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My new to me 1990 Outrage 18 has been sitting with a tarp over it all summer.Last weekend I uncovered it and washed it inside and out.A friend came over and while we were leaning on the gunnel looking at it a mouse came out of the small opening at the bottom of the fuel fill hose cover. I couldn't catch the rascal. Then I noticed some leaves under the clear fuel gauge cover that wasn't there before. Im thinking mouse nest. Yesterday i put glue traps in front of both side covers thinking I can catch "them". I really don't want to pull the tank cover. I was thinking of raising the bow and removing the cover in front of the fuel fill hose and flooding it with 10-20 gals of water to remove the nest.
I just replaced every inch of wiring and pull switches and was worried they might have chewed some of it. Im glad I haven't put a new engine on it yet. Anybody got any advice or how to prevent this from happening again ? Maybee I should feed the cats on my boat all year,Their my land ladies wild cats which live outside.LOL
Tom, I have had that experience. I keep my 15 in a garage all winter, and it's under a cover too, to keep dirt off. I make sure to remove anything that could be made into a nest, and anything that could provide a nice nook for the mice to get into. Also, I have been using mothballs - the old fashioned, smelly white ones. Someone recommended them to me; I put paper cups around with them inside the boat, including under the motor cover.
The first year, they destroyed my life jackets and a line, and made a huge mess - with the mothballs and removing the gear, so far, so good.
