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Keeping bugs at bay has always been a conundrum for boaters, particularly when that calm, idyllic anchorage becomes a refuge for black flies, mosquitoes, and other flying bloodsuckers when the sun goes down. No one wants to slather on smelly chemical creams or sprays to enjoy happy hour in the cockpit, but bug repellent options have been rather limited until recently.
Now boaters have a new weapon in their effort to stay out of the food chain. The ThermaCell Mosquito Repellent Outdoor Lantern not only lights up the cockpit, but also creates a 15- by-15-foot no-fly zone for biting insects. The maker claims it wards off up to 98 percent of mosquitoes, black flies, no-see-ums, and other flying insects.
Approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and tested by the U.S. military, the ThermaCell Lantern uses a small butane cartridge to warm an insect repellent mat containing Allethrin (a synthetic copy of a natural repellent found in pyrethrum flowers, a member of the chrysanthemum family), which is then released to keep bugs at bay. Each unit comes with three repellent mats and a butane cartridge, providing up to 12 hours of protection. (The repellent mats turn from pale blue to white when replacement is needed.)
Unlike Citronella candles, the lantern has virtually no odor and there’s no hot wax to worry about. It’s also lightweight, reusable, and silent. Lighting is provided by eight LED lights (powered by four AA batteries). The dual-mode (high and low) lantern can be operated separately or in conjunction with the insect repellent function.
We put the lantern through its paces at a buggy, local lake one sultry summer evening while watching the sunset. The results were impressive—so impressive we’ve decided it’s the bug repellent of choice for our upcoming cruise through the Great Dismal Swamp Canal. We’ll report back if the hoards of bugs at the Great Swamp are too much for the lantern to handle.
The ThermaCell repellent lantern retails for about $30 at national retailers (including Wal-Mart, Cabela’s, etc.) and online at the company’s website. Refill packs (one butane cartridge and three repellent mats) list for around $7, and refill value packs (four butane cartridges and 12 repellent mats) are available for about $20.
