Posted on 03/10/2019 9:48:59 AM PDT by amorphous
A recently retired friend is thinking of selling his home (which is paid for) and buying a boat for himself and his wife to live aboard without ever having lived aboard a boat before.
Are there any FReepers who have done something similar, or who have experience living this kind of lifestyle, or have advice I could maybe pass on to them?
Unfortunately, it doesn't work in my case. I seem to have a peculiar affliction for a certain type of motion that only occurs on the ocean, or a body of water connected to it, such as a large bay. I'm not sure what it is, but I think it has something to do with the ocean's swells - the heaving motion.
As long as a boat is moving fast, 12+ knots or so, I don't experience any motion sickness, regardless of wave height. When the boat slows, or stops I get sick.
I'm a pilot and have no issues with motion sickness while flying, even if performing maneuvers that would make most queasy. Stick me in or on a body of saltwater (freshwater lakes don't bother me) and I get nauseous every single time. I have tried to overcome it dozens of times, but nothing has worked so far.
I think when my ancestors came to America, many centuries ago, the trip must have been so horrible, the memory of that experience somehow embedded itself into my genes! lol
Good physical condition. He’s also a pilot, so has experience with navigation, weather, radio work, etc. No experience with marine navigation, procedures, etc, except for small fishing boats (less than 20’). Mechanically minded so after learning the marine maintenance requirements, that part shouldn’t be a issue. Both have their passports and some overseas travel experience. It will be a huge learning experience, but that’s part of the fun of doing something different.
Have you tried the Scopolamine patch? My husband can get seasick from time to time if it’s rough, as well, and they work great for him. We were on a five day/four night nonstop sail from Puerto Rico to the Turks and Caicos many years ago with another couple helping them deliver their sailboat to Florida from Tortolla, BVI. The wife got so seasick that she was dead to the world. I put a patch on her (behind the ear) and within 15 minutes she was a new woman! Usually, you apply them before setting sail but she was not having a problem until the second or third day of rolling seas, four hour watches, hand steering because the autopilot was broken and staring at the wonky compass to hold course hundreds of miles from land. I can get a little queasy myself if the conditions are really bad, but I usually get over it with not much of a problem - it’s not fun, I know. I think you can still get the patches by prescription, though you can buy them over the counter in the BVIs, Turks and Caicos and, I think, the Bahamas.
In researching it, I read about an astronaut who had the same problem. He was fine until the splashdown, then he'd puke all over the capsule.
If I ever plan to cruise in the oceans, it'll have to be in one of those fast cigarette boats or maybe a seaplane! :)
Yes. That’s why people sail. It is the most peaceful thing.
Bingo. Absolutely correct. We call those folks to see if they’ll donate it to the Sea Scouts. We flip those boats from time to time.
Better decision in my opinion.
Sometimes it is storming outside and I don't even know it. It's warm in winter and cool in summer. I get to store all my books and they stay dry and neatly aligned on bookshelves throughout the space.
Smoke detectors and sprinklers in every room. It's almost impossible to burn this place down.
Sometimes I'll just sit on my patio and read my book - for hours on end. Nobody bothers me much.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.