Mosquito repeller

[skeets]

i am prone to mosquito bites ,so i am trying to find an eltronic device to keep them out of the boat .does any know if one exists.?

[Barry]

i am prone to mosquito bites ,so i am trying to find an eltronic device to keep them out of the boat .does any know if one exists.?

 

I recommend any insect repellant that contains a high percentage of DEET - preferably 100% - rub it on everywhere including on your clothes but keep your eyes shut!!

 

Its very very effective

[chris w]

I agree that I find the rub-on stuff the most effective. However, electronically-speaking, you can get a "blue lamp" that electrocutes mossies and flies etc - smaller 12v version of the ones you see in restaurants, shops etc and only about £12 or so. Also there are very small, mains plug-in units (about the size of a mains plug in fact) that heat up a repellant tablet which from personal experience do seem to be quite effective. (For the avoidance of doubt, the tablet is repellant to mossies not humans!!).

 

Chris

[dor]

Marmite and garlic are quite effective, although I believe there is a genetic element in whether marmite works for you - something to do with the metabolism of vitamin B12.

 

When I worked in the animal feed industry I developed a mineral block with garlic in to help keep flies off cattle and sheep - it was very effective! So eat plenty of strong curries and add plenty of garlic to your pasta sauces. It might not be as effective as deet, but it is a lot more pleasant!

[chris w]

Yes, I find rubbing a Lamb Vindaloo under the armpits keeps everything away

[BlueStringPudding]

i am prone to mosquito bites ,so i am trying to find an eltronic device to keep them out of the boat .does any know if one exists.?

 

Don't eat bananas. It's something that's taken for granted in the West Indies as only pasty Westerners eat bananas out there and then wonder why they get savaged by mozzies.

 

Bananas make your skin give off a chemical that mozzies find irresistable. Avoid eating 'nanas and then even if any mozzies do get in the boat they're less likely to chow down!

[Serendipity]

Another natural alternative which is used in Sri Lanka is Citronella oil. You can find it in candles, coils for burning, and lotions and soaps.

 

I favour the curry option, though I prefer to take it internally unlike Chris's preferred method.

[bjornunda]

This seems to be the one that really works zapp! but is a little OTT for our needs. Is this the sort of thing you are looking for? smelly one

[BlueStringPudding]

Another natural alternative which is used in Sri Lanka is Citronella oil. You can find it in candles, coils for burning, and lotions and soaps.

 

I favour the curry option, though I prefer to take it internally unlike Chris's preferred method.

 

Yes - citronella does work but after a few days the smell just gets on your nerves (that's what we found) - Kev calls it "C S Gas"

 

Citronella's used in most insect repellents that you apply to your skin

 

By the way, you can get rechargeable battery powered UV bug zappers designed for marine use these days

[fender]

i am prone to mosquito bites ,so i am trying to find an eltronic device to keep them out of the boat .does any know if one exists.?

 

Poundland were selling tons of these last summer. I got one and it worked.

[drunkensailor]

Ah, at least once a year I get bitten so badly that my hand swells up and starts to look like a packet of raw sausages.

 

I've found buying a little bit of net and taping it over windows and doors has really helped keep the little blighters out at night, and you don't have to worry about smelling of insect repellent.

 

Chris

[mutters]

My ex swore by eating marmite kept em away but I was never convinced

 

I can't stand deet, prefer citronella/eucalytus (spelling?), but having mozzi nets over the hatches kept them out the best.......

[saltysplash]

Our collection of Specialist Marine Spiders appear to be working quite well at keeping the flying insect army at bay. Not had any of the little blighters cause us problems so far.

 

There was one evening when a rather large daddy longlegs kept upsetting Swmbo, I think it was calling her names, but it didnt last long as it flew towards the light and was prompty singed by a hot flame. RIP

[StoneHenge]

My husband is the preferred meal of choice by any insect within a 2 mile radius, so he swamps himself in mosquito milk, and then sprays of bit repellant around the door ways, and uses citronella in the outside lamp which seems to have made a huge difference this summer.

 

He only got bitten when camping (when we forgot the mossy milk).

 

For some reason they don't bite me at all. (bad skin?)

[carlt]

My ex swore by eating marmite kept em away but I was never convinced

I'd rather be bled dry by a million mosquitoes than eat marmite .

he swamps himself in mosquito milk

Do you use tweezers to extract this, and a teeny tiny three legged stool?

[StoneHenge]

I'd rather be bled dry by a million mosquitoes than eat marmite .Do you use tweezers to extract this, and a teeny tiny three legged stool?

 

I have little mossy milking parlour complete with teeny weeny milking cups.