Looking for the perfect gift idea for that special someone who loves boating or sailing? We have spent countless hours scouring the internet to find some of the best gift ideas to lift the whole crew’s spirits when out in the water.
#1. A lightweight, portable and fast-brewing coffee-press which will give your friend an extra ten minutes in bed before getting out on those early-morning tides.
Review spotlight: “You can take it on trips, use it in hotels. You can take it camping, hunting, or fishing. You can take it to your office. In fact, I bought a second one for my office. This thing can make the best coffee anywhere you have boiling water.” – dwizum
#2. The portable speaker that answers when you call. Now your friend can order Alexa to change the playlist or deliver a weather forecast without getting their wet, salty hands all over the device.
Review spotlight: “This is very good and amazing easy to setup by downloading the Alexa app. The colour is great and it works amazing especially the smart plug control. Well worth the investment.” – Haider
#3. An insulated can-cooler so your buddies can keep their tins ice-cold for the entire day trip.
Review spotlight: “Perfect for tall slim beer cans! So I have tried to find the perfect beer coozie for a Michelob Ultra, Bud Lite Lime & Corona Premier tall slim can. This is the perfect fit!!!! The top unscrews & you slip your can in & then twist the top back into place to tighten.” – Blondemomints
#4. A pair of water shoes to give your friend the flexibility and comfort of being barefoot without having to tread so gingerly on slippery or rough surfaces.
Review spotlight: “First I bought fitkicks, and they fell apart. Then I bought two other similarly generic sock/shoes, and they SUCKED and were returned the same day as delivery! These came and they are the best so far. I work at a spa, so I wear these instead of bare feet in the winter and they’re comfortable and fit great. Ive already put a good amount of miles on them and they show no wear. WILL BUY AGAIN.” – Chef Christopher
#5. This pair of strong and nimble pliers won’t just sit in the toolbox getting all rusty and stiff until they eventually need to be used – because they don’t rust! Or corrode in saltwater! They’ll work as good as new whenever, wherever.
If your giftee has ever numbed their fingers trying to loosen a shackle or needed to perform urgent pintle repairs while adrift and rudderless, then they’ll know just how useful a pair of pliers can be.
Review spotlight: “great product. similar to the high dollar products in quality and features. they have been used several times and even completely been submerged in salt water with no rust or reduction in functionality. the carabineer is a good added feature to ensure that the pliers are not lost even in hairy situations.” – VideoJames
#6. A temperature-controlling mug, so your friend will be able to warm their cockles with a cup of the good stuff while braving the worst of the maritime weather.
Review spotlight: “Just what I needed! I hated how quickly my coffee cooled down but not when using my Ember cup! The cup charges by sitting on what looks like a saucer so I have that next to the coffee pot. Charged quickly and battery lasts hours, I haven’t had it die on me yet, used for about three hours so far. Has pre set temperatures that can be adjusted warmer or cooler from the app.” – Bellealyn
#7. This snug and stylish beanie hat that has in-built headphones so your buddy can look good, feel toasty and listen to their favourite shanties all at the same time, without cumbersome wires getting in the way of deck-swabbing and other onboard chores.
Review spotlight: “So I got this for my fiancé last Christmas and he loved it! He uses it when walking and when shoveling snow. No more wires in the way when doing outdoor chores. The sound is great and the size is perfect like a regular beanie should be.” – Amazonlover
#8. A snug fleece travel pillow so your shipmate can set a course and grab forty winks on the go.
This super-soft snug folds up neatly, so say goodbye to the bulky travel pillows of the past.
Review spotlight: “I originally purchased this to travel to Singapore and Tokyo, Japan during November. My entire flight, including round trip, totaled about 40 hours (and 6 flights). I was wary of the Trtl at first, but now I am so glad I bought this. I have absolutely no regret! It is possibly the best purchase I have ever made for traveling. I can’t even imagine ever traveling without it again. THAT was how great this Trtl turned out to be!” – Zenzinin
#9. This waterproof speaker that will keep pumping out the tunes through any wipeout or capsize.
Review spotlight: “…Normally, I’d start out with the sound, but this waterproofing design just blows me away. Perfect for the great outdoors. That being said, yes – this is an amazing speaker that puts out sound that will make you look around and wonder where it’s coming from…” – The consumer’s voice
#10. A waterproof kindle, for all those hazy summer days your friend spends on deck, gently pitching and rolling in the surf. Lighter than a real book, your buddy can read it one-handed, keeping the other free to hold a cocktail.
Review spotlight: “If you don’t have Kindle, let me summarize why it’s a must-have for book lovers: You can read on Kindle for up to a month without charging. There’s no glare on the screen, even on bright sunny day outside. It has a front-light rather than a back-light so there’s no eye strain. It’s super light weighted. The device doesn’t get hot in your hands. You can look up words instantly by clicking on the word you don’t know while reading. Vocabulary Builder – it remembers all the words you looked up and shows you the actual text from the book the word was looked up!” – David’s List
#11. A powerful charging bank, so the crew never have to face the fear as their smartphone battery dips below 20% on those long voyages. Imagine all the Instagram stories and sunset selfies they could miss out on without it!
Review spotlight: “This charging station is a really good size and fits nicely on a side table, without taking up too much room. It has space for 5 devices, and has multiple different charging cables to fit different devices. It works really well.” – Gabrielle
#12. Did you know boats need sunscreen too? This UV Protectant Spray will give your boating buddies all the rubber protection they need, saving them a fortune in repairs and maintenance.
Review spotlight: “When you find a good product, you stick with it… and I’ve been using this here in Arizona, land of all the harmful UV rays that just love to dry out rubber and plastic and make life miserable on your car or boat. I have even used it on our shade cloth screens we have on our windows to refreshen the faded look to almost new…” – Linda Strayer
#13. This watertight dry bag, so your pal’s vital valuables can survive any splashing, soaking or sinking shenanigans at sea.
Review spotlight: “I absolutely love this Earth-Pak dry bag to take on my SUP adventures. It’s very well made – material is strong so I know my things will stay dry even if it goes overboard. Strong secure clips to attach to the board, making it unlikely to detach itself from the board particularly if the water becomes choppy…” – Monica
#14. This decorative life ring, for your friend who loves to live the life aquatic both on board and ashore.
Review spotlight: “Hanging on the front porch entrance railing on my first home! Near it, I have hung some bamboo accent lights, and it looks warm and inviting! Something is working, as after hanging it up, one of my new neighbors brought over a plate of homemade cookies!” – 1Princess
#15. A powerful waterproof head torch to light your friend through the dankest fog and the darkest nights on board ship.
Review spotlight: “This one puts the others in the the same price range to shame. This thing blasts out a legitimate 900 lumens on the highest setting. Comes with a decent lithium 18650 battery. I have yet to test the longevity but it certainly puts out enough power to light up a room. I have a much more expensive 1000 lumen Nitecore that I really like. This light puts out just as much light for less than half the price…” – Trina
#16. This hi-tech drink bottle that your friend can use to keep their beverage cold for hours after leaving shore.
Review spotlight: “This particular bottle was a gift for my boyfriend but I have the same water bottle in a different design for myself. Both of us think this is the best water bottle ever created and they’re so sleek, fun looking, and they seriously do their job so well. Nothing beats waking up in the middle of the night, wanting a cold drink, and finding ice cubes still in it after 5 hours!” – Erin
#17. An outdoorsman’s first aid kit so your friend can soothe his sharkbites, treat trauma and bandage bangs from the boom.
Review spotlight: “With a huge amount of first kits available on Amazon I was keen to find one that suited my needs. I work offshore on yachts and I always like to have my own back up first aid kit in case the yacht’s one is lacking in some way. In my free time I ski through the winter and spend the summers hiking and trail running. I like to keep the weight I carry to a minimum but I still feel more comfortable in the outdoors if I am ready for anything – within reason of course!” – David
#18. This soft and strong hammock, so your friend can make like a true sailor and swing his way to slumber on board a rolling vessel.
Review spotlight: “I typically never leave reviews, but this hammock deserves to be recognized. Let me start by saying that if you don’t want to read the whole review and you’re looking at this hammock and you’re on the fence about whether or not to buy it, buy it right now — you will not be disappointed.” – Matthew Kubecka
#19. Is your buddy still bewitched by Beatlemania? Remind them to sail up to the sun ‘til they find the sea of green, where they can build this Lego submarine, complete with models of the fab four.
Review spotlight: “Enjoyed building the Yellow Submarine! It was my first Lego project. I put on some Beatle music, sat down and began. I found the directions to be detailed and clear. It took about four hours to go from box to completed Yellow Submarine. It now resides on my dresser. This kit was a chance for adult play as well as to add to my Beatles collection. I recommend it!”
Ryan is the founder of Tideschart.com. Originally from New Zealand, Ryan has traveled to more than 20 countries and has combined more than 10 years of development experience with his passion for the ocean.
