2018 Boaters' Holiday Gift Guide

Tech 

• Anyone leaving cell phone range regularly should have a satellite communicator these days – equip your boater with the new Spot X, the latest 2-way version with a keypad you can text on and post to social media to keep family and friends up to date on their travels. ($249)

• If your captain is one to keep his eyes on the horizon, stabilized binoculars might be a game-changer for 2019. Two to try:  Canon's 10x30 for $440 or Fujinon's Techno Stabi TS1440 for $1,000.

• For the amateur die-hard documentarians on your crew, help keep their mobile recording gear safe. After trying some cheaper versions, this year I'm investing in a LoopyCases per a recommendation from a new crewmate, who also pairs hers with a floating wristband for $7. 

• I still stand by the Anker charging brick I've mentioned in years past, which saw some updates in 2018 – get the latest for $50.

Boat

• Loads of fun that packs up small is a boater's favorite combo. New toys to try: the Rubber Dockie Duckling 9x6-Feet Floating Mat ($300), the Subwing Towable Watersports Board for Boats ($250), or the Oru Kayak Beach LT Folding Portable Lightweight Kayak ($1,100). 

• Sleeping aboard is an often overlooked highlight of boating, in my humble opinion. Snuggling up is even better when you don't have to worry about mildew. I'm psyched to try the new Buffy comforter, which uses 100% recycled plastic and I'm told are heavenly, on board and off. ($190) 

• Peace of mind is always a welcome gift! Give the whole crew a BoatUS Membership, which includes 24/7 dispatch assistance, a subscription to BoatUS Magazine, fuel, transient slip and repair discounts; and member rewards at West Marines. ($24)

Boating Gear & Garb

• When I really love my gear, I can't shut up about it – so when one captain I know wouldn't shut up about his gear-obsession of the summer, I took notice. He swears by his Shelta Seahawk Hat ($70 $64.50) – which stays cool and comfortable, its stiff brim doesn't flop, repels water, and provides UV protection. 

• Spyderco tops our list again this year with their Caribbean Leaf C217GP Folding Knife ($165 on Amazon) – rustproof, precise, and safe as heck with the compression lock, this knife's color also means you're less likely to lose it at the bottom of a drybag. 

• For anyone shy about wearing a lifejacket, perhaps a less-bulky Onyx M-16 Belt Pack Manual Inflatable Life Jacket ($55) might persuade them, and come in handy when boating in waters that require an inflatable for SUP boarding. 

• If your boater gets a bit stir-crazy aboard or is getting more and more Santa-shaped each day, keeping fit when hove-to or at anchor might be an intriguing idea. Check out these YYST Swim Ankle Strap - Stationary Swim Training Leash ($20) or Swim Bungee Training Belt - Swim Resistance Belt Tether ($20).

• A stocking stuffer could save the day if a $200 pair of sunglasses is about to drop in the drink. Check out Chums Floating Neo Eyewear Eyewear Retainer ($6).

Galley Gifts

• Rule #1 on some boats: keep the rum safe. Not a problem with the Stanley Stainless Steel Shots + Flask Gift Set ($30) or Classic Growler set ($60). 

• A boat galley's not a boat galley without rum. Instead of the same-old, same-old, spice it up in 2019 with a subscription to Taster's Club ($54/mo)

• Space is sparse aboard, so collapsible pots are right up our, er, galley. Check out this Gourmia Collapsible Pot, made with stainless-steel bottoms and food-grade silicone tops. $30 

• Another space-saver: the Toscana Mariner Cheese Board and Tool Set stows the silverware inside magnetically. (And it's in the shape of a ship's wheel, which is adorable.) $30

Media

• For jotting down notes, to-do lists, or seafaring enemies in need of smiting, Field Notes Coastal East and Field Notes Coastal West editions of their popular grid-lined notepads. ($23 for a 3-pack) 

• There are so many fantastic books we could list. Just a few of our favorites, for all different boating styles: The Essentials of Living Aboard a Boat, Nigel Calder's latest (non-mechanical) guide Shakedown Cruise: Lessons and Adventures from a Cruising Veteran as He Learns the Ropes, the tried-and-true The Boat Galley Cookbook: 800 Everyday Recipes and Essential Tips for Cooking Aboard, and, for aspiring boat-builders, The Elements of Boat Strength: For Builders, Designers, and Owners. 

  Click here for last year's recommendations.

Boat & Home Decor

• Dockwa boater Richard Perkins reached out to us to share My Custom Chart, nautical watercolor charts he customizes to include the gift recipient's boat, favorite fish, or home. 

• Less customized, but still super cool: Benoit's Design creates handcrafted nautical charts by laser engraving on birch wood panels for every state in the country. Thanks to Dockwa crewmate Katie D. for the suggestion! 

• More boat stuff that stows away small: the iZEEKER Inflatable Lounger ($20). 

• A custom model of your captain's boat might be just the ticket – one shop I've had recommended to me is SD Model Makers. 

• I'm officially a fan of 727Sailbags, which recycles sails into – you guessed it – bags, but goes above and beyond to not only include the story of each sail's history, but expands their inventory beyond the more typical offshore duffel ($210) or tote bag ($190) to offer everything from deck chairs to lamp shades to this sweet laundry basket. 

• Sometimes the little things make the biggest impact. Turn your boat's fishing tower into a multitasking machine with Roswell Marine's Seahorse Hanger ($38). 

That's a wrap!

Let me know if I hit the mark or missed your wishlist item by emailing becky@dockwa.com. 

This is the season where we feel luckiest for what we have, a reminder that there are many with much less and causes in need. Whatever you choose, you can never go wrong with a gift in your loved one's named to a seaworthy charity.