible for a professional intervention and to recover your peace of mind at sea.