Mosquitos and Black Flies Near Vancouver Island?

C

Captain Bella

New member
So we recently relocated to the Olympic Peninsula, and we have switched boats as well. We intend to use our boat for many weekend excursions, as well as one larger annual trip, north along Vancover Island (inside and outside).

Previously, we had our 22 Cruiser VERY well screened to defend against black flies and mosquitos. Without the screens, you lost significant blood and were irritated constantly. Sometimes you could be carried ashore by the beasts, especially in the North Channel of Lake Huron.

Question is, how shall I best prepare against the insect world for cruising in BC?

Thanks!
 
Not a problem usually. Never had a screened boat in BC. Some Mosquitos sometimes but a coil or repellent handles them. Black flies never seen in coastal BC. Saw them in the Arctic. No see ums can be a bother but they're tiny. George
 
Odd thing about mosquitoes and black flies. The former were never a problem hiking in the Olympics, but an utter horror in the Cascades. There were biting flies in the Olympics, but not normally a problem at lower elevations.
 
I ran into both on Texada Island. I put out the clay bowl with the repellent but it almost seemed like it drew them in. They were horrible. Seems like it was during the month of July.
 
Really good question. I boat between the San Juan Islands and the Puget Sound area, I guess that is really pretty much the Salish Sea. I have not had any issues with bugs, mosquitoes or flies, even up to Princes Louisa. The side windows are screened and the fore hatch has a screen, but the cabin door is usually open at the dock.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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We stayed over-night at Smuggler's Cove (Sunshine Coast) and were inundated w/ squeeters. Could not even enjoy the outdoors. We stayed in the cabin and enjoyed our stay as much as possible.
 
This reminds me we did see a major mosquito problem at Lasqueti island in Squitty Bay! We now call it Mosquitty Island. That's about it for us though. George
 
Bugs? BC has bugs? Oh, yeah. Pender Harbour (Sunshine Coast) has mosquitoes. Anywhere north of Desolation Sound has deer flies.
The Broughton Islands have mosquitoes, black flies, and deer flies.

Our boat has window screens.
 
Dear Brats in the Great White North here in the sub tropics I have found bullet proof insect protection. I own a 16 so I go to the remote regions and tie up for the night to trees. This device is found at Wal Mart & Amazon, its called ThermaCELL. It's just like an insect force field. The sent is minimal and has a range of about 20 sq ft. I know of hunters who wear them on their clothing while hunting. The ThermaCELL works great on my boat and I back packed camped all my life and am very critical on my judgement for this product.
 
As you can see it depends on the season, winds, and proximity to freshwater. You surely shouldn't count on having bug problems.

Most of the coastal BC saltwater areas you will take a C-dory will have no noticeable bugs. But if you find a calm bay next to a lazy river or wetland area, in the right weather window for hatching in early to mid summer season, you may get some out over the water to your boat. Just a light onshore breeze would make the same situation bug free.

Boating from around August to May should be bug free nearly any salty place in BC.

We have only had 2-3 evenings in 6 years (about 75 nights) where we actually used the screens for the side windows to keep something out. But....about half of those nights were in the off season to be honest.

Greg
 
jimicliff":1pq3i6x1 said:
Dear Brats in the Great White North here in the sub tropics I have found bullet proof insect protection. I own a 16 so I go to the remote regions and tie up for the night to trees. This device is found at Wal Mart & Amazon, its called ThermaCELL. It's just like an insect force field. The sent is minimal and has a range of about 20 sq ft. I know of hunters who wear them on their clothing while hunting. The ThermaCELL works great on my boat and I back packed camped all my life and am very critical on my judgement for this product.
Click to expand...

I would still use an insect repellent with DEET and check for ticks.

Brent
 
jimicliff":1hpe8bfb said:
Dear Brats in the Great White North here in the sub tropics I have found bullet proof insect protection. I own a 16 so I go to the remote regions and tie up for the night to trees. This device is found at Wal Mart & Amazon, its called ThermaCELL. It's just like an insect force field. The sent is minimal and has a range of about 20 sq ft. I know of hunters who wear them on their clothing while hunting. The ThermaCELL works great on my boat and I back packed camped all my life and am very critical on my judgement for this product.
Click to expand...
Can the ThermaCELL be used inside the cabin?
 
I also have a CD 16. I made screens for the windows and hatch, and have them on board, but have never used them. When around swampy fresh water, I light a mosquito coil, preferably even before anchoring, and make sure it keeps going until after I've hit the rack. The coil hangs under the splashwell and with the boat bow to the breeze, I never smell it.

Since the back of the cabin is only sealed loosely with a camper back (and sometimes nothing), I thought that might be a problem. Hasn't been yet. And I would know if I got bit. I'm one of those that gets a swollen red dot the size of a quarter.

If burning a mosquito coil during the early evening works on Lake Ozette, it will work anywhere. The couple of times I went ashore for hikes showed that there were plenty of hungry bloodsuckers.

Mark
 
Thanks guys. Yes, Lake Ozette is mosquito central—surpassed in my experience only by Cape Sable at the south end of Everglades National Park. Horrid, fast little salt water mosquitoes there, which leave painful bites the size of Hershey's Kisses. And then there's Cream Lake Basin, in Olympic National Park.

Regarding the latter, it sounds tranquil, doesn't it, Cream Lake? Three friends and I wound up down in that pestilential swamp and were trapped in our tents all day—darting out only briefly to relieve ourselves. It is impossible to describe how thick the mosquitoes were in that hellish place. I shudder at the thought.
 
The thermocell is pretty amazing. I discovered these things after hurricane Mathew unleashed the biggest damn swarm of mosquitos I've ever seen. They'd get stuck in your teeth while breathing them in. They work, but it stinks, and I wouldn't use it in side the cabin. You could put it in the cockpit and it would do an okay job keeping them away from the cabin door.

It works great on mosquitos but has no effect on midges or noseeums, sand gnats, whatever theyre called in your location. They're immune to the chemical it seems.
 
Agree, there are times and places where Moosekweetoes are there (Port Harvey on 4th of July)

I was told about a product available at REI Co-op that works. I took a bunch of it to Dominican Republic, and it worked better than the DEET concoctions.

PICARIDIN by Sawyer.

Here is a link to REI Picaridin Insect repepent

https://www.rei.com/search?q=PICARIDIN+ ... +by+Sawyer

887628


It comes in 3, 4, 90 oz and lotion wipes.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Maybe it's different for you.

Common sense tells me if you really don't like hoards of certain bugs,
don't boat where you know they are. You do have choices concerning
cruising grounds after all. And, the bugs were there first (and will be
there long after you are gone).

Aye.
Grandpa used to say, "When dealing with Mother Nature, respect Her."
 
We use vitamin B and Garlic tablets taken once a day.
If you do get bitten the bite doesn't itch forever.

Also check Harbor Freight for the Bug Zapper Paddles.

We used to use Avon's Skin So Soft, but our source moved away.
I liked the way it smelled but the wife says it was too oily.
 
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