FAQs about BSA Sea Base High Adventure trips!

 

Everyone has questions about Sea Base crew requirements, forms, certifications, documents and crew bags: what goes in them, how big are the bags, what are the best products to take, what worked and what didnb't - this page answers those questions with feedback from actual Sea Base participants!

• Where do I find the forms?
• Crew training certifications
• Crew bags - what goes in them
• Important things to know

Be sure to see

• Tips and recommendations based on past trips
• The all-in-one checklist and cost calculator
• Master list of Sea Base Trip Guides, Checklists, Calculators, Lists, Forms, Tips and More
• How to Create Custom Crew Shirts for Sea Base High Adventure Trips
• UNofficial official Sea Base page with loads more information about Sea Base.

• Merit badge requirements you can complete while on a Sea Base Adventure!

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Crews - Forms

This page has a suggested and frequently used method for organizing crew memebr forms, certifications and other documents for a fast check-in. 

Crews - Training Certifications

Each crew member must provide completed, signed, current certifications as follows. Be sure to see the forms page for other required documents :

1. Individual waivers (as needed - many crew members need no waivers),
2. Safeguarding Youth Training Certificate - all adults
3. Safe Swim Defense Training Certificate - all adults
4. Safety Afloat Training Certificate  - all adults
5. Hazardous Weather Training Certificate  - all adults
6. Plus one Adult per boat/crew must ghave completed these two:
   - Wilderness First Aid (2 to 5 day course!) and
   - CPR Training Cards, Front and Back (CPR is a one-day class, typically

Suggested Crew Duffle Bag Contents

Sea Base provides 2 "crew duffle bags" Large, 50L is what has been reported.  You can use them - or not. The idea is to have a place for communal items. Here's what is suggested to put inside them:

• Crew Packing List
• Carry on board or pack: Some crews put sleeping pads in the crew bags, others have each drew member carry their mat onto the boat.
• Most crews have a communal supply of the following so each participant need not bring them. Check with your leader about the following occasionally used items:
  • Large bandages,
  • tape,
  • Hydrocortisone lotion,
  • antihistamine, 
  • moleskin,
  • triple antibiotic cream, 
  • ink pen, notepad,
  • Advil/Ibuprofen, Tylenol/Acetaminophen,
  • Benadryl lotion,
  • pepto bismol,
  • Tums antacid,
  • swimmers ear treatment,
  • Dramamine or Bonine.
     
• Crew first aid kit: This is a generic one that you can buy and just add a few things to it and be good to go! Add the following to it, in a separate, easily reached bag in the duffle:
  • Tweezers and sterile needles in case you have a sea urchin encounter.
  • Aloe for sunburns
  • Bug spray
  • Vinegar
  • Caladryl for bug bites
     
• Locking waterproof first aid kit for prescription medications - Yes, this is a good idea, in that "just in case" scenario IF any crew will be bring regulated prescription meds, especiallty those which could be abused, like pain management medications or potentoially addictive substances. And of course, you can fill it with back up supplies of other meds, lotions, etc, so they can be metered out as needed.
   
• Clothespins -  for hanging suits and towels on railings and boat lines to dry.
  Choices are: heavy duty plastic clothespins, or Large Wooden Clothespins, or Metal clothes clamps or  Strong Grip Clothes Pins or Strong wooden clothespins. A pack of 50 regular size pins is about $2 at Wal-Mart.
  Apparently, Sea Base and the boat captains are all over the map of this: some say bring wooden ones as they are much better for the sea environment if one of those falls off the boat rather than the plastic clothespins. Others tell you the plastic or metal ones are better. I'll ask around when I'm at Sea Base in a few weeks.
  You MAY also want Paracord 550, especially if you are using clamps.
   
• Dog poop bags for used toilet paper in the head (since TP may not be flushed, only poop and pee). Why bring the bags when there is a waste receptacle? Because it will stink otherwise!  If everyone puts their used toilet paper in a dog poop bag and then puts that in the waste can, it really keeps the smell down.
   
  
• Extra water bottle -
  Bring one extra per crew, just in case one is lost overboard.
   
• Multiple Dry Bags: 1-2 Medium Size plus at least 1 Large Size.
  They're cheap (even Wal-Mart has a 3-pack for <$10)
   
• Non-aerosol deodorant pump spray, like PooPourri for the head
   
• Paracord 550 and heavy duty plastic clamps - to keep pillows, liners, sleeping mats, etc. from blowing overboard.
  It gets WINDY on a boat, especially when a storm in the evening or at night blows in !  
   
• Second big duffel - just in case. Well, that's what Sea Base suggests. They supply it at Sea Base.
  

Important things to know about crew members:

This is not an all-inclusive list, just some of the more important things that get overlooked!

1. Adults: Without exception every adult leader and all individuals over 18 participating in a Sea Base program must
   • be registered with Scouting America,
   • complete Youth Protection Training, Scouting America Safe Swim, Scouting America Safety Afloat, and Hazardous Weather Training Certificate.
   • Per boat,
     One adult age 21 or older must complete Wilderness First Aid Training and
     one adult age 21 or older must complete CPR/AED Training.
2. Every participant, youth and adult, must complete Scouting America Swim Test as a Swimmer passed on a date within a year of the start of their adventure. The Scouting America Swim Test should be documented on the Unit Swim Classification Record and submitted during check in.
3. Sea Base participants must be in good health. All participants must provide a current and complete the 2019 version of the Scouting America Annual Health and Medical Record (AHMR). AHMR’s are current for 12 months from the end of the month in which they are completed. For example, if the medical form is signed and dated on June 2, 2024, it is valid until June 30, 2025. No other medical form will be accepted.
4. No participant can exceed 295lbs as evidenced by the medical form. No exceptions will be
   made, as this is the weight limit for safety equipment aboard our US Coast Guard inspected vessels. Participants exceeding 295lbs will be sent home at their own expense. No refund will be given.
5. CPAP users can bring their equipment, but it is a good idea to bring their own 100W battery pack backup (which is TSA air travel compliant). Some recommend bringing 60W solar chargers to recharge on the boat, since every boat is different.!
6. If you are on a sailing adventure:
   • Water bottles: do not bring metal or aluminum water bottles (they clank all night). You are expected to bring a Nalgene 32 oz BAP-Free Wide Mouth Water Bottle and an insulated matching insulated carrier / coozy to keep it insulated and with a carabineer. The one linked to Amazon coozy has a should strap and even zipped pockets. Much cheaper with the links on the photos, even less that Wal-Mart. So you get the bottle and the carrier for just the cost of the bottle alone at Sea Base.
     At the Sea Base Ship store, the 2026 Nalgene water bottles are $26 double the cost of the Nalgene bottle on Amazon .
   • No shoes: sailing captains do not allow shoes of any kind- including deck shoes while on board, just the fin Neoprene water socks.
   • Sleeping: Due to the heat, most participants will choose to use a very thin sleeping liner (with a zipper and pillow pocket) and sleep on deck rather than below deck.
   • Masks and snorkels: Bring your own. Get it at a local (to you) dive shop, in person, prior to departure, so you can check the comfort and fit, which is very important. They will not be provided as part of your adventure, but can be purchased/ordered through the Sea Base ship store, but I would not recommend that. They only sell one generic brand and if it is a poor fit, well, have fun with that. It's enough of a specialized topic, that it's all on its own page: See this page for everything you need to know AND where to get it
   • Fins, inflatable vests and fishing gear are provided, so do not bring those.
     More info on the packing list pages.
   • Luau night: On the last night of Florida Sea Base Adventures, your crew will participate in a Conch LUAU. This is a special dinner festival complete with fun, music and games. Dress for the Conch LUAU should be Keys- Hawaiian style Conch Luau Shirt. Floral shirts are available for purchase onsite at the Ships’ Store. Check with your leader - Sea Base has recently changed which trips have luau's! Apparently not all do now.
     
7. For off-boat walking, bring closed toe, high ankle water shoes with a solid bottom. Protect your feet and ankles against sharps and biting things!

Oddball questions and esoterica

See these pages:

• FAQs : Our own Sea Base frequently asked questions and answers
•  Sea Base's official FAQs.