As Mother's Day approaches, the search for the ideal gift for the incredible women in our lives intensifies. For those who harbor a passion for the sea, traditional gifts may not quite hit the mark.
Using our knowledge of cruising life we've come up with 20 amazing gift ideas for moms who love boating and sailing. From practical accessories to luxurious indulgences, this selection of gift ideas was carefully curated to enhance her boating experience and celebrate her love for the ocean and sailing lifestyle.
1. Demmex Turkish Towel | $22
It was my mum that gifted me my first Turkish towels and I love using them around our catamaran! They're light, compact, yet dry you quickly. I also use mine as a sarong or wrap when mooching around the boat after a swim, as the light cotton makes them a comfortable cover up.
Despite their affordable price point, Demmex Turkish towels are authentic, made in Turkey of certified 100% organic cotton and dye. They're prewashed so won't shrink, and are quick drying and compact. There are a range of colors to choose from so you can go with mom's favorite or match them to the decor of the boat.
2. Aqua 4 in 1 Float | $13.75
It may be simple but the Aqua 4-in-1 float is, in my humble opinion, a fantastic gift for boaters! Whether mom's lounging in an anchorage, drifting at the beach, or relaxing on a lake, this versatile float lets her sit comfortably in multiple positions, and best of all, it packs down to almost nothing.
We first discovered these thanks to a Trinidadian friend who swore by them as the most comfortable, cost effective way to unwind in the water. After just one afternoon, we were hooked and got our own. These days, it's not uncommon to spot the captain floating around with our dog Rose perched on top, living her best boat dog life.
3. BOTE Wulf Aero Inflatable Paddle Board | $499
If you live on a boat or love spending the day at anchor, having a paddle board adds a whole new level of freedom to explore the surrounding area. Unfortunately traditional boards can be a pain to store and haul around on a boat, but that’s where inflatables shine.
The WULF Aero 10′4″ Inflatable Paddle Board kit includes everything mom needs to get started on her aquatic adventure. When she's done it can be deflated and packed down into a compact travel bag, making storage aboard a breeze.
4. Handmade Aromatherapy Steamers | $35.99
If your mom lives on a boat for longer stretches of time she might appreciate the opportunity to pamper herself a little with a gift set of shower steamers. Releasing the natural fragrances of natural essential oils, these steamers create a relaxed, aromatherapy spa experience in the shower, no bathtub needed!
The Herbal Zen steamers are handmade in the the United States by a small business and provide a great selection for Mom to try. Each kit comes with 14 steamers and seven scents to try; Cold Kicker, Head Hug, Sleepytime, Stress Fighter, Tropical Refresh, Morning Energy and Morning Citrus Mint.
5. Tea and Infuser | $7.50 - $25
There is nothing more relaxing than sitting out on the deck, taking in your surroundings while sipping on a cup of tea. Whether Mom loves a hot cup of English tea or an ice-cold fruity infusion, getting a sea themed infuser and her favorite loose leaf can be a fun yet practical Mothers Day gift idea.
The Fred infusers are made of food grade, BPA free silicone and are dishwasher and microwave safe. They come in a range of fun designs including the Manatea, Sea Turtle and Spike (a narwhal). Meanwhile the highly rated Tiesta Tea sampler sets give mom a chance to try various types of tea and see what else she might like to keep aboard. They've curated a number of different sets including fruity teas, black teas, single origin teas, best sellers and a discovery set.
6. Vacuum Insulated Drinkware | $25 - $43
Does your mom enjoy a quiet coffee in the morning or chilled sundowner on deck? Living on a boat you want your drinks to maintain temperature and the best way we've found to do that is by using vacuum insulated cups.
Brumate is our go-to brand as they're proven to be high quality, durable, and the inclusion of a leak proof lid and rubber base is extremely handy on a yacht. As well as the wine tumbler I also recommend the tumbler cups and travel mugs, as we used both on a near daily basis.
7. Mindfulness Cards | $13 (w̶a̶s̶ $̶2̶0̶)
Mindfulness is a practice that promotes self care and positive mental health. It's not always easy to do though, especially when you first get started, but if it's something you think your mom would enjoy why not gift her a set of mindfulness cards?
This deck of more than 50 cards features a huge range of accessible practices for mindfulness. Within it there are four categories to work from; Rest & Balance, Insight & Awareness, Curiosity & Joy and Kindness. People who've tried it before found it to be a fun and easy way to implement mindfulness practices, helping them focus on their day.
8. Choose the perfect cookbook
If your mom loves cooking and trying new cuisines then a cookbook might be the way to go. It could be hardcover book or if she has a tablet an electronic cookbook might be the best way to go to save space, especially if she's away on an adventure for Mother's Day.
You could chose something based around the cuisine of her favourite boating destination (I treasure the Trinidadian cookbook I was given!) or a book specifically related to cooking on boats - this book "The Boat Galley in particular was written by cruisers, for cruisers.
9. Herb Garden Kit | $30
Does your mum have a green thumb? If the answer is yes, then bring the farm to table concept to the high seas by gifting her with an indoor herb garden kit.
This kit comes with 10 different varieties of aromatic herb including basil, parsley and thyme, along with the tools and equipment required to grow them. The herbs do grow from soil discs which isn't everyone's cup of tea, so if you think mom would prefer a soil free option there's always the hydroponic grow kits to consider.
10. Victorinox Fibrox Pro Fillet Knife | $35
Made in Switzerland, Victorinox have a trusted reputation as a premium knife manufacture. Their high quality blades last years which is a reflection on the pride the company takes in what they produce.
The 8-inch Victorinox Fibrox filleting knife has a textured non-slip handle and precision made blade. Whether it's filleting the latest catch of the day or processing meat from a local market, this knife provides a sharp edge to the avid cook!
11. DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro Camera | $349
If your mom loves to capture the action then an DJI Osmo Action Camera might be more her speed. A great alternative to the GoPro series, the Osmo Action 5 Pro is waterproof to 20m without a case and shoots in up to 4K.
We use the DJI Osmo Action 4 to produce content for our YouTube channel on a near daily basis and love it, discussing how it compared to the Osmo 5 and why we'd absolutely buy DJI in future in this blog.
If she already has an action camera, you could get mom some cool accessories, such as the floating handle, multifunctional Osmo battery case and Joby Gorillapod 1K tripod, all brilliant accessories that help make it more functional out on the water.
12. Soundcore Motion Boom Speaker | $99.99
Whether you're lounging on a float, zipping across the water, or waiting patiently for the fish to bite, the right music can set the perfect vibe. For waterproof speakers and earbuds, we keep coming back to the Anker Soundcore lineup.
The Soundcore Motion Boom is a rugged, waterproof Bluetooth speaker designed for life on the water. With pure titanium diaphragms, it delivers crisp, clear sound. It floats, has an IPX7 rating, and shrugs off accidental swims with ease. Plus, with 24-hour battery life and the ability to pair two together for bigger sound, it’s a solid choice for any mom who loves her tunes.
13. Kodak Instant Printer | $93
These days our mobile phones are full of photos, but aside from the odd social media post do we ever look at them? Help mom bring her favorite snaps to life with a Kodak Step portable printer.
Using ZINK 2” x 3” paper, the Kodak Step delivers smudge-free, moisture-resistant photos without the need for ink or cartridges. With Bluetooth connectivity, plus a full editing suite in the KODAK app, she can customize and print her favorite memories straight from her phone.
14. Coolibar UPF 50+ Sun Wrap | $49.99 (sale) - $80
Sun protection is a major concern for any boater but with this gift idea you can keep your mom looking and feeling good, while also being sun safe.
The Coolibar UPF 50+ sun wraps come in multiple designs, including this nautical pattern which might still be on sale at just $49.99. It's lightweight and cool to wear, yet offers high levels of sun protection, blocking 98% of UVA and UVB rays.
15. Lillusory Lounge Ware Set | $35 (w̶a̶s̶ $̶7̶3̶)
For cool evenings out on the water there's nothing better than getting into a cozy set of lounge ware. Made a gentle knit, the Lillusory set is comfortable, breathable and comes in a huge range of colors.
It has a comfortable waistband, relaxed fit and can easily be dressed up or down. The style fits with the relaxed boating vibe and it's easy to imagine yourself wearing it while chilling out on the boat.
16. Hemlock Straw Hat | $40 - 45
A high quality hat brand based out of San Diego, Hemlock make stylish straw hats in range of designs utilizing bold, signature prints. Among the most sun-safe of their range is the classic lifeguard hat, certified as UPF 50+ sun protection.
The Signature Nomad Lifeguard hats have a wide brim and over 20 unique prints to choose from. The drawstring helps stop it flying away in windy conditions and the design is unisex, fitting heads from 55-59cm.
17. Sea to Summit Dry Bag | $26
Having a collection of dry bags is always a good thing around a boat, and our go-to brand for years has been Sea to Summit. They offer a huge range of sizes allowing boaters to safely transport all manner of things between the beach and boat.
If you're looking for one for mom, their heavy duty drybags are made of coated 420D nylon with a high water proof rating. They come in 5 colors and range in size from 8L to a whopping 65L.
Another Sea to Summit product worth considering is their Ultralight Day Pack. This 20L backpack isn't something mom might think of for herself, but it collapses into a tiny stuff sack and is brilliant for impromptu shopping during trips to the shore.
18. Find a personalized gift for your boating mom
Getting mom a personalised gift can be something quite meaningful and fun, showing that you're really thinking about her.
From etched glasses, carved chopping boards, embroidered clothing and customized homewares, there are so many different options out there you're bound to find something she'd enjoy getting for Mother's Day!
19. Swallow
In the sailing world a swallow tattoo is the traditional way of marking that someone has travelled 5000 nautical miles at sea. It's a symbol of good luck and a safe return to loved ones back home.
While you could definitely get mom a tattoo voucher if that's something she's be down for, there are some alternatives. You could consider gifting her a piece of swallow jewelry to mark the occasion instead.
20. A voucher for a local business
It doesn't matter where your mom is on Mother's Day, you can always buy her a voucher for a local business. It could be for a massage, boutique, chandlery, online store, local class or even a dinner to save her from cooking. Whatever you chose, it's sure to be a welcome escape from boat work!
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