Trying to find the perfect boating or fishing gift for Father’s Day? Our gift guide features a number of great ideas that are sure to make Dad’s day. They cover everything from boating to fishing and tech gadgets to apparel. With our Father’s Day gift guide, you’re sure to find the right present for your dad.
More Gifts: We’ve got a large collection of the top boating gifts! Check out more of our gift guides, here.
Water-Friendly Footwear: Crocs Swiftwater Collection
If Dad gets tired of wet shoes, get him a pair of the new Swiftwater sandals from Crocs. They are lightweight, comfortable and water-friendly, perfect for the boat, as well as wading and hiking. The Croslite foam construction gives Pops all of the cushion he needs. These sandles also dry fast, and if they gets muddy or sandy, you can just hose them off. The adjustable heel strap gives Dad get a secure fit. $44.99, crocs.com.
Icom IC-M25
Dad’s gonna love this! The IC-M25 has a flashing light feature that activates when the radio hits water, even if the power is off! If you drop this floating radio overboard, it’s easier to find than ever, day or night. $159.99, westmarine.com; icomamerica.com
Life-Saving Present: ACR GlobalFIX V4 EPIRB
Make sure Dad gets home even in a catastrophe with the GlobalFIX V4 from ACR. This new EPIRB is one of the most compact and affordable on the market today. Weighing 27 ounces (without bracket), the 8.13-inch tall EPIRB features a user-replaceable battery that lasts 10 years and has an operational life of 48 hours. The powerful 406 MHz distress alert, 121.5 MHz homing capability, an integrated 66-channel GPS and a high-intensity LED strobe alerts rescue personnel anywhere in the world. It is available with a Class I bracket with auto or manual deployment or a Class II bracket requiring manual release. $369.95, thegpsstore.com
Keep Life Jackets Handy with a Kwik Tek T-Bag
Pops will love the convenience afford by a Kwik Tek T-Bag. It’s designed stow life jackets under a hardtop, T-tops or Bimini top. The PFD-T4 hold four Type II life jackets; the PFD-T6 hold six, plus lots of other gear. A main compartment has a nylon zipper for easy access to the life jackets. There are two zippered compartments and three mesh pockets to organize your gear. There’s also a stretch cord zig-zagging across the bottom for easy access to Dad’s towels, rain gear or other items. Manufactured from durable 600-denier UV and water-resistant polyester pack cloth. $62.99 for the PFD-T4, $72.99 for the PFD-T6; westmarine.com
Sole Mate: SeaDek Dual Density Helm Station Pad
If Dad’s legs and back aren’t what they used to be, treat him to SeaDek Dual Density Helm Station Pad. An 18mm low-density foam bottom absorbs shock and reduces fatigue, while a 3mm medium-density top layer with a brushed texture provides traction, whether wet or dry. Thanks to six heavy-duty hook-and-loop (aka Velcro) fasteners, Dad can easily remove the pad in order to access hatches or even transfer the pad to another vessel. Testing by SeaDek indicates that the Dual Density Helm Mat is 50 percent softer than SeaDek’s original single-density helm pad and requires 60 percent less force to compress, which translates to a more comfortable sole. It’s available in five popular color combos. $119.95, seadek.com.
Marinized Mobile Device: Seal 8 Marine Tablet
If Pops likes to take his tablet on the boat, get him the Seal 8 marine tablet from Bak USA. This rugged marinized LED touch-screen Android-based tablet features built-in GPS that works in the absence of cell service or Wi-Fi, and is submersible to one meter. The 1.6-pound tablet will float with single buoyant wrist strap. Designed to withstand extreme temperatures, humidity and shock, the Seal 8 sports a rubberized case and uses Windows 8.1 and 10 with an Intel Quadcore processor. With speeds up to 1.33 GHz, it has front and back camera lens, a fingerprint reader, a barcode scanner, and ports for 2.0 and micro USB, micro HDMI, headphones, and 10-pin interface for docking. Starting at $499 (add $100 for LTE 4G), bakusa.com
Powerful Display: Simrad GO5 XSE
Any boating dad would like to have the Simrad GO5 XSE, a full-featured stand-alone marine chartplotter/fishfinder packed into a compact, easy-to-use display. It features a super-bright multi-touch display, internal GPS receiver, StructureScan HD and CHIRP sonar, autopilot control, engine data monitoring, full audio entertainment integration with SonicHub 2, integrated wireless connectivity and the new Simrad TripIntel trip computer. Also unique to the GO5 XSE is the Cruise Charting page combines crucial navigation data and charts into one display. $419 (w/o transducer); starmarinedepot.com
Functional Fashion: Xtratuf Pelagic Boots
If your Dad likes to likes to mix style and function, he’ll grin from ear to ear when he sees the Xtratuf’s limited edition 12-inch Pelagic boots. Pelagic makes lifestyle wear for anglers, and has collaborated with the iconic Xtratuf boot brand to create interior linings featuring dorado prints in blue and yellow. When Dad folds down the chocolate brown uppers (as many boating anglers do on warm days), everyone will know that he’s a fisherman with a fashion sense. These lightweight boots are triple-dipped for waterproof protection. The Xtratuf signature chevron outsole design and unique rubber compound provides maximum traction on deck. $99.99, tackledirect.com
See Things Better: Steiner Commander 7×50 Binoculars
Dad deserves the best, and when it comes to binoculars, Steiner ranks as top of the line. Once Pops experiences the sharpness and clarity of Steiner’s Commander 7×50 binocular, he’ll thank you forever. The military-grade porro prism optics feature seven-time magnification with a 50-degree field of view, a perfect combination for boat use. Flexible eye cups block out interfering glare. High light transmission boosts vision after dark to help you identify distant objects at night. These binoculars weight just 37.9 ounces and include a neck strap to keep them secure in rough seas. $1,049.99, jet.com
Light ’Em Up: Lunasea Dome LED
If the overhead dome light in Dad’s boat has seen better days, give him a Surface Mount 6.75-inch LED dome light from Lunasea Lighting. He’ll like the low-profile, smooth chrome design and the ease of installation that requires no large holes. You can get it in warm white with built-in high/low dimming or combination warm white/red lighting. Designed to minimize interference with marine electronic equipment, this bright LED dome light features a cast-aluminum housing and an on/off/on three-way toggle. The red light is powerful enough for Dad to read by. $89.99, lunasea.com
Pump You Up: Air Lift RideControl
Does the rear of Pops’ tow vehicle sag a bit when he hooks up the boat and trailer? Rather than buying him a new truck, get him a RideControl from Air Lift. There are kits for many popular vehicles with leaf springs, including half-ton and mini pickups, full-size and mini vans, and SUVs. RideControl adjustable air springs work with your existing leaf spring suspension to provide up to 2,000 pounds of load-leveling capacity. Dad can inflate when carrying a heavy load, deflate when riding empty. Each kit includes everything you need, and can be easily installed in two hours or less. Most require no drilling. End caps are made of an ultra high-strength nylon composite which is as strong as steel, but weighs less and is corrosion proof. $224.99 (compressor not included); streetsideauto.com
Illuminate the Depths: Glow to Go Underwater Light
Dad’s who like to fish at night know the power of an underwater light. It attracts fish light moths to a flame. And few underwater lights are more potent than the Glow to Go from Deep Glow Technologies. This 12-volt LED tube is extremely bright, but also durable and shock proof. With 240 internal green LEDs that radiate light 360 degrees and a 30-foot cord that plugs into a 12-volt cigarette lighter-style receptacle, the Glow to Go will attract aquatic or marine life to the boat from great distances. It is superb for crappie fishing at night. It comes in convenient carrying bag, and is also great for onboard entertaining, whether dockside or spending the night in a quiet anchorage. $199.99, deepglow.com
Garmin Quatix3 GPS Marine Watch
This man-sized watch is a man-pleasing navigator, workout watch, step tracker, weather man, tide chart, solunar table reporter, smart phone companion (text and phone notifications appear on the watch) and iTunes controller. It can read Garmin wifi-capable instruments and report depth, position and if you’re engines are talking to your Garmins, it let you watch engine temp, speed or anything else right on your wrist. It runs for a week or more (not hours) with the GPS running and days longer with it off. $599, buy.garmin.com
EXOXGEAR Carbon BT Speaker
Everybody has them but not everybody makes them waterproof or makes them charge your phone or other device, or take and make calls as a high quality speaker phone. The music from it fills the room–or the cockpit or the beach blanket at the sandbar. Its a bargain. $99, ecoxgear.com/ecoxbt
Garmin VirbXE Cam
This is our edit staff’s go-to POV camera because it’s integrated dive housing makes it easy to carry and use. Its microphone works great — unlike competitors when in waterproof housings and the video quality is unbeatable 4K. Shoot stills while shooting video and control it all with an included remote or your smartphone. Download to your phone effortlessly and upload to your favorite social network instantly. $399, virb.garmin.com/en-US/
WORX SwitchDriver Drill Driver
Gimmick or lifesaver? We used it and say the latter. Pre-drill screw holes … say for installing a rub rail, then switcharoo and the 20-volt driver zips in the screw without stripping it thanks to 16 torque settings. Quick change bit chucks allow use of hex based bits and it comes with the most needed bits, two batteries and a charger. $99, worx.com
FLIR FX Monitor
This stealthy cam shoots full color and has infrared illumination to see up to 33 feet away in the dark. Two internal batteries keep it running up to four hours if power isn’t available. It has two-way communication via smartphone and a 160-degree lens to monitor nearly all of any room. Livestream video, store it in the cloud or a Micro SD card. Review eight to twelve hours of events in fast forward mode to zero in on what you need. And keep an eye on it remotely via a smartphone app and cloud technology. $150, flir.com
FLIR Ocean Scout 240
FLIR’s handheld forward looking infrared monocle just got a lot more affordable. Use it for search and rescue or just to pick your way along dark waterways when coming to port later than usual. Infrared technology distinguishes targets only a few degrees different from surroundings. Its 240 by 180 pixel display paints targets in brilliant relieve and has a 24-degree by 18-degree viewing angle. $599, flir.com/marine
SOG Bladelight Fillet Knife
Read about this stainless steel blade in our June-issue BoatingLAB test report. The lights are practical for filleting at the end of a long day, The blade is a blend of stiff and flexible making easy work of softer boned fishes and its an excellent skinner. Snip line using the slot in the sheath or touch up the blade with the built-in sharpener. $70, sogknives.com
SOG Reactor
Lets call it the executives tactical multi-tool. Open assist flicks the blade open instantly and lets you lock it open. Highly polished stainless steel stands up to saltwater corrosion on blade, pliers. wirecutters and frame. It includes flat and crosspoint screwdriver bits for unexpected repairs. $64, sogknives.com/reactor
Victorinox RangerGrip Boatsman Multi Tool
This one was unavailable for awhile–to my pain after I’d lost my earlier version. Imagine my relief at its reintroduction. Few knife makers use better stainless steel. No multi-tool presents every available tool from one position and this one has screwdrivers, marlinspike, serrated blade, needle nose pliers, wire cutters, strippers, socket driver and corkscrew. We missed something, surely. $150, swissarmy.com
Victorinox Cologne
Clean, fresh, light spice and subtle but efficiently noticeable–just the statement a Swiss Army afficianado would want to make. The bottle comes in a rugged case for safe, shatterproof, spillproof travels. $78, swissarmy.com
Penn International 30 VW
Everybody who fishes wants a Penn International. Penn’s new 30 VW is updated in look and features. Contrary to popular opinion, this single speed reel is geared faster than most reels’ low speed and any angler can throw the strike lever and stick the fish with it. After that, its all about the angler and the fish. $499.95, pennfishing.com
Abu Garcia REVO3 Beast Reel
Always the purveyor of MacDaddy of levelwind baitcast reels, Abu’s new REVO3 Beast lives up to its name. A tough alloy frame plus alloy sideplates with titanium coatings keep it looking good in all the elements. Seven ball bearings and a roller bearing are also stainless steel. A carbon matrix drag system and brass main gears make sure its tough enough for professional use. Its offset crank case and low profile make it meet the hand like a familiar handshake. $350, abugarcia.com
Sioeye Iris4G
Want the easiest way in the world to stream live video to your friends on Twitter and Facebook? This camera is it. It took me about an hour to wade through the nuances of connecting my smartphone to it (easy access to a person at tech support) and then voila! I was ready to live stream. The cam is high def and works with an ATT or T-Mobile (Verizon to come) sim card to stream directly. It also works as a POV cam without a card. It can save your video and pictures to an SD card. Lens quality and chip are tops and the streaming video and recorded 1080 HD was stellar. $429, sioeye.com
Globalstar GSP-1700
The GSP-1700 Globalstarsatellite phone is free with activation on certain airtime plans and gives the ability to communicate directly to family, friends or rescue operations should the occasion arise. The service also has quick data transfer should you want to stay digitally connected. Voice quality is tops and the lithium-ion battery gives 4 hours of talk time or 36 hours standby time. Its small, light and ready to be tucked into your emergency gear bag we boaters call “The Ditch Bag.” $500, plus service plans for any budget. globalstar.com
Stingray Hyperfoil 500
Don’t let Dad drag his…stern! The Stingray Hyperfoil 500 is said to enhance his boat’s planing performance. The Hyperfoil features ” no-drill” installation and is rated for engines between 40- and 300-hp. $99.99, basspro.com; stingrayhydrofoil.com/products
Wyoming Whiskey
BoatingLAB Director, Randy Vance is our resident whiskey expert. ( You might say he is a spirited writer!). Vance liked Wyoming Whiskey, stating: It takes special care in craftsmanship to distill a small batch bourbon. This one is 44% alcohol and it rocked two popular overproof single barrels ($40-range) back on their heels. Smooth, smokey, a touch of sweet. Serve it neat. Let it breath. Then sip it slowly $38.99, wyomingwhiskey.com/our-whiskies
SureShade RTX Pull Out Tele-Frame Shade
Related Garments
Dad is busy boating. He doesn’t have time to match his socks (even if he doesn’t wear any!). Here’s a variety of underwear and socks, matched and packaged for a weekend–or every day of the week! $75 for a three-day weekend package; more for week long packages..relatedgarments.com
Winkler Utility from Knifeart.com
Fender Suspenders
Breitling Emergency II
Costa Trevally
Make sure Dad can spot the fish while protecting his eyes with the Costa Trevally. They offer 100% UV light blockage and 100% polarization. The lightweight frame makes them easy to wear all day, and they come in a variety of colors. $239, costadelmar.com/shop
SunBrite Weatherproof TV
Tidal Roots Bluefin
Stormy Kromer Bucket Hat
This classic-style is made in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula from 100 percent cotton twill. Protect yourself from the sun with a hat that never goes out of style. $39.99, stormykromer.com
Personal Go Fan
Native Eyewear Crestones
These tough frames sport N3 polarized lenses, which block four times more infrared light than your average polarized lenses. The Crestones have an interchangeable lens system and a lifetime guarantee. $129, nativeeyewear.com
Motorola Talkabout T600 H20
For as much as we love our mobile phones, they’re typically not waterproof and they don’t float. Communicate with your crew with these rugged, fully-waterproof two-way radios that have a 35-mile range. They float, and also have a water-activated flashlight so you can find them in the dark. $119.99, motorolasolutions.com
Lander Cascade Universal Power Bank (7800 mAh)
Huk Kryptek ICON ¼ Zip
This mid-layer mock zip will keep you protected from the sun and cool at the same time. It features flexible spandex to keep your casting motion free and easy while fishing, and its anti-microbial technology will keep the stank at bay. $54.99, hukgear.com
Flambeau HD Tuff Box
This dry case offers heavy-duty, waterproof protection for your mobile electronics and valuables. The polycarbonate case with an O-ring seal keeps your valuables safe and sound on board, and the Zerust technology protects any metal components inside from oxidation. $20.48, flambeauoutdoors.com
DryFins Board Shorts
These comfortable board shorts have a quick-dry liner to prevent chafe. They’re rugged enough to wear on board, yet look good enough to pass for dress shorts at a cocktail party. Two front pockets and a velcro-closing back pocket give you a place to store the wallet and the boat keys. $42, dryfins.com
Beachfront Penthouse
Astral Brewer Boat Shoe
This hip looking shoe is made from lightweight Cordura fabric and has built-in drainage and ventilation. It has a siping sole for traction on deck. $99.95, astraldesigns.com
Montague Allston Folding Bike
The new Allston folding bike features a rust-proof and grease-free carbon drive rather than a traditional metal bike chain. It folds down to 36″ x 28″ x 12″ and weighs 30-pounds, so it’s great for fitting into your boat’s tight stowage spaces. Great for long range cruisers looking for some pedal power to get around at their latest marina stop. $1,895, montaguebikes.com
