Capt Dave

MAKE A RESERVATION

To reserve a charter or cruise PRIOR to your arrival at the University of New England, please call us at 207-590-2276, or 207-283-0712, or E-Mail us We can reserve your trip by taking your credit card number over the phone. This can be useful in reserving the prime times for fishing or cruising while you are here in Maine. Of course, you can also make a reservation AFTER you arrive at the University of New England.

NO SHOW POLICY

Here in Maine, we have a relatively short charter and cruising season. If you reserve a specific time for a charter or cruise during your conference at the University of New England, we rely on you to show up for your event (obviously, we may turn down other people wanting this time slot once you reserve it). Therefore, we have no choice but to charge your credit card for the trip if you fail to show up for your charter.

WEATHER POLICY

Occasionally, WE occasionally may have to cancel your reserved trip. Saco Bay Conference Fishing Charter and Cruise Services want you to have a fun and SAFE experience, so they reserve the right to cancel and reschedule your trip based on weather or sea conditions. This is very unlikely to happen for inshore fishing and cruising, but may occur if you book an offshore trip. If the Captain has to cancel your reserved trip for any reason, you will be offered the chance to take the trip on another day. However, if you are unable to do that, your credit card will NOT be charged for your reserved trip. If you book an offshore trip and the weather conditions change for the worse after we are underway (it happens sometimes!) and the Captain determines it has become unsafe and terminates the trip, the cost of the trip will be prorated based upon the time away from the dock. Every effort will be made to reschedule your trip if possible.

WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING

* wear sneakers or deck shoes
* hat
* sun screen
* sunglasses
* camera or camcorder
* clothing for the weather
* lunch (we provide snacks and beverages)

To maximize space on the boat, please do not plan to bring any food / beverage coolers on board that are over 16 quarts.

ALCOHOL POLICY

You may bring up to a six pack of beer or bottle of wine per person aboard the boat, but liquor and illegal drugs are STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If a passenger becomes intoxicated, the Captain reserves the right to terminate the trip without a refund.

SEASICKNESS POLICY

Seasickness is not going to be a problem if you book an inshore fishing or cruise charter. However, it may become a problem if you are going offshore. If the customer wants to return early from an offshore trip because of seasickness, you will be responsible for full payment. We do not want this to happen to you, so take precautions!! If you are going offshore, you should definitely consider the medications and/or wrist band listed below to help prevent seasickness.

Wrist Bands

They essentially come in two types:
1. Elastic, accupressure wristbands (Sea-Band and Travel-Eze) that put pressure on the nerve and seem to prevent motion sickness in some people (about $10 a pair).
2. Relief Band, a battery powered wrist band. This is the only drug free, FDA approved device for motion sickness. It is believed to work by electrically stimulating certain nerves on the underside of your wrist, which is thought to transmit a signal to the brain that interferes with the sensation of nausea. These devices are expensive (usually between $80 and $100 each, depending on where you buy it).

Over the Counter Medications

There are several over the counter (OTC) drugs that may help to prevent motion sickness. Our experience is that they are virtually useless if you take them AFTER the symptoms of motion sickness appear. So if you are going offshore and plan to use one of these OTC compounds, take it AT LEAST one hour prior to getting on the board, preferably with a light meal. The most common OTC's used are:
1. The antihistamine dimenhydrinate (brand name Dramamine, Triptone).
2. The histamine receptor blocker meclizine (brand name Bonine, or Dramamine II).

Prescription Medications

If you are planning an offshore trip, you may want to talk to your doctor about prescription medication to prevent seasickness (especially if you have not had success with using the non-prescription medications above). The options include:
1. Scopalamine (in tablet, patch, or gel)
2. Promethazine (tablet, injectable, suppository, liquid)
3. Prochlorperazine (tablet, injectable, suppository, liquid)
4. Cinnarizine (tablet, capsule, liquid)
Your doctor will suggest which one is likely best for you, and will determine the dose and when to take it. In addition to taking medication and / or using a wristband, the following can help prevent seasickness as well:
# Do not get on board with a hangover!
# Light meal an hour before travel
# Don't go below in the cuddy cabin for a long time; stay outside in the fresh air during the trip.
# Focus on the horizon rather than trying to read or look at something inside the boat.
# Don't smoke
# Eat dry crackers
# Drink a carbonated beverage