Christmas Boater's Gifts
Place a Great Christmas Gift Under Your Boater's Tree!
Christmas is coming and it never hurts to daydream about new toys for the boat or your nautical lifestyle.
It's not too early to think about Christmas gifts for your favorite boater. These gifts would be equally appreciated on birthdays or anniversaries. The gifts suggested span a range of interests and are practical items any boater would desire. Now's your chance to spend a little money on something besides the boat! Let's get started...
Garmin GPSMap 76CSx - This unit brings a full-featured GPS chartplotter to your pocket for less than $400. The GPSMap 76CSx can store nautical charts, navaid information, and tide data for boating in the United States and the world. A great toy for your special boater! Try Amazon.com for purchasing a Garmin GPSMap CSx.
Chapman Piloting: Seamanship and Boat Handling by Elbert S. Maloney, ISBN 1588160890. Chapman's is the boater's bible. A nearly complete reference, this book will guide you through almost any boating subject you can think of exploring. Referencing this publication has resolved more than one disagreement. Electronic versions of the book are also available. Try Amazon.com for purchasing your own copy of Chapman's Piloting.
Sperry Men's Beach Runner and Women's Beach Walker - Sperry is best known for their line of Top-Sider deck shoes, has come out with a pair of water socks that will be welcome on the boat and at the beach. Purchase directly from the Sperry home page for $19.95.
Mustang Float Coat - A favorite with professional boaters, Mustang manufactures a number of highly rated life jackets (PFDs) and immersion suits. Purchasing a float coat increases the odds that you will be wearing a PFD when you really need one. A perfect gift for the boater you love (and plan to keep around!). Visit Mustang Survival for more information on float coats and other great boating gear.
Furuno FCV620 Digital Fishfinder - A dual frequency fish sounder that uses Furuno's digital signal processing to produce an easy to read display of conditions beneath the surface. Data displayed includes water temperature, fish returns, and depth. The FCV620 can be interfaced with a Furuno chartplotter to mark hotspots, allowing a return to the same location in the future. Try Boater's World for marine electronics.
Eyemax Weatherband Radio - Freeplay Energy has a hand powered radio receiver for AM, FM and weather radio broadcasts called the Eyemax. The EyeMax is water resistant and winding the radio's handcrank for 30 seconds will power the radio for about 35 minutes. No batteries to replace and a great way to receive Marine Weather Broadcasts from the National Weather Service. Buy yours at Freeplay Energy.
Ocean Treasure: Commercial Fishing in Alaska - Written by Terry Johnson and edited by Kurt Byers, Ocean Treasure is a great book for the armchair fisher in the family. Color photos of various fishing boats, fish species, and gear types used here tell a story of a unique way of life in Alaska. Visit the Alaska Sea Grant Program website for a copy this book and browse their on-line bookstore.
Buy early and buy often for that boater in your family. Send your own suggestions for great boating gifts to Boating and Sailing at Suite101.com. More gift ideas can be found in the article Finding Gifts for Boaters.
