Q: My kids love to get out on the water, but one always becomes seasick. We've tried almost everything. Any suggestions?
- Donna Preston, Chicago, IL

A: The only sure cure is to sit under an oak tree. However, it's not practical to carry an oak tree to sea. During my 15 years of running a sailboat race committee boat, I had a different "crew" every race. We would sit anchored until the last boat finished, sometimes hours after the first-place boat. Naturally, I gathered a lot of experience with seasickness and learned some "tricks" to reduce problems.

Don't go out with an empty stomach. Hunger tends to feed that queasy feeling. Avoid a greasy breakfast; skip the corned beef hash in favor of pancakes or waffles. While underway, have snacks available. Bland, salty pretzels work best, because they help settle the stomach and stay crisp in the moist atmosphere. Chips work, but can go stale too quickly. Peanuts and trail mixes are also good choices.

For good-tasting medicine, take along some of Grandma's old-fashioned ginger snaps. Homemade cookies baked with real ginger are the best snack of all. Ginger root has a demonstrated ability to calm queasy digestive systems. If you don't want to bake ginger snaps, look for anti-nausea pills and chewing gums containing ginger root or ginger oil.

Encourage potential victims to drink water to prevent dehydration. Soda pop settles some stomachs, but distresses others. If the victim wants a fizzy drink, consider Vernor's brand ginger ale. For some reason it seems to work better than ginger ales intended for primary use as a bar mix.  

There are anti-seasickness pills, like Dramamine or Bonine, available. These must be taken before going on the water so they have time to take effect before feeling nauseous. Beware: Most people do get drowsy when they take these pills. MotionEaze is a natural formula applied behind each ear. It's said to be effective even after the onset of seasickness.

Wristbands work by applying pressure to a specific point on the arm near the wrist. They're claimed safe for children and have no drug side effects. Simple bands cost under $10 and are reusable.

Assign a member of the crew to keep watch over anyone who's known to get seasick. The first symptom will be listlessness. The victim will withdraw from conversations, so act now or get the bucket later. Victims should be encouraged to sit out in fresh air where they can see the horizon. Keep them chatting, and never allow victims to stare down into the boat.

Q:We have a 24-foot center console that we keep on the Intracoastal Waterway and venture offshore only once in a while. What's best to have on board, a handheld or fixed-mount VHF radio?
- Sven, BW Forum Member

A: Carrying one of each is belt-and-suspenders insurance that you'll always have a backup radio voice should you need it. However, there's the problem of cost. If you only have enough money to buy one type of radio, your first choice should be the fixed-mount unit.

The reason is power. The fixed-mount radio can theoretically push out  a 25-watt signal. Most handheld units are limited to a maximum 5-watt output. When you need to call for help, any additional power is good. Lower output power restricts the distance you can transmit. But there's a limit to power. "VHF" stands for "very high frequency." Good communication in this radio band is limited to what's called "line of sight." For practical purposes, that means to your visual horizon and a bit beyond. This physical limitation explains why radios are limited to a 25-watt output. That's all you need to go to the horizon. Additional power won't increase range appreciably.

The real secret to how far you can carry on a conversation is the receiver. You can't talk to somebody you can't hear. Look for a unit with good sensitivity rating, typically 0.25 microvolts (uV) or better. In this case, a smaller number is better, because  it means the receiver is sensitive to a lower power signal. Another consideration is the receiver's ability to screen out unwanted signals. This is called "signal rejection," and it's measured in decibels (dBs). In the case of rejection, a bigger number is better.

That's not the whole story. The maximum distance any VHF radio can transmit is also limited by its antenna. The "rubber ducky" stub antenna on a handheld unit is intended only for short-range work, such as talking to a lockmaster or hailing a marina as you enter the harbor.

A fixed-mount radio requires that you also install a fixed-mount antenna. Look for the decibel rating, which indicates the "gain" of the antenna. The higher the number, the more output. Don't go hog wild with the biggest antenna on the rack if you're putting it on a small boat. Higher gain means a narrower band of transmitted power. Rockin' and rollin' out there can send most of your signal either into the water or out into the stratosphere. An 8-foot antenna with 3-decibel gain is a good choice for your 24-foot center console.

These days, all VHF radios come with Digital Selective Calling or "DSC." This is an automated distress calling system to help the Coast Guard respond quicker. If you connect your radio to a GPS receiver, it'll automatically send your latitude and longitude coordinates in an emergency. However, you'll first have to register for a nine-digit DSC number.

Q: We keep our boat at a private dock that's all the way at one end of the lake. It's a long run to the marina for gas. Is it possible for me to fuel up at home using gas from the service station on the highway?
- Tim Merton, Lynchburg, VA

A: There are no federal or state laws that prohibit refueling from a portable fuel jug. However, you may be prohibited from this practice by local marina or subdivision regulations. After clearing these legal hurdles, you still have to face safety and environmental issues. First of all, gasoline is explosive, and refueling a boat takes a lot more gas than filling up a lawn mower. You wouldn't want to carry that much in your car. It's best to put the gas jugs in the back of a pickup truck where there's plenty of open air to dissipate fumes. Individuals aren't required to have spill cleanup materials on hand like marina fuel docks. However, everyone is subject to anti-pollution laws. The best way to avoid trouble is to purchase equipment intended for refueling boats.

Todd Enterprises and Tracy both offer wheeled gasoline carriers. The Todd unit carries up to 28 gallons, while the Tracy carrier has a 15-gallon capacity. Both come with hoses and nozzles. The idea is to wheel the carrier down the dock, then let gravity drain the fuel from the carrier to the boat's tank. However, gravity flow is sometimes impossible. Tracy's "Gas Pal" pump kit allows transferring fuel above the height of the cart. Don't use an ordinary pump, particularly an electrical pump that isn't UL-Approved for gasoline. The risk of an explosion is too great.

If you want to use 6-gallon "jerry" jugs, Moeller has a "Flo-N-Go" portable gas pump. It allows gas to be pumped against gravity and has a patented auto-shutoff valve. The unit fits Moeller "scepter" tanks and most U.S. gas cans. Keep in mind that gasoline is heavy, a bit more than 6 pounds per gallon.