Looking for the perfect Christmas gift for the special boater in your life? No matter whether they have a sailing yacht, power boat or just enjoy the occasional day out on the water, we've got you covered!
From fun water toys to practical gear for their next adventure, here are 20 boating gift ideas with a range of price points that are sure to make the boat owners in your life smile this Christmas.
1. Turkish Towel | $21.99
Some of the best gifts for boating are simple things that will get used all the time. One year my family got me a Turkish towel and now it's my favourite beach towel.
Quick drying and compact, a Turkish towel is thin but surprisingly absorbent. When left in the sun or wind it doesn't take long to dry, and in between swims, dives or sunbaking, it can be worn as a sarong or wrap.
These towels from Demmex are made in Turkey of certified 100% organic cotton and dye, and come in a range of colors so you can choose your loved ones favorite.
2. Soundcore Motion Boom speaker | $99.99
Whether you're relaxing in a float, enjoying the freedom of racing across the water or waiting for the fish to bite, having some background music can immediately enhance the atmosphere. When it comes to a waterproof speakers and ear buds, our go-to has become the Anker Soundcore range.
The Soundcore Motion Boom is a waterproof Bluetooth speaker with pure titanium diaphragms capable of reproducing high frequencies for better sound clarity. It floats on water and is IPX7 so there's no need to worry if it takes an accidental swim. The battery lasts up to 24 hours of playtime and you can pair two of them together for a surround sound experience.
We have this exact speaker aboard our boat and were so impressed by the sound quality we've already given one to a friend as a boat warming gift.
3. DJI Osmo Action 5 Camera | $349
The latest action camera from DJI, the Osmo Action 5 Pro is a great option for anyone who loves to capture their adventures on and under the water. Having owned multiple GoPro HERO camera's and DJI Osmo 4, I would choose the Osmo Action camera any day of the week.
The Osmo Action 5 Pro is waterproof without a case to 20m and captures videos in up to 4K. It has a range of modes available and the video stabilization technology performs extremely well, creating footage with a stable horizon even during a bumpy boat ride.
As well as the camera you can also get some cool accessories, such as the floating handle, multifunctional battery case and Joby Gorillapod 1K tripod, which make great boating gifts for someone who already owns an Osmo Action camera or GoPro.
4. DJI Drone | $400 - $2200
Drones can be great fun to have out on the boat, capturing images and videos of your pride and joy as you explore the marine environment. Some people also use them for more creative purposes like scoping out potential anchorages and drone fishing.
For now there's no better commercially available drone than those made by DJI. They're reliable, functional and simple to use, being extremely popular with consumers around the world; on our boat we have two!
The more budget friendly option is the DJI Mini 3, while the higher end drones include the DJI Air 3 and top of the range DJI Mavic 3 Pro. Personally we have the Phantom 4 Pro, one of which is 6 years old and still going strong.
5. Sea to Summit Dry Bag | $23.00
If you're looking for practical gift ideas for boaters then a high quality dry bag is always a winner. In my opinion having a few good dry bags is a must, protecting everything from phones and cameras to critical boat papers from being water damaged.
Sea to Summit are a reputable brand that have heavy duty drybags made of 420D nylon that's coated, resulting in a high water proof rating. There's a huge range of sizes available, from small bags that comfortably fit inside a backpack to large sacks that can hold a small suitcase worth of items.
6. BOTE Wulf Aero Inflatable Paddle Board | $499
For those that live on a boat or enjoy spending the day anchored out on the water, having a paddle board can give you more freedom to explore the surrounding area without needing to move the main boat. The only thing is paddle boards can be cumbersome to move around, unless you go inflatable.
The WULF Aero 10′4″ Inflatable Paddle Board kit comes with everything you need and has a capacity of 250 lbs. It packs down into a travel bag making it easy to store aboard, and is a good boat related gift for people who love the water but don't have their own vessel.
7. Aqua 4 in 1 Float | $24.99
It's a simple thing but the Aqua 4 in 1 float is a brilliant gift idea for boat lovers! Perfect for floating around an anchorage, beach or lake, you can sit comfortable in multiple ways and they pack away to almost nothing.
We were first introduced to them by a Trinidadian friend; these and the humble pool noodle were the favourite ways to chill out in the water while enjoying a cold beverage and spending time with friends DDI. After one day out on them we bought our own, and you can often spot our captain floating around on one with boat dog Rose on top.
8. Bestaway Island Float | $196.99
Growing up, many of my Christmas holidays were spent camping on the banks of Lake Towerinning, where us and other watersports enthusiasts spent our days skiing, wakeboarding and knee boarding. In between our water adventures, we'd chill out on an inflatable island.
Fast-forward to now when I live on a boat, anytime one of these comes out you can be sure it's packed with people making it a great gift for Christmas, a time of year made most special by the connections we have with loved ones.
The Bestway 6 Person Inflatable Lounger is the same style and brand we had, with an added cooler bag. It features a mesh bottom making it easy to keep cool and the removable sunshade makes it comfortable (and safer) to spend hours out there relaxing.
9. Essential Oil Shower Steamers | $25.99
For full-time cruisers with live aboard yachts there can be very little that's luxurious about the shower situation. Change that with the holiday gift of some relaxing aromatherapy shower steamers.
Shower steamers are designed to create a relaxing spa feeling wherever you are, using the calming fragrances emitted by natural essential oils. This gift set was developed in Austria and produced in Europe to European standards, with a variety of scents to try out including rose, eucalyptus and forest.
10. Indoor Herb Garden Kit | $39.99
Living on a boat one thing that can brighten up a space is greenery. If you have a loved one who's a sailor and has a green thumb, why not give the gift of a compact herb garden.
The beauty of this kit is it comes with 10 plastic planter pots that won't shatter or leak, and can be reused. To go with the pots are 10 varieties of herbs to try growing, including parsley, dill and chives.
11. Seafood Spices | $10 - $30
Spending extended amounts of time on a boat gives you the opportunity to catch and cook some great seafood, but what is seafood without spices!
Given it's a Christmas gift you could go with a variety gift pack such as the Seafood Seasoning Set from The Spice Lab. Alternatively there's your classic seafood spices like Old Bay seasoning, as well as celebrity and restaurant blends that you could combine into your own kit, include the Red Lobster Signature Seasoning, Hell's Kitchen Under the Sea, and The Juicy Crab Special Cajun Seafood Marinade.
12. Themed Cookbook | $5 - $50
Keeping with the theme of gifts for boating chefs, why not find them the perfect cookbook to experiment and learn new recipes?
There's a few ways you can go with this. You could chose something based around their favorite cuisine or style of cooking, such as grilling, Italian, seafood or or Caribbean BBQ. If they live aboard a boat then maybe a boat specific cook book, such as The Boat Galley Cookbook. Another option is an electronic cookbook they can access from a tablet so it can be used both on and off the boat.
13. Vacuum Insulated Cups | $20 - $30
Keeping things cool can be a challenge out on the water so insulated drinking cups are a great boating gift idea. The vacuum insulated cups in particular do a great job of keeping hot and cold drinks at a steady temperature, and usually come with a rubber based and sealing lid.
The styles we use the most around our catamaran are the wine tumblers, coffee cups and 22oz travel mugs with a handle, preferring Brumate because of the rubberized base and high quality.
14. Victorinox Fibrox Pro Fillet Knife | $41.50
Never underestimate the power of a good filleting knife! Made in Switzerland, Victorinox have a well deserved reputation as a premium knife manufacturer creating kitchen knives as well as utility knives.
Their 8-inch Fibrox filleting knife has a textured non-slip handle that's dishwasher safe, attached to precision made blade. It holds its edge and can be sharpened multiple times, giving years of use to fishing enthusiasts.
15. Hydrometer | $21.99
If your loved one is someone who enjoys an adult beverage and is cruising somewhere tropical then a hydrometer can be a fun present.
A hydrometer test kit allows you to check the ABV level of home brews. There are some low alcohol drinks that are pretty easy and fun to experiment with aboard a boat, for example this pineapple tepache recipe from The Wynns which we've had success with ourselves.
16. Steiner Marine Binoculars | $326
On any larger vessel or sailing boat a must have piece of equipment is a set of binoculars. The thing is not all sets are made equal so it can be a nice gift idea for boaters to give them a high quality pair.
Steiner Marine Binoculars are waterproof and rubber armored to be able to withstand the marine environment. The ergonomic design makes them comfortable to use and the sports auto focus keeps images crisp at 7x magnification. We have a set aboard our catamaran and the difference compared to our old ones is impressive! They are German made quality with a lifetime warranty.
17. Leatherman Charge Plus TTI | $199
If you're stuck for gift ideas for the boater that has everything, check out the Leatherman Charge Plus TTI. The Leatherman is a mainstay on our boat, used for everything from engine work and emergency repairs to popping a bottle of beer and pulling out a fish hook!
Made in the United States, the Charge Plus TTI comes with a 25 year warranty. It has 19 tools including scissors, knives, pliers and wire cutters, but only weighs 8.8 ounces. Made of corrosion resistant stainless steel it holds up well on a boat, just needing a rinse if it gets salt water on it.
18. Hemlock Straw Hat | $40 - 45
A high quality hat brand, Hemlock make stylish straw hats that help protect your loved ones from the sun this Christmas.
Certified as UPF 50+ sun protection, the hats have a wide brim with 20+ unique prints to choose from. The drawstring helps keep it secure in windy conditions and the design is unisex, fitting heads from 55-59cm.
19. Fun Boating Stocking Stuffers | Under $15
If the boaters and yachties you know have a sense of humor then here's some fun stocking stuffers that you could get them!
20. Personalized Christmas Gifts for Boaters
Serious boaters or people with liveaboard yachts tend to appreciate the special touch of getting gifts that are customized to their boat.
From etched glasses, carved chopping boards, and embroidered clothing, to lazered bottles and customized homewares, there are so many different options out there you're bound to find something that'll put a smile on their face this Christmas.
This post features Amazon affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, if you use the link to make your purchase we make a commission. It's just a simple and free way you can support the channel.
Comments