Spiders and Storage

[DaveKunz8383]

I’ve restored several canoes, including my 1922 15’ Kennebec, and my 1914 17’ Old Town. I’ve stored them for several years on a rack I built beneath our raised deck. They rest on their gunwales, upside down, and have survived the winters here in upstate New York quite well. Except for one thing - spiders. I spend hours cleaning out the webs and nests and dirt they leave behind. Is there any solution available that would protect the canoes from becoming spider hotels? I’ve considered wrapping them tightly in plastic, but that’s a good way to encourage wood rot. Any ideas? Thanks!

DaveKunz3838

 

[Benson Gray]

I would encourage you to contact Redleaf Designs and see if they can make something to help. The link at https://redleafdesigns.com/collections/all-covers shows their standard covers but you may need a custom design in this situation. Good luck and let us know what you decide to do,

Benson

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Except for one thing - spiders.

Only spiders? I have many canoes stored outside under my back porch and they get infested not only with spiders, but also with bee & wasp nests, ants, bird nests, and other mystery detritus.

Logically, almost all of this can be prevented by a physical barrier. But such a barrier should allow free air flow and not trap moisture.

Jeremy Vore at RedLeaf Designs can probably make a custom spider cover, but you may be able to jury-rig a less expensive one yourself using a roll of fiberglass screen material and maybe some tape. I've never tried this, but it may be worth a DIY shot if you really don't like the spiders.

 

[SouthernKevlar]

Check with your local "new" canoe dealer for canoe shipping material. I ordered (forgive me, oh wood-and-canvas purists) a Northstar Phoenix. When it arrived it was packed in a canoe sized cheesecloth-like bag that was tied into a knot on one end, then wrapped in a plastic bag and also tied. I kept both. The loose weave cloth bag should keep out most bug size vermin. I have used the plastic bag as a drop cloth when varnishing or doing repairs on my canoes; I would be afraid to use it for storage in such a humid area as the South.

 

[dtdcanoes]

A roll of No-Seeum screening. Even a well phrased curse cannot pass through .
Dave

 

[MGC]

Toads and lizards eat spiders. Make friends with your local herpetologist.
A shop vac also works pretty well.

 

[dtdcanoes]

And apparently, crickets are quite good for you.

 

[ALCEDO ATTHIS]

yes , you must try , crickets , flour worms and others , with seasoning it's good
my wife don't want try , its not cheaper also
I'm a frog and snail eater , why not more

 

[Gil Cramer]

Maybe the canoes survived so well because the spiders ate all of the canoe devourers!

 

[DaveKunz8383]

Thanks for all your tips and suggestions! Thought I’d show you where I’m at so far.
Living on the shore of Lake Ontario is an open invitation to a wide variety of creepy-crawlies and their webs and nests. I do intend to get in touch with the folks at Redleaf Designs, but in the meantime I thought I’d try my hand at creating a “canoe sock” that would keep the spiders out and allow plenty of air circulation. So I bought a 9’ x 21’ piece of voile fabric for about $14 - the kind of thing you see in wedding veils. The weave is pretty airy, but should keep out most of the spiders I’ve seen so far. I don’t have a sewing machine, so I decided to use some outdoor-rated double-sided tape instead, along with some Velcro to seal off the open end. Total investment under $50. I worked on my 17’ Old Town, and I think it might just work - I’m debating whether to call it a “canoe sock” or a “spider sock.”
I also thought I’d build a kind of drape to protect both canoes on the rack from the rainwater that leaks through the boards of our deck, carrying no end of dirt and debris with it. I used heavy polyethylene for this, but am not quite satisfied with the result - will probably change to some other fabric. The photo shows the bottom of the drape tucked under the lower canoe, just to keep it from flapping in the wind, but I plan to let it hang down, weighted close to the ground.
BTW, the red Kennebec canoe on the upper rack is not wearing a “spider sock” yet - I want to analyze my success with the blue Old Town for a while before trying again. That Northstar Phoenix packing material sounds like it might be a kind of “muslin” used in shipping other stuff - I found a sample of it that material and have been trying to source it.
Anyhow, thanks again for your comments! Here are a couple pix.
Dave Kunz 8383