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Well, November is here. That means we are officially approaching the gap between the cool, crisp of fall and the cold chill of winter. For boaters, this unfortunately means a grim truth: It’s getting too cold to sail, and it sadly won’t be warm again for months. It also means that it’s time to put the boat and dock in storage. While putting a floating dock in storage is important (If you’d like some advice about that, click here), gangways are a lot more self-sustaining and weather-resistant. However, if you do decide to keep your gangway outside during the winter, there’s one thing you should keep in mind: pests.

When the people go in, it’s when the animals and bugs come out. The world is their playground, and for some, your unattended gangway can become their winter home. While this may seem like a problem that can resolve itself, it could create some unfortunate wear on your gangway and make usage in the spring unnecessarily complicated. Thankfully, with this information, you should have a clearer idea of what to keep an eye out for this winter, as well as how to prepare your gangway accordingly.

• What kind of pests appear on gangways?

While what animals can invade your gangway can vary based on your location (i.e. somewhere northern will be less likely to have a bird infestation), some of the most common pests to look out for include rodents like mice or rats. When the ground freezes, they will seek shelter in a dry crevice, which can simply mean “underneath the gangway.” It is also crucial to assure that larger animals, such as River Otters and Minks, do not use your gangway as a winter resting place, as their presence can leave behind dirt, and maybe even odors.

• What can you do?

One of the first things you can do to keep small animals off your gangway is to establish physical barriers. For example, simple blocks of wood can be incredibly beneficial in blocking access for active mammals such as raccoons or beavers. If you would like to assure no animals are resting underneath, elevating your ramp is an easy way to check without needing to disassemble.

In terms of preventing any physical damage, if your gangway is made of aluminum, you should have nothing to worry about. Aluminum is made from a nonporous material meant to serve as a discomforting nesting surface. If your gangway is not made of aluminum, now may be the time to make the upgrade.

To learn more about minding a gangway in the off-season, click here or give Bristol Industries of PA a call today at 215-493-7230.