lets hear em!!  I am going out on an ocean boat soon.  I have the patches for my ear.  (I need to find them).

 

empty stomach?  ginger ale?  ginger candy?   full plate of enchiladas?  

 

I am hit or miss.  about 50% I see or feel nothing but joy.  the other 50% I puke my guts out.   too close to call.  

Don't go in rough seas. That's the only advice I have. I went once with 8 foot seas and puked all day. The crew warned us. I took Dramamine and didn't eat. Still sick as a dog all day. I laid down and went to sleep and dreamed of being sick. I haven't had a Sprite since that morning. Went back later with 3 foot waves and no big deal. But when I did get sick it was all over when I got back within sight of land. I was actually starving.

We used to tell the new Sailors to get a greasy pork chop in an ashtray.

 

27 years in the Navy, but only got seasick once.  The ear patches are supposed to help.  But, I understand that the best thing is once you feel a bit queasy, get on outer deck and focus on the horizon.

Start your dramamine dosage the night before. Stay well hydrated. Eat something small and easy on the stomach NO GREASY FOOD! Think granola bar. Continue dramamine until the trip is complete. Enjoy. I was in the Navy as well.

My solution was not go on a boat in the ocean.  I hate it but feeling like a dog for 24-48 hours sucks.   Never puked but man I felt really awful the last 5-6 times that I went so I quit cold turkey.  

 

Start the Dramamine a day or two in advance.  For some people it takes a day or two to kick in.  And once you start to be sea sick, there is no cure.  So if you think you might be on the day, start the Dramamine a day or two in advance, bring water or Gatorade and antacids (for when you eventually puke), and know where the place to puke is.

 

(p.s. my wide used to be in charge of R&D for the transdermal Dramamine patches)

No help here - I don't get sea-sick. Nora's and my honeymoon was on a cruise ship. Fourth day out we caught the edge of a hurricane - she was doped to the gills, laying in the bed in our cabin moaning....I was walking the decks. 😁

13 hours ago, Choporoz said:

But, I understand that the best thing is once you feel a bit queasy, get on outer deck and focus on the horizon.

I don't get seasick, but this is the only thing I've ever seen work for others who do. Definitely try to avoid focusing on something close to you inside the boat- I've seen more people get sick while tying a knot or rigging tackle than anything else.

 

I wonder if the anti-car-sickness glasses would help? 

 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FHion-Sickness-Carsickness-Airsickness-Seasickness%2Fdp%2FB0BVYQCHJ7&psig=AOvVaw07nEC-7nvEabFmLnJmlA2S&ust=1747492390209000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBQQjRxqFwoTCKCEts6aqI0DFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE

Anti- Sea Sick Tips ~

Nothing works for everyone ~

Some folks get sick - some do not.

I've never witnessed a chronic sea sick person who sudden got over it 

because they use some special remedy.

It's the motion of the ocean and sometimes if it's hot out on the water

that can contribute.

But cold weather events are also quite common. 

My advice is to not drink alcohol for a few days in advance of your outing

and definitely not while underway.

Follow your normal routine but eat mild, non-spicy foods the day before.

Stay on deck, keep the wind in your face (unless you're actually chumming it up)

and don't stare down at the ocean/waves.

Try not to focus on not getting sick -

Good Luck ,have fun and please say hello to Merrill for me.

A-Jay

 

 

 

 

 

I and all my friends use a Relief Band. You wear it like a watch and it send electicalnimpulses to stop sea sickness. I tried everything until a friend let me fry his. They’re pricey but it works. The good thing is you don’t have to turn it on unless you start to feel sick. You’ll feel better right away. Good luckAmazon has them, I couldn’t get the link to work,sorry

22 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Stay on deck, keep the wind in your face (unless you're actually chumming it up)

Sage advice right there. 😁

I’ve been in 70’ seas before..

 

I'm a certified Blue-nose. 
 

But I went out in a 23’ off the coast of Jacksonville and we endured 6’ seas and me and my dive buddy got sea sick, not 🤮 but dizzy type sick. My wife was with us fishing and hollering woo hoo this is fun! 
 

How many Navy guys know what a blue nose is?? Bet @Choporoz knows 

Avoid acidic foods & drinks including coffee. Like A-Jay mentioned avoid alcohol prior &  while out. Keep your eyes on the horizon rather than the waves in front of you. Ginger tablets help some taken 24-48 hours ahead and the day of exposure. If you want to munch try ginger snaps. Dramamine  makes most sleepy & dulls the senses so I would not advise it. The patch behind the ear does work for most. 

a fresh prescription of the patch is coming in the mail.  

 

I'll try that and follow all the other advice. I dont drink anymore, so I have that going for me.  my friend told me he would make a "magic brownie"...err..no.  

 

I do know however that would work wonders I imagine.  

On 5/15/2025 at 9:09 PM, IYAOYAS said:

Start your dramamine dosage the night before. Stay well hydrated. Eat something small and easy on the stomach NO GREASY FOOD! Think granola bar. Continue dramamine until the trip is complete. Enjoy. I was in the Navy as well.

This^. I had buddies meet me for a great lake salmon charter. I regulated their meal the evening before and didn't let them have any booze  We all made it, even with a post-limit long steam back in 6 footers. I didn't want them ruining MY trip ha ha

2 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

my friend told me he would make a "magic brownie"...err..no.  

 

I do know however that would work wonders I imagine.  

I don't partake but my wife who is prescribed the stuff for fibro myalgia swears it can cure everything from cancer to rusty bumper hitches. I wouldn't be surprised.

I take the dramomine less drowsy formula. I have never noticed being drowsy after taking it. I take 30 minutes prior to launching and then as needed. I only take it on Lake Erie as a precaution. One time on Erie I was learning how to tie a connector knot and after 5 minutes of losing the horizon, I was sick as a dog for an hour or so. 
 

As many have mentioned, be well hydrated prior. Drinking water while being dehydrated does nothing for you in that moment. I would recommend light meals and avoid any “heavy” foods. 

I have been sea sick myself, and have seen many guests get sick.  My advice may go against what many people believe, but I'm going to give my opinion any way.

 

First of all, motion sickness has nothing to do with what you eat, so forget all the advise on food, eat what ever you want before you go out to sea.  Second thing is I have seen more ginger thrown up in to the ocean than any other food item.  It may have some settling effects on your stomach, but it will not keep you from feeling the effects of motion sickness.

 

The reason a person gets sick is because their balance with what they see and feel, is at odds with what the level in their inner ear is telling their brain.  The inner ear is working overtime and over reacting to the stimulus it is receiving.  It has absolutely nothing to do with your stomach, so eating something special will not help you keep from getting sick.  It may be less pleasant to throw up some food more than others, but your head is what is sick.  You must keep from getting your brain out of balance, or you will get sick.

 

Many times I have a person that is starting to get sick steer the boat.  Why? Because they will be forced to watch and feel the waves as they come, making them more in sync with the ocean.  I have never heard of someone getting sick on a surf board, or even a kayak.  This is because they ride each wave with zero confusion.  They sea the wave coming, know they are going to go up or down, and are in tune with the movement.  When I a person is on a boat not looking at the ocean, their eyes tell the brain one thing and they feel something else.  The balance mechanism in the inner is trying to keep in balance, the brain is trying to understand what is going on, an your eyes are giving their input.  When these all are giving different information, your brain gets confused, and for some unknown reason sends a message to your stomach that life is not good, and the stomach reacts the only way it can. 

 

I can tell who is going to get sick within five minuets of them being on the boat.  They are the ones that stumble, and have a hard time getting their balance.  The people that naturally have sea legs, will intuitively adjust and move with the waves.  They will not be stumbling and hanging on to rails.  They will sway and move with the waves and not get sick.  They wont even know they are doing anything, it just comes naturally to some people.

 

If you don't have natural sea legs ( which most people don't) you must work at keeping in rhythm with the waves. The best way to do this is watch each wave come, and consciously try and move with the waves.  Don't be stiff, Keep you knees bent.  It is like learning to ride a horse.  A beginner bounces up and down in the saddle, and an experienced rider moves in unison with the horse until they almost act as one. Do not try and rig your line, look at something on your phone, or lay down and sleep until you have at least started to get the feel for the ocean.  Even with all the time I have on the sea, I still will get queasy if I have to read a manual, or try and fix something in the confined space of an engine room, that takes concentration, while at the same time getting rocked around by the waves.  I have never been sick while driving the boat in the day light, I have been sick while driving at night in rough seas, where I can't see the waves coming and am having to concentrate on my GPS and Radar screens.    

 

After a few hours in rough water, I get my sea legs, and wont feel bad even if I'm not where I can see out.  By this time I will be adjusting to the rocking of the boat even while sitting down.  My upper body will be rocking and adjusting anticipating and adjusting to the waves automatically even when I can't see them.  So I guess instead of sea legs it should be called sea body.

 

After getting on land it can take awhile to adjust to no motion, and get my land legs back.  That is why people that have been at sea for a long time, may appear to be intoxicated while walking, but haven't had a drink.  Although much of the time the sailor is intoxicated and that is why they are swaying back and forth.

 

In Summary, the best thing you can do is watch the waves and movement of the boat.  Try and get in sync. with the rhythm.  Keep your body loose, not stiff, don't fight the movement, ride the waves like you would if you were on a surf board or a horse.  Watch how the boat is reacting to each wave, anticipate the movement, and don't be afraid to look at the water.  Until you get the feel for the water, the only way you can anticipate the movement of the boat is to watch the water and see what is happening.  Like I said before, the person driving the boat rarely gets sick because they are forced to watch what is happening.

 

You can go ahead and eat your ginger, wear a band on your wrist, and have a certain diet, but until you get your sea legs you may be in for some trouble.

 

Dramamine will work, but makes a person sleepy.  Which is part of the reason it works.  By making you drowsy it de sensitizes your inner ear, causing your balance system to not over work itself, helping you keep from getting sick.  Besides if you do get very sick, being drowsy and sleeping the trip away is a good thing.

 

There is no way to predict how the sea will effect a person.  I have seen the toughest athlete brought to their knees, praying to die, while the most out of shape drunk, take wave after wave with zero problems.  Most people will get a little out of sorts, but recover after a few hours.  Some people can not recover until they are back on land.  If you are one of those unfortunate types, do not go out on rough seas.  

 

 

 

1 hour ago, king fisher said:

Some people can not recover until they are back on land

When I fished Lake Michigan I was fine on the lake. It was laying in bed that night that I went through all the waves all over again. Same thing happened when I used to ride roller coasters. 

9 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

my friend told me he would make a "magic brownie"...err..no.  

 

I do know however that would work wonders I imagine.  

 

On that note. If you'd like to avoid any legal entanglements, depending on your state, and don't want to feel funny then I'd look into CBD products. They really do work wonders for upset stomach. 

 

On the more general topic on motion sickness, I was a VR developer for a good while. It was a constant problem I had to fight. 

 

All the general advice here is good, but I think I can offer some technical advice too. One of the safety features we built into products was a small dot that was always visible in the center of your visual field. Most people weren't even aware it was there, but it greatly reduced nausea. We also would put in nearly invisible grid lines that did the same thing. It's all steady points in your mid to far visual distance.

 

On open water you can do the same thing with the horizon line. This is much easier if you can still see land. Find a fixed point and glance and it occasionally. It'll really help a ton. Being away from any visible land, you can still use the horizon line, but it's not quite as effective.

 

A small fan also helped a ton. There was something about the steady air flow. Make sure you're above deck and in the breeze. 

 

Also, food does actually matter (eat like normal, empty stomach actually makes things worse), but it's actually mostly your liquid intake. Coffee, carbonated sodas, and alcohol, we saw again and again, would send people into nausea. Probably because it irritates the stomach. Conversely, sweet things (like fruit juice) helped a ton once you were sick.

 

And you can recover from mild motion sickness, but a bad case will put you down for hours. Once it starts coming on, act fast. Horizon, air flow, and fruit juice can pull you out.

 

Also good news. You can adapt to motion sickness, so a bad experience doesn't mean you're doomed. Again we saw this in development. VR Legs/Sea Legs are real. I love being on a boat , but I used to get sick the moment water got rough. Now a days I'm pretty hard to make ill. Was out red drum fishing in heavy seas just this week and was fine.

Double post. Sorry, but wanted to add one bit of additional context. 

 

There is a huge range of different triggers for motion sickness. Some people are more sensitive to vertical motion, others horizontal, some to sudden drops (like airplane turbulence). I'm personally running for the bucket if steady forward motion suddenly stops. 

 

This is probably accounting for your 50% sickness rate. It really depends on what stimuli you're getting exposed to out there from boat motion. It'll vary day to day. You could try keeping a log if you're curious.

On 5/15/2025 at 9:03 PM, Choporoz said:

focus on the horizon

This works for me on the rough days on Lake Ontario. 

21 hours ago, king fisher said:

First of all, motion sickness has nothing to do with what you eat, so forget all the advise on food, eat what ever you want before you go out to sea.  

The advice offered in my first response here

regarding not eating spicy food before a trip out onto the open ocean,

was not that this would somehow be a cure.

Instead, it's because Komodo Dragon Chili

rarely tastes/feels as good coming back up

as it did going down. 

A-Jay

 

Everything was has been pretty much covered here, my only tip is do not eat White Castle Jalapeno burgers the night before, you won't know which end they might explode out of 

Several years ago I mentioned to my family MD that we were fixing to go on a cruise. Also mentioned that I was mildly afraid of getting seasick. He prescribed two weeks worth of prescription strength meclazine. Sorry, I don’t remember the strength. Said to start taking them one week before departure and on every day of the cruise. I didn’t have any issues at all.