how to prepare for your trip

1

Silhouette of a crab in teal color

before your trip

finish your paperwork

Your MendoNoma Marine client agreement is signed.

The contract between you/your organization and MendoNoma Marine should be completed before your scheduled trip.

Your waiver is completed.

You can complete your participant waiver online ahead of time or sign a paper copy before departure.

You have the permits and authorizations required for your work.

If your project involves research, wildlife, sampling, diving, or another regulated activity, you are responsible for obtaining the appropriate permits and authorizations before we leave the dock.

Let's Talk About the Bathroom

Our boat is 14.5 feet long. There is no bathroom aboard.

We highly recommend visiting the nearest head on land before departure—even if you don't think you need to go. Your future self may thank you. If nature calls while we're underway, we can usually accommodate a #1. For people who can comfortably pee over the side, life is relatively straightforward.

For the rest of us...life is a little harder.

You have options! You can bring a wide-mouth disposable container, use a stand-to-pee device or funnel designed for boating/camping, or—depending on conditions and your comfort level—we can help you safely find a little privacy at the stern. Products such as the Freshette, GoGirl, pStyle, GoPee, and similar devices are made specifically for situations where a regular bathroom isn't available.

If you decide to go this route, we strongly recommend practicing with it on land first. Your first attempt does not need to happen on a moving boat. And don't worry—we work in the field too. Bodies are bodies. Just tell us what you need and we'll handle it as discreetly and practically as possible.

For anything beyond a #1: that's a shore-based activity. Plan accordingly before departure.

A Good Rule for Boat Days

Use the bathroom before you leave. Dress warmer than you think you need to. Bring more water than you think you'll drink. Keep your food simple. And if there's something you need to be comfortable, safe, or successful in the field, tell us before the trip. We want the logistics to be the easy part so you can focus on why we're out there.

2

ready for the water

  1. Your completed waiver. Complete it online ahead of time or fill out a paper copy with us before departure.

  2. Any permits required for your work. You are responsible for making sure you have the appropriate permits or authorizations for your research, sampling, wildlife work, diving, or other activities.

  3. Your field gear. Bring whatever your project requires—binoculars, sampling equipment, cameras, scuba gear, notebooks, etc. If you’re unsure whether something will work well aboard our vessel, just ask us beforehand.

  4. Layers, layers, layers. It can be beautiful and sunny on land and surprisingly chilly once we’re moving on the water. Bring warm layers and a rain jacket or waterproof shell for windy or splashy conditions.

  5. Waterproof boots. If you have them, bring them! Your feet will thank you.

  6. Sun + warmth protection. Sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and a beanie are all excellent boat companions.

  7. Water + easy-to-eat food. Bring enough water and food for your time aboard. Think food you can eat with one hand and very little ceremony.

  8. Your preferred seasickness prevention. If you’re prone to motion sickness—or simply don't know yet—plan ahead. Over-the-counter options such as Dramamine may help some people, while prescription options such as scopolamine can be discussed with your healthcare provider. Ginger chews and saltine crackers are also classic additions to the boat bag.

  9. A change of clothes in your car. You may never need them. But walking back to your car wet and realizing there is an entire dry outfit waiting for you? Pro move.

What to Bring

What We Provide

  1. Dry bags
    We have dry bags in a variety of sizes to help protect gear from spray and the marine environment.

  2. Life jackets
    Required safety equipment and properly sized personal flotation devices will be aboard.

  3. A capable and honest captain
    We take safety seriously. Conditions on the ocean can change, and our captain will make decisions based on the vessel, weather, sea state, and people aboard—even when that means changing the plan.

what not to bring

Our primary request: avoid complicated or messy food.

Imagine trying to eat lunch while bouncing across the water at 20 knots. That's the test.

Cliff Bar? Yes.
Meat stick? Absolutely.
Apple? Excellent boat food.
Sandwich? Solid choice.

Sushi requiring chopsticks? Ambitious.
Premade salad requiring a fork, dressing, and two free hands? Save her for shore.
Anything requiring a microwave? We admire your optimism.
Orange-powder-covered snacks immediately before handling shared equipment? Maybe not.

Simple, contained, one-handed food is your friend.

A simplified, yellow illustration of a seaweed

ONE LAST THING

Come prepared, but don't worry about having everything perfectly figured out. We want you to be able to focus on the reason you're out there—your research, fieldwork, photography, diving, or project.

Bring the gear you need, dress warmer than you think you need to, pack a good snack, and we'll take care of getting you safely out on the water. As always, you can email us with questions: info@mendonomamarine.com we’d also be happy to set up a phone call to discuss special accommodation requests.

3

AFTER your BOAT trip

You made it back to shore! Before you head home, a few small things help take care of you, your gear, and ours.

  1. Drink some water.
    Boat days can be surprisingly dehydrating. Rehydrate—even if you don't feel particularly thirsty.

  2. Give salty gear a freshwater rinse.
    If your personal equipment was exposed to saltwater or heavy spray, rinse it with fresh water as soon as you can. Salt is very good at being salt and will happily corrode your expensive field gear.

  3. Take a gear inventory.
    Make sure all of your personal equipment comes off the boat with you—cameras, binoculars, sampling gear, dive equipment, water bottles, clothing, and all the little things that inevitably migrate around during a boat day.

  4. Return your MendoNoma Marine dry bags.
    Before heading out, please return any dry bags or other loaned gear we provided for the trip.

    Then go get warm, eat something good, and enjoy being back on solid ground.