Steady on your Feet: Tips to Prevent Seasickness

If there’s anything that can ruin a day on the water, it’s seasickness. Well, yes, technically there are worse things, but we’re going with this one today. Whether you’re on a sailboat, a fishing boat, a trawler or a luxury yacht, seasickness is a real possibility.

Also known as motion sickness, seasickness is caused by an imbalance between the eyes and ears and the sensory system. There are lots of scientific words involved, but it basically boils down to this: Your eyes are seeing one thing, your muscles feel another thing and your inner ear senses a whole other thing (the inner ear controls balance, so there you go).

This conflict of the senses can cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, cold sweat and more. It can be prevented. So, let’s get on with it before you leave the ramp or boat dock for rent.

How to Avoid Seasickness

• Take a sea/motion sickness preventative such as Dramamine or Bonine before you even board the vessel at the boat dock rental. It’s best to take something at least 30 minutes ahead of time (especially if the weather report mentions rough water). Once you’re sick, it’s too late. Keep some in your first aid kit or ditch bag. You’ll thank us later.
• The weird thing about seasickness is that it can creep up on you even if you’ve never been sick before. I’ve seen more than a fair share of “tough” (read: stubborn) boaters who claimed they’ve never been sick before leaning over the side of the boat. Just take the medicine, already!
• Sea Band wristbands have been known to help. They use acupressure to help prevent seasickness. They have a plastic piece on that inside that, when worn, puts pressure on pressure points on the inside of the wrist.
• Be well-rested and eat something light so that you don’t have an empty stomach. You’ll want to avoid alcohol and spicy or acidic foods, though. Additionally, the strong smell of some foods can be a trigger (as well as the smell of diesel fuel).
• Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water.
• Don’t stay out in the sun all day. Seek out shade.
• Since vision plays a part in seasickness, staying at the helm of the boat can be helpful (in addition to keeping your mind occupied).
• Enclosed spaces can accentuate the problem of seasickness. If you’re inside the vessel, open a window. Fresh air is a must. True story: I had never been seasick a day in my life until being aboard a glass-bottom boat. All that looking down, combined with choppy seas and the smell of diesel fuel, was not a good combination.
• Motion seasickness can be worse the higher you go. If you’re prone to seasickness, stay off the flybridge and hang out lower on deck.
• Don’t smoke or read on board. Save the reading for when you're relaxing at the boat lift for rent. 
  
  

Photo: Pixabay

If you do happen to become seasick, here are a few things you can do to alleviate the symptoms until you return to a boat slip rental, marina or boat ramp.

• Don’t stay below deck or in hot, humid and small spaces. Go out on deck and get fresh air. If there’s wind, the feel of it on your face can be helpful. Look toward the horizon and focus on something rather than concentrating on the movement of the boat. Counting backwards from 100 down to 1 can help take your attention off the motion of the boat.
• It can help to drink something like Ginger Ale or eat a light snack like Saltine crackers. Ginger and mint can also be helpful.
• Try lying down on your back in a shady spot. This can be helpful for the inner ear issue that accentuates the seasickness.
  
  

We hope these tips have helped prevent or alleviate seasickness for you and your crew. Seasickness can happen on lakes, rivers and the ocean. Take note of these before you leave the private boat slip for rent or launch your boat. Let us know what works for you!