By Curt Epperson
It’s that time of year again. Your favorite sailor is putting together his/her Christmas list and you’re thinking of clever things to buy. Here are some tips for holiday shopping.
Remember, the sailor on your list is easy to please. For the addicted, almost anything boat related will be a great gift. For the best deals, order early online.
For guys’ gifts, remember this. Items that make noise or can qualify as a gadget are great. It’s a testosterone thing I think. Here are my suggestions. (However, don’t consider these ideas exclusively for men. They could also work for your favorite dedicated female sailor.)
Handheld VHF radio. Every boat should have one. It’s useful for coming into a marina and a good back up if the main VHF radio dies. It’s not a toy, but you don’t have to spend big bucks.
Small rechargeable power tools. A small drill or electric screwdriver has many uses on a boat. Another very useful tool is a “Dremel Tool” and accessories.
Repair books and “how-to” manuals. There are hundreds of choices. Some of the best are those that explain 12-volt wiring, diesel engine maintenance, rigging, and electronics.
Portable CD player with headphones. This is an idea for sailors who like music. Add the Jimmy Buffet four-disk set or the latest live album for bonus points. He can hear his tunes while sailing or motoring and you don’t have to listen also. Combine the player with some small, battery powered speakers and you have an inexpensive, easy to stow, zero installation, stereo system. It won’t be hi-fidelity but it’s simple and inexpensive. (We use some old, four-inch, free standing computer speakers.)
Two way “family” radios. These are modern walkie-talkies. For a little added safety he can take one in the dinghy while fishing. Give one to the kids, take them ashore to play, and they can call you later for a ride back to the boat. (Create a little privacy for you adults. Just make sure they can’t swim back to the boat unexpectedly.) In windy, noisy conditions these radios are a great way to communicate from the bow to the helm while working the ground tackle (no shouting necessary).
Some gifts are appropriate as duplicates. Buy a second fire extinguisher or another flashlight, one that fits in his pocket. In that vein, I really like my pocket
binoculars. They are perfect for coming into an anchorage or for hiking. Does your mate gaze across the water and say, “I wonder what kind of boat that is?” If so, get the little binoculars.
I’ve never met a dedicated cruiser who had “too many” guidebooks and new paper charts are almost always appropriate. The “chart kits” like those offered by Maptech are very nice. Consider also a waterproof zip-cover. If your partner likes to daydream about cruising, get a wall map that shows your entire favorite cruising region. (I have two of those on my office wall. Of course, I also read cruising guides while I eat breakfast, so call me easy.)
Finally, there are some gifts that won’t be used often but are very useful when needed.
Rechargeable spotlight with cigarette lighter adaptor. Useful for coming into a crowded harbor after dark.
Forehead headlamp. This is about as good as it gets when working on the engine or in a dark, cramped space. It keeps your hands free and puts light directly on the problem.
Navigation tools. Everyone needs a good parallel ruler, a compass and a protractor for plotting courses. Or buy him one of those navigation tool sets.
Handheld GPS. This is nice for occasional use, as a back up for a bigger unit, or to practice at home how to fully use a larger, more expensive GPS. The knot meter on your boat only shows your speed through the water so we use our hand-held GPS to show speed over the bottom when we are in high currents.
Ok, that’s enough gifts for guys. Now here are some items for women sailors.
Start with one rule of thumb. When in doubt, find an item of clothing that is associated with warm. (Polartec, wool, flannel, etc.) Some hits from holidays at our house are the following.
Polartec lined jeans. These are very warm and more comfortable than wearing long underwear.
Flannel lined jeans. A close second to polartec.
Polartec pants. Sometimes sold under the name “Toasties." A sure crowd pleaser.
Flannel sheets. The v-berth can be a cold spot on any boat. Flannel sheets on a cold night are wonderful.
Warm sailing gloves. These are for cold, blustery, drizzly days. Buy her the nice ones.
Polartec socks. The same principle as warm gloves. Cold feet are no fun.
A really good pair of sunglasses. Some sailors are too frugal to buy themselves a really nice pair of sunglasses just for the boat. Shop around and find some for her. Or better yet, take her shopping after Christmas and help her find a nice pair at a decent shop.
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"If she likes to cook there are some neat things for the galley." |
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If she likes to cook there are some neat things for the
galley. (On our boat, I do the barbecue and Mary is the Chef.) Start with a nice (not cheap) pressure cooker. Shop around, either on the web or in kitchen stores. Make sure you get top quality but small enough to be practical on the boat. Add a
pressure cooker cookbook to go with this item.
Consider some small spice containers, or one container with multiple compartments. Spices don’t stay fresh forever so get small, refillable containers. Unbreakable beverage cups and glasses (that stack with each other) are nifty. If you have an oven, get a small, easy to read oven thermometer. Also, a little digital timer is useful. Buy things that are easy to clean, convenient, and easy to stow. A lot of neat items are available online but don’t neglect shops at your local mall. They have racks and racks of useful gadgets.
Mary and I often use showers at marinas or parks. Buy a nice bag and a kit for her shower stuff. Put together some small, refillable plastic containers for shampoo, conditioner, soap, skin lotions, etc. Get her a nice comb and hairbrush just for the boat. Top this off with a small hair dryer. How about those times when you are on the hook or away from shore side facilities for days at a time? Mary has a butane-powered curling iron and a 12-volt hairdryer. (It doesn’t get real hot, but it’s fine for doing simple drying and styling in a pinch.)
Sometimes it gets a little crowded on board with your mate for days or weeks at a stretch. That’s when walks alone on the beach are the ticket. But a fun alternative is an inflatable kayak. This is a very nice gift that will really enhance her cruising experience. Trust me on this, guys. You are wonderful but days alone with you might wear thin. The kayak is a real good idea!
Remember to buy nice gifts that can stay aboard permanently. Cruising (or a quiet weekend together in the marina) is more fun when you can go without a lot of packing and fuss. Take a look around your house and see what she uses in the bathroom and kitchen. Take some time to notice her favorite items of apparel. Then shop around and get some similar things (smaller and handier) to go on the boat.
One last suggestion, ff you have a mate who has trouble shopping for you, here’s an idea. Go online, find some things you like, and then e-mail him the pages. He can open the e-mail, order the item, pay on-line, and you get exactly what your want, even down to color and size.
So that’s it. Happy shopping, happy holidays, and happy sailing.
Click here for Sailnet Gift Guide
