Although it is enjoyable cruising out on the sea, sometimes, unfortunate situations creep up on you like a fever. You’re onboard on one of your father’s (or uncle’s, grandpa’s, or friend’s) aluminium boats, feeling fine one minute, and then the next minute you suddenly feel unwell and every happy and carefree feeling you’ve been harbouring has now replaced with dread and uneasiness; you feel you’re stomach getting queasy as if you’ve swallowed an entire box of Mexican jumping beans that have been somersaulting inside your gut, and then not much later, you feel woozy, weak, and nauseous. Suddenly, you feel your skin getting clammy, and now you’re wishing you were lying on a bed with a bucket beside you.

If you’re having these symptoms, you’re experiencing seasickness. Although this is a common occurrence, especially for people who are not used to unstable and moving ground, this feeling is especially uncomfortable and it spoils all the fun and relaxation you want to feel while you’re on a boat.

Nobody likes the feeling of nausea because it sometimes leads anyone to vomit. And the anticipation of barfing is a terrible feeling to go through compared to the act itself.

Even though the best solution to nausea is to vomit, sometimes you don’t have to go through this whole ordeal. And anyway, after you vomit, you feel very weak and sleepy that you don’t have enough strength to clean yourself up after going through that harrowing experience.

But you can avoid this torment by preventing seasickness from affecting your system. There are effective ways you can do to keep your gut happy and chill while you’re onboard a boat:

Avoid caffeine and greasy food

Don’t drink caffeine hours before you get on a boat. Also avoid eating greasy, heavy, and acidic foods onboard as well, especially if you’re that person who suffers from constipation and hyperacidity. These foods build up acid in your gut making you feel queasy and unwell. Eat simple foods that have low acid levels and sip some ginger ale to prevent feelings of nausea.

Get plenty of rest

It’s normal to feel anxious the night before your boating trip, but try to at least get a good night’s sleep. Getting plenty of rest the day before makes you feel more energetic. If you don’t get enough rest, you’ll be feeling sluggish and the chances of getting nauseous are high.

While you’re onboard, try to get plenty of fresh air by staying on the upper deck where the area is open. Make sure to stay in a shaded spot so you don’t get too hot.

Stay well-hydrated

Once onboard, take sips of water frequently to avoid getting dehydrated. Dehydration can also worsen feelings of nausea as well.

Avoid strong smells as much as possible

Stay far away from diesel and exhaust fumes. Avoid bringing foods with strong odours like smelly vegetables, stinky cheese, fermented food, and fish meals, and avoid spraying perfumes as well. Malodorous items can also trigger queasiness in your body. If your boat is anchored, don’t leave your engine running.   

Don’t read a book onboard

Reading a good book onboard can make a boating experience pleasurable but if you have a weak stomach and you’re not used to spending long periods on a boat, avoid doing this. Even staring at a phone or fixating your eyes on a certain object. This will send mixed signals in your brain between what you see and what you feel, and it will only make you feel dizzy.

Stare at the horizon ahead or at solid objects like the walls and furniture if you feel quite queasy. Position yourself in the middle of the boat as this is the most stable area. Avoid sitting on the sides since you can feel the bobbing motions.  

Take medication

If you don’t trust your body and you want to take extra precautions, you can take over-the-counter oral medications that can prevent seasickness. Meclizine is the generic name of this medication while you can buy brand names such as Bonine and Dramamine.

If you don’t want to take oral medication, you can wear an acupressure wristband. The pressure from these bands can help lessen the effects of seasickness creeping up on your body.

The next time you’re onboard a family boat or a catamaran, you won’t have to feel any anxious feelings from getting seasick as you already possess the knowledge on what to do to avoid it and even enjoy your time out on the water.