A big part of the boating lifestyle is getting out in nature and enjoying the sun and water and in this you have to accept that there are aspects of nature that call the water home. In addition to all the unseen life beneath the surface there are many creatures that live on the surface and on the shore, all of which you may encounter during your time on the water. This is a reality and the best way to deal with this reality is to become aware of their presence and adjust your view of life on the water. Here we will discuss two of the most common creatures encountered on and around (or beneath) your boat lift and dock; the bee and the spider.

Bees are known for their industriousness, yet there is a lazy streak in the world of bees. Some bees will not make honey when honey is available for free. Further, the common bee will not bother making a home if we nice people create one for them. Look to that nice boat lift out there by the water, shiny, resilient and useful. Now look again, look at the things that make it up, the beams, the cables, and all of the openings. These openings are seemingly useless to us, but to a bee, they are a gift. Much like the eaves of your house the openings and voids that make up the structure of your boat lift are ready made homes for these little creatures.

This little bit of information regarding the humble bee may seem unimportant until you find yourself dealing with an angry mess of bees who don’t appreciate your claims to their home. Much like the spiders that claim residency under your dock or lift canopy, the bee finds the convenient openings and voids that make up your boat lift too inviting to pass up.

So, now you are aware, if you weren’t already, that others have a claim to your boat lift and dock, now what do you do about it. Well, as fond as we are of Mother Nature, it’s no fun to get attacked by angry bees, especially when you just want to get out on the water and enjoy the day. The solution to this issue is an easy one. All you need to do is close the convenient doors that otherwise would be accessed by our friend the bee. These doors consist of small openings in the metal structure of the lift and can be blocked with clear silicone. Simply get out you caulking gun and apply a small dab here and there where otherwise an opening would remain for the bees to access. In some cases the beams of your lift have exposed openings that allow access to the voids within. In this case the solution may be more akin to diligence and routine treatment by some kind of insect killer to keep out unwanted tenants. The key here is to be aware of the potential for insects to take up residence in the structure of your lift and take routine steps to prevent any unwanted encounters.

The spiders under you dock and boat lift canopy are another issue. You could make a habit of sweeping them out and/or get to know what species are in your area and whether or not you need to worry about them. This can make removing your lift or dock a little less troublesome as spiders, when disturbed may bite or at least use you as a convenient bridge to prevent being cast into the lake. This is an unpleasant experience and one that could be less so if you knew what species was crawling up your arm. In the end nature is a part of life and there will always be some creature sharing the space in which you live and play so our advice is to become aware of their presence and take reasonable steps to prevent or reduce any unwanted encounters.

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