Conference vicki::boats

     Seasickness is caused by your bodies reaction to the lack of stability
    and presence of movement. It is akin to motion sickness. Your body
    will eventually reconcile the movement with its own sense of
    equilibrium. For each person, this reconciliation process takes
    a different amount of time. It is thought that some people do not
    possess the ability to adjust to the lack of stability, but these
    cases are rare.
    
     There are several factors that affect your bodies ability to adapt
    to motion. It helps to have a full stomach. Overindulging in alcohol
    the night before will increase your chances of queasiness since
    your body is busy fighting of the pollutants contained in the alcohol.
    
     If you get out on the water long enough you will eventually become
    accustomed to the motion and will stop feeling seasick. The problem
    is that most people don't have the time to put in to stop this annoying
    feeling. As you get out on the ocean more and more, your body will
    become more adept at making the transition to "on the water" mode,
    and you will soon be able to handle alll sorts of ocean conditions.
    Personally, I do real well with very calm seas, and rougher seas.
    I seem to have more trouble with medium seas, but usually the problem
    is not the condition of the ocean, its the smell of the bait and
    chum that gets me. I've only gotten sick once while on a boat, and
    that was because I overindulged the night before. I do get queasy
    sometimes, though.
    
     Sailors used to use hemp to alleviate the queasiness of seasickness,
    but that was before the CG adopted the zero tolerance policy. :-)
    
    Maybe you should think of an ear patch. Either that or simply go
    boating that much more often so your body can adjust. :-)
    
    Mark
    
    PS- nice last name! :^}

    BAL,
    
    Go in the MSEE::FISHING and check out #828 (Seasickness, Grin and
    Bear It)...  its quite hysterical.
    
    There's a lot of good advice (and some not so good advice).  Booze
    seems to do the trick for some, but this won't work if you're the
    Captain for obvious reasons.  
    
    There is another pill better than Draminine, its doesn't have the
    drowsiness effect draminine does.
    
    Jeanne 
                                

    Mind over matter works for many. If you know you will not get get
    sick you won't. If you think you will or are wondering if you will
    then you probably will. It is easy to overcome if you are captain
    of the boat, you should have so much on your mind between running
    the boat and in my case trying to find/catch fish you don't
    have time to be sick. Further if you are sick who is going to
    run the boat?
    
    Capt. Confidence!

    Here in Finland we have a special drug, that has no known side-effects,
    against seasickness. It is a piece of stripe that one puts behingd
    his/her ear and the drug effect lasts for 7 days (i.e. one stripe).
    The drug itself is scopolamine, which is a "relative" of amfetamine.
    No harmful effects haven't been proven in cases that the patient
    has taken some alcohol during being under this drug (although it's
    not recommended). The stripes are sold here under the name SKOPOLAN.
    This just in case you wanted to know....
    
    E T

    re: .4
    
    Actually Scopolamine is actually a poisonous alkaloid (C17 H21 NO4)
    found in the roots of various plants of the Nightshade family (genus
    Scopolia) - the same plant family that brings us Belladonna.
    
    It found it's intial use during WWII as 'truth serum' since it is
    classified as a hypnotic and a depressant, and it has also been used
    with Morphine as sedative in surguery and obstetrics.
    
    The problem with trans-dermal application of Scopolamine (in the US
    TRANSCOP) is that it produces drowsiness and dry-mouth. NASA which used
    Scopolamine for Space-sickness used to mix it with an amphetamine to
    overcome the drowsiness, but the astronauts then complained about
    trouble with sleeping (which is a known side affect of amphetamine).
    
    At this time I don't believe there is a commercial or prescriptive
    mixture of amphetamine or Scopolamine available. For What It's Worth
    Practical Sailor had a longish article on sea-sickness its causes and
    cures in their August SAFETY AT SEA issue.
    
    /jim 

   I've had my 16' boat out in some pretty rough stuff, with no problems
   at all with sea sickness. I've been a passenger on a friend's 32'
   twin diesel powered Blackfin twice, and gotten sick both times. The
   following in no particlular order are a few thoughts on sea sickness.

The captain seems to be less prone to sea sickness than the passengers.
Probably due to the captain having his mind occupied with other things.

Gentle rolling motion of the boat seems to cause sickness more than short
choppy seas. This would also help explain why I've gotten sick while on my
friend's Blackfin but not in my smaller boat.

As already stated, if you are worried that you are going to get sick you
probably will. I went out on an all day party boat recently and had made
up mind that I was going to be fine. No problems the whole day.

A dramamine, a few frosties, and plenty to eat seems to work for me.
    
Above all else avoid breathing exhaust fumes, especially diesel. The times
I've been sick on the Blackfin we were trolling for blues, and diesel fumes
were blowing back into the cockpit. It may have been carbon monoxide
poisoning rather than sea sickness that did me in.

If you start to feel woozy get plenty of fresh air and try to stay out of
the cabin. Concentrate on the distant horizon rather than on the boat and
the seas immediately around it as you bob around. Sea sickness is caused
by an equilibrium problem, so this may help to cut down on the amount of
motion that your body tries to compensate for.

Rick W.                              

    I really like the previous note.
    
    Most people get sea sick every now and then, It not uncommon. As
    Bruce said confidance works but if you feel sick the best remedy
    is to feed the fish. Having satisfied this need you should eat some
    thing alkaline. Seaweed really settles my stomach and it usually
    found close by. If your way out at sea try eating saltine crackers
    and Tums. I allways keep them onboard.
    
    Kelp has no side affects and tastes good , A cold beer or two helps
    to wash it down.
    
                                              Walt
    

    
    
      I love the cold brewski ideas!! I'll be good at that. I think
    I'll try that first, maybe even before I go out.
    
    
    BAL who will also use caution

    A Major contributor to seasickness has been proven to be the body
    simply getting confused.
    
    If you are below decks for example the balance sensors feel motion
    - that is your ears & muscles; however, your eyes do not sense any
    motion -- the body therefore gets confused & for some reason takes
    it out on your stomach. That is one reason why it is better to be
    out side & you often hear folks say look toward some horizon, etc..
    
    This is also why the captain doesn't feel it as readily as others
    - his/her eyes are indeed sensing motion.
    
    You may find standing up and looking ahead will give you the time
    it take to adjust.
    
    An very old -proven remedy is Ginger.  You might try either cookies,
    ginger ale, or even ginger pills from a local health food store.
    This is what the pirates used in days gone by.   
    It has worked for folks on my boat very well.
    
                                    Good luck,
                                              Capt'n Lou "Phanta Sea"

    One other thing to remember, if the boat is under way, try to stay
    as near to the back of the boat as possible since it has the minimum
    amplitude of movement due to it having the lowest center of mass
    of anyplace on the boat. This will not work, however, if the fumes
    from the engine are drawn into the cockpit. Gak!
    
    I find that beer and crackers work pretty well for me.
    
    mark

    I also vote for the beer and crackers. I have never been seasick,
    but once came very close to it on the Dover to Calais ferry (the
    English Channel can get *really* rough) and immediately had a couple
    of scotches and beers with crisps (chips to Americans).
    
    The feeling went away very soon and I was functional again.
    
    On the topic of the captain seldon feeling ill.....this is also
    true of car sickness. Have you ever known a driver to get car sick?
    I believe it's mainly mind over matter. You don't mind, the seasickness
    doesn't matter. The captain of a boat is so busy occupied with other
    things that he/she doesn't have the time to be sick, doesn't have
    time even to think about it, therefore doesn't get sick. Also, I think
    the fact that the Cap'n is holding onto the wheel and tends to be
    more stable, yet paradoxically, I have noticed, tends to move about
    more in the pilot's seat in anticipation of boat motion, helps
    counteract the problem.
    
    Possible solution to try:
    
    Set the boat up in trim, nice and steady as the sea allows, and
    at the first sign of queasiness give the helm to the affected
    individual.
    
    Worth a try, eh?
    
    Tally-ho,
    
    Ray

        The behind-the-ear strips are indeed available in the US. They
        were the answer to my son's queasiness. They were prescribed by
        our family doctor in New Hampshire. They look like circular
        band-aids, about the same size, and you stick them on the day
        before you go out.
        
        By the way, we tried the acupuncture-type bracelets. Worthless
        doodads.
        
        (I can hear it now: "Oh yeah, well a bracelet cured my gout!")
        
        Ginger snaps and ginger ale keep me going in 3-to-5 seas and
        following wind blowing fumes into the cockpit.

There has been some good and not so good advice in this note. 
Unfortunately, I've had more experience with being seasick than I care 
to remember. A few comments:

Virtually nobody is immune to seasickness. When the conditions get bad 
enough, you'll get sick. No known drug will absolutely prevent 
seasickness. One of the nasty sides effects of scopolomine (which is 
quite effective) is hallucinations, especially after using it for three 
or more days. Staying busy and keeping you mind occupied works, but 
only up to a point.

Yes, given enough time at sea, almost everyone gets over being seasick. 
However, the adaptation may take several days. Sailing back from Bermuda 
last summer in 25 to 35 knots winds and 10 to 20 foot seas, I and my 
three crew were more or less seasick for three days. You haven't really 
been seasick until you begin to be afraid that you won't die.
Unfortunately, when the motion changes (from, say going upwind to going
downwind, you may get sick again.) 

If you do get sick, lying on your back with your eyes closed usually 
helps. Sleeping helps even more. Vomiting once may make you feel better, 
but the first time is often not the last time.

Finally .... sorry guys and girls, I think that drinking alcohol (beer
or whatever) to prevent or cure seasickness is absolutely downright
stupid. Seasickness makes you sleepy, impairs your sense of balance and
equilibrium, and reduces your sense of judgment. So does alcohol. 
Combining the two is an excellent way to have a fatal accident (like
falling overboard). Yes, I drink beer and wine when sailing, but only 
a little when I'm quite sure I won't get seasick. I almost never drink 
on long trips, especially offshore. 

    >You haven't really 
    >been seasick until you begin to be afraid that you won't die. 
    
    Thank God for that! Sounds like tons of fun!
    
    >Finally .... sorry guys and girls, I think that drinking alcohol (beer
    >or whatever) to prevent or cure seasickness is absolutely downright
    >stupid. Seasickness makes you sleepy, impairs your sense of balance and
    >equilibrium, and reduces your sense of judgment. So does alcohol. 
    >Combining the two is an excellent way to have a fatal accident (like
    >falling overboard). Yes, I drink beer and wine when sailing, but only 
    >a little when I'm quite sure I won't get seasick. I almost never drink 
    >on long trips, especially offshore. 

     That's your opinion. Especially the "downright stupid" part.
    Considering your previously quoted comment, how can you quarrel
    with someone for doing something that works for them? Wouldn't you
    have had a couple of brewskis if it would have made you feel better?
    Please don't put other people down for taking steps that work for
    *them* to prevent seasickness. Obviously you know how bad it can
    feel.
    
    Mark
    
    

    
    >>You haven't been really seasick until you begin to be afraid you
      won die.
    
    I heard that from someone in the Coast Guard....he really wanted
    somebody to shoot him....six days of seasickness.
    
    There's a high percentage of accidents caused from drinking out
    on the seas....you just don't hear about them.  For instance (here
    comes the gory details)....when your fighting a tuna the boat is
    driven in reverse, one fellow had a little too much to drink and
    fell overboard...
    
         Chop! Chop! Chop!  All gone now!
                                
    Gawd, drinking makes me naseous on dry land....never mind out at
    sea!  (to each their own)
                                                     

    rep -1
    
      shouldn't that be 
    
    
    PUREE PUREE PUREE instead of chop chop chop

    It depends on the RPMs.
    

    A friend of mine spent five years as a Ships Doctor in the Canadian
    Armed Forces.  He said that different people have different tolerences 
    to motion sickness, but that nobody is 100% immune.  
    
    It was explained to me (in layman's terms) that a person can become 
    mentally and physically stressed by the over-stimulation of constant
    OR-erradic movement of boats in rough water (or planes in turbulence).
    This causes the body to secrete digestive fluids into the stomach (which
    aren't a problem if you've just eaten but) which can irritate the stomach
    making you feel nauseated.  This is likened to stress which people get
    before giving a presentation or getting married or dealing with money
    problems.  Fortunately stress is usually temporary or we would could
    all develop ulcers.  Anyway's, the good Doctor told me the simplest 
    non-medicinal cure for motion sickness is to maintain a full stomach
    and stay as close to the center of gravity (usually the middle) on a
    ship as possible.
    
    This solution works for me as I have never taken gravol or any other 
    anti-nausea pills before.
    
    Best regards,
    
    Duncan
    
    P.S.  I have seen friends of mine who have fished the North Atlantic
    for 25 years, commercially, get sea-sick :-)
     

Wow. Five years between notes.

Well, with five years of additional experience, I still vote for
Trans-Scop-Derm. Total success for my son. And, ginger snaps for me (and
others). Stay away from salami etc. 

I spent five years in the US Navy, four years at sea. I got seasick once
during that time, but *most* of the crew was seasick that trip. Howling
gales in the North Atlantic, with 40-50' seas. Destroyers along side us
would show their whole hull back to the second gun mount, then bury their
bows and take green water over the bridge windows.