Seasickness Prevention For Boaters

It’s a malady that no one wants to have, but everyone who goes out on the water is vulnerable to it: seasickness. Seasickness is a form of motion sickness that occurs on the water; the French called it “mal de mer.” Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, vertigo, and feeling lightheaded. Whatever you call it, it’s not fun and it can ruin an otherwise pleasant outing. Here are our strategies to help prevent and alleviate it for you and your passengers.

Don’t Drink Alcohol

While it might be fun as a passenger to have a beer on the boat, everyone knows that alcohol can make you feel lightheaded and nauseated on its own. Therefore, combining it with the rocking waves is probably not the best idea if you’re prone to seasickness. In fact, it can be best to remain sober for up to 48 hours before a boat trip, just to avoid having any residual effects in your system. Instead, stay hydrated with plenty of water or herbal tea.

Try Herbs

Herbal tea, you say? Yes! Ginger and peppermint teas in particular are renowned for their tendency to soothe a queasy stomach and calm you down. Try having some ginger or peppermint tea or candy when you feel sick to your stomach and it might help.

Eat Lightly

While lt might seem reasonable to avoid eating if you’re feeling nauseated, the obverse is true. An empty stomach is liable to become nauseated with all those digestive juices and acids having nothing to work with. Have some toast, crackers, granola, bananas, applesauce, or other light snacks instead.

Focus on the Horizon

Staring directly at the water or at things on the boat as it bobs up and down can make a little dizziness grow quickly. Instead, try focusing your attention on a distant object or the horizon. A lighthouse, a buoy, or a rocky outcropping on shore can help you feel more stable.

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