If you have a boater in your life, you might think that they already have everything they could possibly need to spend time on the water. You would be wrong. Whether they take their boat out every day or every once in a while, whether they fish or ski or cruise around, there’s something new they need that will make their experience all the better. So take a look at these items to find something that, when it’s time to exchange gifts, will make their day. Here are more than 50 great gift ideas for boaters.
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Lifestyle | Fishing | Electronics | Watersports | DIY
Lifestyle
Icy Breeze Ultimate Cooler Portable AC Unit
It might be the holiday season, but it’s never too early to think about keeping cool for the summer. The Icy Breeze Ultimate cooler serves double-duty for hauling your drinks—it holds up to 48 cans—and as a portable air-conditioning unit. How? Load it with ice, and it uses a built-in heat exchanger and a three-speed fan to pump cool air through a hose in the top, providing up to 2.5 hours of air conditioning for your boat. $499.99; icybreeze.com
Costa Del Mar Grand Catalinas
The old-school boater in your life will love the gift of these retro Grand Catalinas from Costa Del Mar, along with the signature side shields that people loved about Costa’s original glasses back in the day. The 580 polarized lenses are some of the best out there for blocking glare and keeping harmful UV rays from bombarding the eyes. We put these to the test out on the water and can say that they are one fine pair of shades. $292; costadelmar.com
Zeal Optics Fremont Sunglasses
If there’s one thing every boater wants for Christmas, it’s a new pair of polarized shades. Enter the Fremont glasses from Zeal Optics. These impact-resistant glasses claim 99.9 percent polarization efficiency, cutting out the glare during your day on the water. The stylish frames come in five colors and four lens choices, making them a great holiday gift for boaters. $169; zealoptics.com
Olukai Lae’ahi Lī ‘Ili Waterproof Leather Sneakers
These are the type of shoes that you can wear to the holiday party, then head right to the dock and step aboard. Made of stylish waterproof leather and with a microfiber interior lining, these Olukais also have a Wet Grip Rubber outsole, which provides excellent traction on marine surfaces. $140; olukai.com
MyCineDrive Movies
Give your long-distance cruiser the gift of a treasure trove of movies this holiday season, free from the need for Wi-Fi or a streaming subscription. Go to mycinedrive.com, and choose from thousands of movies from different eras to download onto a drive to send to yourself for use on your boat. Simply connect MyCineDrive to your screen, and enjoy the movies while anchored out or sitting at the local marina. Starts at $24; mycinedrive.com
Marsh Wear Sullivan Tech Hoodie
Give the gift of warmth this holiday season. The Sullivan Tech hoodie makes a great layer for cold weather on the water. This quarter-zip hoodie steals a page from sleeping-bag technology to provide a comfortable poly-knit garment that keeps boaters protected on chilly days. $65; marshwearclothing.com
Remote Equipment Bravo 18 Tote
This lightweight bag is trilayered to keep out the elements, while still being rugged enough to withstand water duty. It’s a great gift that can serve as a backpack or a tote, depending on how the straps are arranged. Different interior pockets let boaters organize their haul however they like. $119; remoteeq.com
Elemental Wines Aluminum Bottles
Everyone not at the helm loves a glass or two of wine during a holiday cruise to the sandbar, but glass and boats don’t mix. Avoid the broken-glass scenario with Elemental Wines, which come in 750 mL recyclable aluminum bottles that are drop- and shatter-resistant. The company says that the bottles are also up to 80 percent lighter than traditional glass bottles, making them easier to tote onto the boat. Choose from pinot noir, chardonnay, rosé and pinot grigio—or try all four! $16.95; elementalwines.com
Streamlight Wedge and Stinger Flashlights
Astonishingly bright and nearly indestructible, these lights offer a convenient camp option in the Wedge and searchlight power in the Stinger. Both are lithium-powered and rechargeable. The 1,000-lumen Wedge ($99; amazon.com) has a pocket clip to keep it out of pocket fluff or to hook it in your shirt pocket. It runs three hours on a charge, and comes in black, coyote (brown), red, blue and purple. The 2,000-lumen Stinger ($160; amazon.com) can run 24 hours on low and two hours on “searchlight high,” which is bright enough to disable an intruder or spotlight reindeer on a dark night. It’s available in red, blue and black, and comes with a wall-mounted charger, so it’s always handy and ready.
Jack Rudy Old Fashioned Kit
By holiday season, most boats above the Mason Dixon line are shrink wrapped and high stacked for storage so it’s the perfect time to warm the bones with a flavorful Old Fashioned crafted by the crafty Jack Rudy group. It includes our Demerara syrup, an 8-ounce bottle of bourbon cocktail cherries and 1-ounce bottle of aromatic bitters. All you need is your favorite Whiskey. Jack Rudy is based in Charleston, South Carolina and you’ll find a pretty fine distillery there called High Wire Distilling. Any one of their bourbons will make a fine pairing with it. Oh, and it comes with a polished graduated jigger shot, so you don’t over serve! It’s boxed perfectly for holiday gifting. $48; jackrudycocktailco.com
BOTE Highwater Duffel
This waterproof bag is made rugged and is designed for the aquatic life of a boater. It uses a 100% nylon seam-welded construction with double-sided TPU coating and fully waterproof TZIP® main zipper to protect all your belongings from the outside world. The spacious 39L interior also features a side mesh organizer pocket to keep your smaller items separate and easy to locate. Exterior pocketing includes a convenient non-waterproof stretch stash pocket for additional storage. For easy hauling, this bag offers two side grab handles, a removable padded shoulder strap, and a top handle for horizontal carrying. To round things out, the duffel has a 3D embossed, compression molded bottom panel for structure and protection. 20″ W × 11″ H × 13.5″ D Price: $198; boteboard.com
ADC Boat Models Lobster Boat Tree Ornaments
Give the give of downeast! One of the most iconic boat types, the lobsterboat, actually comes in many derivations. Here’s a great example of a “ skeg built” model, hand-crafted in New England by professional watermen. The ornament is 4-inches long with a brass seated eye hook and tree hook. Each ornament is hand painted, and unless you make a volume order you get whatever color pops up in the bin. Pricing: $30 each with free shipping. Order 4 at a time for $80 with free shipping. adcboatmodels.etsy.com
ECOXGEAR Defender
At a svelte ten pounds it weighs in for heavyweight sound. A dynamic 6×9-inch Texas Instruments driven polypropylene carbon woofer and a 1.7” titanium tweeter can be adjusted to indoor or outdoor sound settings with the equalizer system optimizing sound for different environments. Let sleigh bells ring! Party lights brighten the tree and an integrated flashlight illuminates hidden presents. There’s a 3.5 mm mic input for Jingle Bells karaoke. The speaker phone option stops the music while you answer a holiday call hands free. Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity allows two separate devices to control it simultaneously from up to 100 feet away and Ecocast lets this device connect to up to 100 Defenders, and other Ecoxgear speakers, soundbars, subwoofers, and marine radios. It kicks the competitions’ tochus in audio and features while pampering your gift budget with an impressively low price. $259; ecoxgear.com
Custom Captain
If it’s boat envy you intend to inspire among friends and family, TheCustomCaptain.com is the place to make ‘em burn green! I took a snap of my boat, uploaded it and in a few days they returned a graphic image of it as pretty as a picture. Then, I choose a 3’ x 5’ dock mat ($149), four cocktail glasses ($18 each) and a canvas tote bag ($52), all bearing the boat’s image, its name and port of call. The website placed the logo on each gift item so I knew exactly how it would look. Gift options also include hats, shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, all sorts of drinkware and more. thecustomcaptain.com
Yeti Rambler Insulated Shaker
Warming cocktails are my pet peeve. Stir up a batch of old fashioneds in a standard shaker and in a minute it will even be too warm for Santa’s cookie plate. Martini’s too. Shake them in this with just the right amount of ice and they’ll come out in a near slurry of spirit. So will the next one 20 minutes later. If you drink that fast. $60; yeti.com
Toadfish Wine Chiller
Now here’s a deal for the chilled wine crowd. We’d tuck this wine chiller in the fridge or freezer before use, then slip in a chilled bottle of our favorite vino and close it up. It’s better than an ice bucket and easier to manage on the table. Right now, in time for the Holidays, there’s a genuine BOGO on them. $55; toadfish.com
American Hat Makers
Gary Watrous has been making hats for over 55 Christmases beginning in a home shop, selling from the back of a Chevy. Now his son joins him in the profession. A combination of materials and skills allow them to blend leather, felt, canvas and straw into amazing gifts to sharpen the coiffe of any boater. Practical for sun protection, snug fitting for wind resistance and if you are on the cusp of a size, they are easily customizable with included accessories. I found a Large fit true to the measurement instructions online. Men will love the mesh fabric Boxcar straw hat ($77) and men and ladies will be sharp on the dock with the Soaker hat ($99). Dunk the liner in ice water for an extra chilling effect. americanhatmakers.com
Bajio Ducks Unlimited Kits
‘Tis the season for giving and Bajio has teamed up with Ducks Unlimited, Mossy Oak and maybe you, to help DU continue its quest to restore hundreds of thousands of acres of wetlands and other shallow water estuaries per year. Gift the DU Kit with your choice of four popular frames and in Shadow Grass by Mossy Oak finish and seven popular glass or polycarbonate polarized lens colors. The kit comes with a cool limited edition cap, the glasses come in a sustainable canvas case and nylon embroidered protective pouch and there’s a snazzy gift box to wrap it all in. Give one to yourself, give another to your boating buddy. Each purchase sends $30 to DU to restore waterfowl and fishing habitat. $289; bajiosunglasses.com
Skipperswag Gifts
Boaters are proud of the waterway locations they enjoy. Give the boaters on your holiday gift list a way to show that pride, and their identity as boaters, with customized gifts from Skipperswag. An untold number of locations are represented and can be displayed on phone cases, beach towels, mouse pads, jigsaw puzzles, stickers and more. The handy interactive map makes selecting the boating point-and-shoot easy! Towel: $39.93; Phone Case: $29.53; Sticker: $7.08; skipperswag.com
Fishing
Daiwa Kage LT Spinning Reel
“Kage” means “shadow” in Japanese, and this reel begins with a super-light, durable, rigid, woven high-density carbon-resin Zaion frame and a well–balanced super-light “air rotor” with critically designed, weight-reducing cutouts that minimize wobble found in all spinning reels, as does the tough, tubular bail. Aircraft-aluminum gears and the specially designed drag system are smooth and tight for complete line control. It’s available in 1000-, 2000-, 2500-, 3000- and 4000-size models, and makes a great holiday gift for the angler on your list. From $219; north40.com
Toadfish Nippers and Grippers
This quirky outdoor brand keeps coming up with gadgets, tackle, cooking, camping and dining utensils that solve problems in tidy packages, making them great stocking stuffers. Toadfish Line Nippers ($24) are billet-aluminum line clippers with high-carbon blades that are ideal for trimming the thinnest braid or mono, plus they have a recoil clip for keeping them at hand. The Stowaway Fish Grippers ($30) fold up like a butterfly knife; give a firm but gentle handle on trout, bass, snapper and other fish; and come with a neck strap. toadfish.com
Hardy Averon Euro Nymph Reel and Ultralight X Rod
Rudolph may work only one day per year, but the raging Euro nymphing fly-fishing technique for trout is growing every day. The Hardy Averon Euro Nymph reel ($395) is light for added balance and sensitivity in a fly-fishing tactic that requires a high stick and a soft tip to detect the subtlest bite. Pair this with a Hardy Ultralight X fly rod with a soft tip and high-modulus graphite blank with fine cork handles and ceramic guides. It’s available in 9-foot, 9-foot-6-inch, and 10-foot lengths in actions 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. $950; hardyfishing.com
Minn Kota Raptor Shallow-Water Anchor
Give the gift of easy anchoring with MinnKota’s most advanced shallow-water anchor. Active Anchoring continuously monitors anchor hookup and readjusts as needed. Auto Bottom mode detects bottom material and applies the amount of pressure needed to stay put. Increased force retraction ensures a timely departure, no matter how deeply or firmly the spikes are anchored. With One Boat Network, the Raptor can be deployed from the standard wireless remote, any Humminbird MFD, or the One Boat Network app on any smart device. An optional foot pedal is available. Available in 8-foot ($1,799) and 9-foot ($1,899) models in black, white, red, and silver. minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com
Minn Kota Riptide Instinct Trolling Motor
Minn Kota’s top-of-the-line Riptide Instinct trolling motor is the perfect gift for a saltwater boating angler. With Quest brushless-motor technology and push-button deploy and stow, the Riptide Instinct operates on either 24 volts for 90 pounds of thrust or 36 volts for 115 pounds of thrust. Shaft lengths include 60, 65, 87 and 100 inches. It also has a beefy composite shaft, as well as real-time battery monitoring. Built-in i-Pilot and i-Pilot Link GPS enable guidance functionality such as Spot-Lock virtual anchoring. Control options include a wireless remote to drive the motor from anywhere in the boat. Available in black and white. Starting at $4,399.99 for a 60-inch-shaft model; minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com
SYK Fillet Knives
They’re almost Christmas colors, but no, the scheme was patterned after yellowfin tuna. The steel is 9Cr18MoV 18 percent chromium for rust resistance, combined with 0.9 percent carbon for taking and keeping a sharp edge. A Cerakote finish caps the corrosion protection, and a semisoft thermoplastic rubber handle is textured for a firm grip even when wet—we tried it. The sheath is made from 100 percent recycled plastics intercepted before ocean dumping. They come in 4-inch for trout (and we think for saltwater bait), 7- and 9-inch models, plus one serrated blade for cutting gills and bones. From $24 to $45; true.acgbrands.com
Daiwa Tatula 150 SV TW Bait Casting Reel
A rigid aluminum frame, specially designed spool, and digitally cut gears work together to make this new reel smooth and powerful, ideal for fishing heavier cover or tactics using 180 yards of 20-pound braid or 150 yards of 30-pound braid. The pinion gear is supported at both ends on ball bearings, and the backlash control instantly engages, eliminating backlashes where most happen—at the beginning of the cast—and as the cast progresses toward the target, the backlash control adjusts to the velocity, optimizing accuracy and distance. Big bass, inland stripers, or muskie and pike in the North will quake under the shadow of this powerful reel. And at just 7.5 ounces, fitting it into Santa’s sleigh is no problem. $209.99; sportsmans.com
All Fish Are Awesome Educational Fishing Book for Kids
Noel Vick is a veteran angler, hunter and outdoorsman—and now the author of this terrific read for kids 6 to 9 years old. Or gramps or grams can read it under the tree. It explains in simple terms, and with beautiful illustrations, what each fish’s role in the universe is and why it is important. This 24-page book is a superb way to bring kids into the circle of aquatic conversationalists. $16.99; amazon.com
Electronics
Garmin EchoMap Ultra 2 Series
Garmin’s EchoMap Ultra 2 chart plotters offer advanced features, including wireless networking and multiband GPS, for the nearshore boating angler on your gift list. The plotters are available in 10-inch (106 sv) or 12-inch (126 sv) sunlight-readable touchscreens with keyed assist. They feature ultra-HD scanning sonar and come preloaded with Garmin Navionics+ mapping with a one-year subscription for daily updates. These models are available with a GT56UHD all-in-one transducer that provides chirp traditional sonar and UHD ClearVu and SideVu. They also support Garmin LiveScope live-scanning sonar systems. Ranging from $1,899.99 to $3,099.99; garmin.com/marine
ePropulsion Spirit 1.0 Plus Electric Dinghy Outboard
Does the boater on your list have a dinghy? If so, the Spirit 1.0 Plus outboard from ePropulsion is a great holiday gift. It features a 1,276-watt-hour battery and a high-efficiency propeller design. The 48-volt Spirit 1.0 Plus can reach up to approximately 5.7 mph, with a range of more than 7 miles and a one-hour-and-15-minute run time at full speed. At lower speeds, run time can be extended to around 20 hours and a range of 52 miles. Designed for portability, the outboard weighs 24 pounds and stores in a customized bag. The battery weight is 19.4 pounds. $1,999 with the built-in battery; epropulsion.com
ACR Bivy Stick Mesh
The adventurous boater on your list will love the new Bivy Stick Mesh from ACR, the first satellite messenger to integrate advanced LoRa-enabled mesh networking with the Iridium Satellite network. It communicates as a stand-alone device or connected to your phone, without relying on cellular coverage. Its ability to relay messages through the mesh network ensures that communication is always possible. $199.95; bivystick.com
Standard Horizon HX320 Handheld VHF radio
Standard Horizon’s HX320 handheld VHF radio is an impressive holiday gift that’s also affordable. The HX320 provides 6 watts of transmit power, and also can be set to 2.5 or 1 watt of transmit power to maximize battery life at closer ranges. Its speaker is engineered with 700 mW of power for loud and clear audio reception, and the large channel display proves easy to read. The HX320 also enables wireless operation using the optional Bluetooth Standard Horizon SSM-BT10 headset. A built-in rechargeable 2,100 mAh high-capacity lithium polymer battery provides the HX320 with up to 17 hours of operation on one charge. The VHF also features an IPX7 water-submersion rating, and it floats. A water-activated emergency strobe light helps guide rescuers to a man overboard. $149.99; standardhorizon.com
Coast Voice-Controlled Headlamp
If the boater on your gift list boats at night, the Coast RL35R voice-controlled LED handlamp is an ideal stocking stuffer. There are more than 15 different hands-free voice commands, such as Coast On, Coast Off, Coast Flood, Coast Spot, Coast High and Coast Low. Boaters don’t have to worry about messing up the light with dirty, slimy or greasy hands while using it, whether fishing at night or working in a dark bilge. The headlamp offers a wide variety of lighting functions, including cool and warm white illumination; red, blue and green variations; and a selectable 280-degree beam width. The adjustable-angle beam boasts 1,110 lumens at the highest setting and 12 lumens at the lowest. It includes a rear battery pack attached to a reflective, breathable and adjustable elastic Ultra Strap. The battery case includes power indicator and solid or flashing red LED options. $79.99; coastportland.com
ProMariner ProTournament Elite Gen 3 Battery Charger
Watch the boater on your list get all charged up after receiving a ProTournament Elite Gen 3 battery charger from ProMariner. When plugged in, the LED Charge Status AC Glow Plug illuminates three individual colors for charging (red), conditioning (orange) and auto-maintaining (green). This eliminates the need to climb into the boat to check the status. Boaters can select charging profiles for flooded-cell, AGM, and approved lithium batteries. Distribute-on-demand multibank technology senses and delivers greater charging amps to the battery or batteries that are lowest in juice. Ranging from $339.99 to $699.99; promariner.com
Icom IC-M510BB Black-Box VHF Radio
Make sure the boater on your list can stay in touch with Icom’s IC-M510BB, which enables expansion of VHF radio accessibility throughout the boat. All operations, including DSC, can be made from the CommandMic, allowing the VHF radio unit to be installed in an out-of-sight place and as far as 60 feet from the CommandMic. Up to three CommandMics can be connected, allowing the system to double as an onboard intercom system. NMEA-2000 networking capabilities provide plug-and-play data communication with other onboard electronics. The radio can also share GNSS/GPS position data, AIS, and DSC calls with other onboard equipment. The unit has a last-call voice-recording function that automatically saves up to two minutes of a recent incoming call. There’s a built-in hailer function that can sound foghorn patterns for safety. $799.95; icomamerica.com
Skyhawk Oversea Boat Monitoring
Give the gift of security and peace of mind to the boater on your list with the Skyhawk Oversea boat-monitoring system. This American-made system is affordable, simple to install, and practical for any vessel. It features a compact wireless hub that by itself provides location on demand and monitors vessel bearing to detect movement. A network of battery-powered RF wireless sensors will monitor bilge-pump activity, battery voltage, shore power, ambient temperature and humidity, bilge-water level, motion, door entry, and sound. All alerts and data come to the Oversea app via cellular network. Both the hub and sensors provide years of operation using standard replaceable batteries for continuous year-round monitoring with no drain on the boat’s batteries. Starting at $249 for the hub, $389 for the hub plus three sensors; cellular subscription is required; oversea.boats
Humminbird Mega Live
Scan the water around you to see fish moving live in relation to your boat, bottom structure and even your lure. Aim Mega Live sonar with many manually deployed trolling motors using the Target Lock adaptor or Mega Live retractable hand control system. Pinpoint live fish and set the motor to stay on their track as a castable distance. From $1399; humminbird.johnsonoutdoors.com
Simrad NSX Ultrawide
Watch their eyes light up when you give the boater on your list one of Simrad’s spectacular new the NSX Ultrawide MFDs, which deliver the benefits of dual screens in just one display. Available in 12- and 15-inch (diagonal) screens, the NSX Ultrawide’s aspect ratio enhances the view when using split-screen formats. What’s more, the bundled C-Map Discover X charts for North America and Canada are optimized for the new Ultrawide display’s high-pixel density. Extra detail can be added with an upgrade to the optional Reveal X shaded-relief and satellite-imagery charting. The NSX Ultrawide is packed with familiar features of the NSX, and it easily integrates with other Simrad electronics, including sonar technologies across a wide variety of transducers. $2,749 for the 12-inch model, $3,399 for the 15-inch; simrad-yachting.com
Humminbird APEX
The boater on your list will light up when they see Humminbird’s most capable MFD under the tree. An ultra-HD screen offers a bright image in direct sunlight. The Cross Touch system uses either the button array or touchscreen to access functions. Mega Down and Mega Side plus chirp sonar are built-in. Humminbird’s One Boat network allows control of Raptor shallow-water anchors and iPilot-equipped trolling motors through the APEX. Mapping includes Coastmaster or Lakemaster chart cards. Available in a 13-, 16- and 19-inch screen. From $3,999; humminbird.johnsonoutdoors.com
Watersports
Mission Delta 2.0 Wake Shaper
Give the gift of more-refined wakes to your watersports enthusiast this holiday season. The Delta 2.0 wakesurf shaper installs easily on a boat, with suction cups. It features RipFlow Technology, which delivers enhanced wave cleanup performance by inducing more turbulence than ever before. This means a competition-class wave in the most efficient way possible. Compatible with most inboard boats. $248; boatgear.missionoutdoor.com
Connelly Big Easy Ski
A favorite of the 1990s’ ski scene is revived. Give the gift of a Connelly Big Easy ski to the watersports lover on your gift list. It’s designed to make water-skiing easier for everyone. On the Connelly Big Easy, skiers pop right up. The massive 635-square-inch platform and consistent width throughout the ski offer exceptional stability. Made in the USA, it features a standard tunnel and an aluminum drop-through fin. $299.99; connelly.com
Hyperlite Capitol Loaded Wakeboard
Cory Teunissen just won his fourth Pro Wakeboard Tour overall title. Give the gift of his board model: Hyperlite’s Capitol Loaded. Featuring Loaded Construction, the Capitol utilizes a lightweight core encased with carbon laminates. The blended three-stage rocker delivers a huge pop off the wake. Shaped by Butch Customs, it comes in 139 cm and 143 cm lengths. $945; hyperlite.com
Full Throttle Rapid-Dry Flex-Back Life Jacket
Want to give three gifts in one? With Full Throttle’s Rapid-Dry Flex-Back life jacket, you can give the watersports enthusiast on your holiday list the gifts of safety, performance and comfort. The stretchable Flex-Back insert improves fit and freedom of movement. There are seven segmented hinge points for enhanced comfort and flexibility. Vibrantly designed, it dries quickly and feels cool. And it’s US Coast Guard- and Transport Canada-approved. Available in red, gray and green, and in a variety of sizes from small to 3XL. $69.99; fullthrottlewatersports.com
Ronix Expert Carbon Foil and Board
Give the gift of a complete wakefoiling setup with this pairing from Ronix. It allows riders to travel higher and faster using the Ronix Speed front wing. It’s available in two lengths—3 feet, 9 inches and 4 feet, 2 inches—and features a Velo 29-inch-tall mast. The Speed front wing offers 1,530 square centimeters of lift area to pump more easily while generating energy with each push. $2,999.99; ronixwake.com
HO Sports Hawaii Dock
The HO Sports Hawaii dock makes a great gift. It’s a full 8 square feet and 6 inches tall, and provides a private oasis on the water. Use it as a floating dock, a sun island or a yoga mat, or just hang out and enjoy the vibe of being on the water. The Hawaii’s marine-grade EVA deck pad provides a soft, nonslip traction surface, while the strategically designed deck-pad placement allows for tight and easy folding and packing. An electric air pump and a repair kit are included. $1,071; hosports.com
Airhead G-Force 3
This three-person towable tube from Airhead is called the G-Force 3. Streamlined in shape, it offers fun and performance. Inflatable topside stabilizer fins are a unique feature to help riders stay on during rough rides. Six deluxe handles stand up to rugged use. We like the detail of the included knuckle guards on those handles. Made from tough 30-gauge PVC, the entire Airhead G-Force 3 is covered in durable nylon. It has patented valves for quick and easy inflation and deflation. $215.99; airhead.com
WOW Off-Road Truck
If your crew likes to go muddin’ as well as tubin’, then the Off-Road Truck towable tube from WOW watersports might be the greatest holiday gift you can give this year. Looking like a waterborne monster truck, the WOW Off-Road Truck is ready for three people to ride while standing or kneeling. EVA foam body pads and heavy-duty construction provide comfort and stability. It easily deflates and has a molded tow-rope connector. Its full nylon cover is heavy-duty and super-durable. $429.99; wowsports.com
Bote Peace Woven Towel
A great towel can turn a good day on the water into a great day on the water. The Bote Peace woven towel fits that description and evinces the watersports lifestyle that Bote espouses. This cool holiday gift is made from 100 percent top materials. At 34 inches wide by a full 60 inches long, the Bote Peace woven towel is big and comfy, whether being used as a blanket, towel or boat-seat covering. The creative Peace artwork looks great and is expressive. $60; boteboard.com
Read Next: Father’s Day Gift Guide
Flite Air Foilboard
The Flite Air makes electric-powered foilboarding more accessible to more people. Featuring a rigid foam-core platform for responsiveness and rigidity, the Flite Air features an inflatable perimeter that lets it take bumps without getting dings, and also makes the Air lighter than other e-foils. Available in two sizes and three colors. The Air 5-foot-8-inch board is for all riders; the Air Pro provides more agility and responsiveness, making you the hero of the holidays. Starting at $6,995; fliteboard.com
Do It Yourself
Flush-M Engine-Flushing Solution
Flushing an outboard engine with fresh water after running it in salt water is an important task. However—and we aren’t naming any names—some engine makes and models make it difficult to hook up the hose to the outboard’s flush port once back at the dock or back on the trailer. Flush-M solves hose-connection struggles with rugged quick-disconnect kits for Mercury, Suzuki and Yamaha outboards. The outboard owner on your list will love it. $35 (Yamaha), $75 (Mercury, Suzuki); flush-m.com
Snap-On Crow’s-Foot Wrenches
Maybe it’s that through-hull fitting that is installed too close to a bulkhead. Maybe it’s the pump mounted in the corner. Perhaps some fixture or fitting on a marine engine is difficult to access. In these scenarios, and more, a crow’s-foot wrench is often the tool that gets the job done. These Snap-On crow’s-foot wrenches, available for both 3/8-inch and 1/2-inch ratchet drives, come in a variety of sizes. When the DIY boater on your list needs one, a crow’s-foot is often the only tool that will do. Starting at about $40; snapon.com
Interlux Watertite Epoxy Filler
Interlux Watertite epoxy filler is a two-part epoxy filler ideal for making long-lasting repairs in boats. It’s user-friendly in that it can be applied up to ¾-inch-thick without sagging and is easy to mix due to its 1-to-1 mix ratio. It’s useful for filling holes and scratches in gelcoat and more. Suitable for use both above and below the waterline, it exhibits superior spreadability, which helps make for a smoother repair surface with less sanding. The DIY boaters on your list can use it to fill pockmarks from blisters on hull bottoms, like we did on one of our own years ago, and those repairs are still going strong. It can be primed and painted after curing. $46.29 (16.9 oz. can); defender.com
Shurhold Pro Rotary Polisher
For DIY boaters experienced with rotary tools, we present the Shurhold Pro rotary polisher as a great holiday gift. While not as forgiving as a dual-action or orbiting polisher, a rotary polisher such as this one is the pros’ choice for precision, speed, and the ability to better polish close to obstructions. It’s got a 7-inch quick-change backing plate, easy-access brush ports, easy-cleaning air vents, a locking “on” button, and a thumbwheel speed control. Its rpm range is 600 to 3,200. $199.98; shurhold.com
Pettit Captain’s Varnish
Does the boater on your Christmas list take pride in their vessel’s woodwork? If so, Pettit Captain’s Varnish might be a great gift. It is available in both aerosol and liquid formulations and provides a traditional amber glow. Built-in UV inhibitors protect marine wood against the ravages of the sun. Suitable for both interior and exterior wood, it covers 146 square feet per liquid quart and 30 square feet per 20-ounce aerosol can. It is also available in pints and gallons. $62.98/quart, $28.98/20-ounce aerosol; jamestowndistributors.com
Towing-Service Membership
Give the gift of peace of mind. Even though the boater on your list keeps up with maintenance, is attentive to fuel levels, and is a great navigator, stuff sometimes happens on the water. If anything should happen and your boater gets stuck or breaks down, a towing-service membership with a company such as BoatUS or Sea Tow ensures safety and convenience in getting back to port. Starting at about $100, verify there is service on your boater’s body of water before purchasing. For more info, visit boatus.com or seatow.com.
Groco Through-Hull Step Wrench
Installing through-hull fittings can require two people: one outside the hull and one inside the bilge. This step wrench allows for solo installation of a through-hull fitting. Thread the cord tied to the wrench’s top through the fitting, and then through the hole in the hull, then through the locknut inside the boat. Next, climb inside and pull on the string to hold the fitting against the hull. Spin on the nut. Release the cord, and the step wrench lowers to the ground. $130.50; hodgesmarine.com
Pelican 1535 Air Carry-On
We use Pelican cases all the time. They are proven protection for cameras and equipment on boats, allowing us to create content for you. Though Pelican makes all kinds of cases in different sizes and shapes, we think that the DIY boater on your list will appreciate a case like this 1535 carry-on model. Measuring 21.96-by-13.97-by-8.98 inches, it’s a great size to keep an onboard tool kit safe and organized. Available in a variety of colors, it has an IP67 water-immersion rating and is Mil-Spec-certified. $254.95; pelican.com
Groco PGN-50 Nozzle
We know what you’re thinking: It’s just a hose nozzle. Well, nozzles that live aboard boats, especially in salt water, live a tougher life than garden-variety nozzles. When using the cockpit hose, needing the anchor washdown or in the middle of washing the boat, the last thing a boater needs is for the nozzle to crumble in their hands. Groco’s PGN-50 nozzle is saltwater-ready and rugged, with its stainless-steel return spring and extra-heavy plastic construction. It makes a great stocking stuffer. $26; groco.net
Blue Seas Clamp Meter
The Blue Seas clamp meter is an AC/DC -multimeter that allows DIY boaters to diagnose all kinds of electrical problems without having to penetrate the wire insulation. This great holiday gift has clamping jaws that go around the conductor and sense the properties by induction. It also functions as a conventional digital multimeter and comes with a pair of metal-tipped probes. It also comes in a carrying case. Auto range simplifies operation: 0.01 to 400 amps, 0.001 to 600 volts. $182.99; defender.com
IKO Print Kit
The IKO print kit represents a different kind of DIY. It’s not a repair or replacement item. Instead, it allows the boater on your gift list to create gyotaku, which is the specialized Japanese art form of creating ink prints of fish on rice paper. The IKO kits include rice paper, ink, inkwell, brushes, and clear and easy instructions. Just add a whole fish. With the IKO print kit, one can create numerous beautiful and absolutely unique-as-a-fingerprint artwork. We tested it and think it’s great. $44.99; ikoprints.com
EZ Loader Channel Glide Bunk Cover
Bunk trailers provide outstanding support, but can sometimes make launching or loading a boat difficult, especially at shallow ramps or during periods of low tide. With EZ-Loader Channel Glide Bunk Covers, a boat slides on and off a bunk style trailer with much greater ease. Sold in a variety of lengths and for different width bunks, EZ Loader Channel Glide Bunk Covers are a welcome addition to bunk-style boat trailers. Sold as individual sections and in kits. $89.10 ( 2” x4” 7-foot long bunk kit.); ezloader.com
Quicksilver Flo-Torq Hubs
Many boaters run Mercury Marine Propeller props, whether their engine is a Mercury or not. The Flo-Torq hub protects the valuable marine propeller should it strike a rock or log by spinning fee. It also makes for easy propeller swaps, and Flo-Torq hubs offer quieter, smoother shifting. Flo-Torq hub kits are available for a wide variety of engines running Mercury Marine propellers. Each kit includes the drive sleeve, three-washer set (washer, thick washer and cupped Belleville washer), tabbed lock washer and locking prop nut $49-$149; westmarine.com
Toadfish EDC 7-inch Pocket Knife
With a 3.15″ Sandvik 14C28N stainless steel blade, this knife boasts exceptional sharpness, strength, and corrosion resistance. The polished drop-point blade provides precision with a flat grind, adding a balance of durability and edge retention. Designed for comfort and control, the handle features a striking jade G10 material with a carbon fiber inlay, delivering a textured grip that’s both stylish and secure. At a closed length of 4.25″, the knife offers a compact design, with an anodized aluminum pivot assembly for smooth opening and a reliable liner lock for added safety. Offered at $40 off for the holidays. $90 (limited time); toadfish.com/products/edc-7-pocket-knife
