Please help,

My Dad gets sick on a ferry !!!!
What's the best thing for him to use?

Thanks,

Ken

For someone who gets seasick real easy the over the counter drugs don't work to good I've even been sick with the patch. The medicine that works the best for me is promethazine you need a prescription for it and a couple of sudafeds to keep you from falling asleep. Also no coffee or a greasy breakfast, if I think it's gonig to be rough I only drink water and eat crackers till I get a feel for what the water is going to be like. I have been out in pretty stinky conditions but I just get a little queasy if I take that stuff.

I know people who get sea sick easily and they use those wrist bands. I think you can get them at West Marine or Fishermans Supply over at Gas Works park. I agree with Tide runner, also 7-up will help too.

Transderm Scop (the patch) works well for me. A couple of pieces of toast for breakfast only and take saltine crackers aboard to munch on to neutralize stomach acid and keep a little something on your stomach. Keep your eyes on the horizon when possible and stay outside in the fresh air (avoid diesel exhaust at all cost). Do not go in the galley!!! Don't give a puker eye contact. Breathe through your mouth if the guy next to you creates a "cleanup on isle 5" situation on the deck. Don't start feeling too smug when you're the only one yet to blow. Good luck.

I like the wristbands and have used them on wicked water. I got mine at RiteAid. I do like the prescription patch as well.

My vote is for double protection. Use the patch you get the perscription for AND those silly little wrist bands.....the darn things actually work. It seems these things go back in history many centuries. Wish someone had told me 50 years ago.

kennyray, I got seasick the first three times out in the ocean this year. I finally hit on what worked for me. I take a Bonine(It's like Dramamine, but isn't supposed to make you drowsy)the night before, eat a good breakfast in the morning(for it's an omelet, hashbrowns, etc.)and a Bonine with breakfast. This routine has worked for me the last four times out, I can go in the cabin, look down, everything with no problems at all. Good Luck

If nothing else works, have him eat about a half dozen sardine sandwiches. At least if he hurls, it's something that should attract the fish.

I can't explain this at all but its true. I get sea sick about 50 % of the time. I took my kids out of Depot bay this summer. Sea was rough. As soon as the boat slowed down and started trolling I started thunder chumming. I was like a 15 year old boy after 10 beers with the bed spins. I would have rather been in the middle of a pack of midgets with ball peen hammers beating my brains out !!! I took the dramamine but it just made the puke taste extra gross. This happens just about every time I go out in the Pacific after Salmon.

On the other hand, I have been out in the Sea of Cortez after Tuna, Marlin lots of times and it does not bother me. Same rough seas, but its warm and smells different. Could that have anything to do with it???

Dunno about the difference down there vs. up here (my b-i-l blew chunks out of P.V. while the rest of us cranked on sailfish, but he'd never been in any kind of sea before).

I DO know that if you're taking Dram. while you're sick you're taking it WAY too late. Take it hours in advance, and as mentioned before, taking one before bed and then again in the a.m. before you go out is a good call.

When all else fails, remember to chew whatever you eat (grease is bad, carbs is good) real well. That way you don't bust any blood vessels in your eyes, and the chum disperses better.

I spent 6 years on a ship in the Navy and have fished here for 30 years without ever getting sick. This year I went to Westport and spent nine hours puking so hard I wished I could die, while the rest of the boat limited no less. Later I went to Sekiu, took dramamine the night before. Got up in the morning, took another, and ate breakfast. Took another about noon. I could tell I was still a little queasy, but overall was fine. I think the key is to start the day before with whatever you're going to take.

All good advice. Here is a link to a Puget Sound Anglers article on sea sickness cover the various remedies in detail.
http://www.pugetsoundanglers.org/Fishing%20Info/AvoidSeasickness.html

JMS

I always drink a few beers on the water. If you can keep his mind off of being sick that will help more than anything. It's all in your head. Keep him busy lots of discussion about life or what ever interests him. Good fishing is the best cure.

Another vote for bonine. I take night before and when I get up in the morning before fishing.

I have fished many times out of Uclulet BC (Indian word for barfing in ocean)with OBMG. Invariably there are a number of Chummers on the boat. We start a pool and try to guess which one is going to be first.

I remeber being on the back deck smoking, when this fellow asked us to quit smoking because it was making his wife sick. We asked him to make her stop because it was beginning to make us sick.

The Princess boats are a lot of fun. Every morning at the "Wakey, Wakey, eggs and Bakey" buffet, the talk is always of getting seasick. We always encourage those around us to eat as much as possible. The thinking here is that the more you have to chum, the less it hurts. Plus if they get sick you get to catch their share. God I love boat limits. The more Pukers the better!

I only blew out there once. It was a truly crummy day. Seas were VERY LARGE. 90% casualties on that ride. Ever since that I have been a firm believer of Dramamine. One at bed time, one when you get up. And maybe another just for good measure after breakfast.

kennyray,
get some dramamine (available over the counter) .....take some nite before and then the morning of your fishing trip,before getting on boat.

1) Nothing like a good ol stale cigar, Busch Ice and smoked oysters to keep those land lubbers guessing what's next!

My favorite...

2) Pre-staged can of Cream of Mushroom soup (has to be Campbell's- good and chunky). When no one is looking, stuff mouth and act appropriately.
(For a great visual, leave fake chum on mouth, chin, and front of shirt and pants. This guarantees the best spots at the rail- trust me on this one.)

Actually, keep him engaged in something.... keepin' a steady eye on the horizon helps tremendously too. Above all, if he is that bad, keep him well hydrated with plenty of water. 7-Up will help remove the nasties of bile from the throat.

Neptunus Rex
(Downriggin')

Next time you're up in BC, go to the local drug store and ask for Gravol. It's many times better than Dram or Bonine, without the drowsiness. We found it initially in Ucluelet after several in our party got sick the first couple of days. After the Gravol, no cookie tossing the rest of the trip.

One fool proof method I saw one day at Westport insures that you will never get seasick, guaranteed!

1. Drink lots of beer or hard alcohol the night before, preferably until 1 or 2 am.

2. Fall asleep in your truck only to be awaken to "Don't forget to buy your derby ticket!", blaring over the loudspeaker at 5 am.

3. Stumble down the gangplank to put your gear aboard the boat of your choice and while trying to board the boat lose your balance on the steps and fall back onto the dock, then roll gracefully into the water.

The guy I saw perform this cure-all was at the same tavern we were at the night before blitzed beyond comprehension, but we left around 11:00pm. He non-chalantly crawled up the embankment, came back and picked up his gear, then went back to his truck and fell asleep. He was there when we got back. Never got seasick at all.

I almost fell out of my chair on the last couple. Funny [Bleeeeep!] fellas!