Holiday Gifts for Sailors - 2023
Wondering what to get for Christmas for any sailors and boaters in your life - Search no more! Here’s a holiday gift guide designed for all the adventure seeking aquaphiles.
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Gifts Under $25
Luci Light ($23)
The Luci Light is the perfect gift for anyone who likes to adventure! Whether it’s sailing, camping, or just a nice evening in the backyard, this little light will provide the perfect amount of ambiance. We use one in our cockpit for dinner and to help locate our boat easily in a crowded anchorage at night. It’s inflatable so it packs down small and you can recharge it by solar or USB. For a higher price point, you can get one with multiple color options. You’ll find so many uses for the light you’ll be asking for more than just one!
Turkish Towels ($12 - $20)
I will never have any towels besides Turkish Towels on my boat. These towels are amazing! They’re absorbent and dry super fast. That means no funky used towel smell! They also fold up nice and small for storage or taking along to the nearest beach.
Line/Cord Wraps ($18)
With minimal storage space, every sailor will want an easy way to keep their lines and shore cable neatly organized. These heavy duty wraps can make that happen. We have a number of Velcro-style straps holding things in place around the boat. I like the idea of these because they’re more substantial and have a grommet for storage on a hook.
Portable Chargers ($20)
Keeping your devices charged can be a challenge while out sailing. These charge packs are adaptable to any device for charging. Because they’re portable, they allow you to untether from the wall and charge on the go.
Telescoping Fish Gaff ($22)
Losing a fish that you’ve spent lots of time and sweat reeling in is always a hard pill to swallow. Get the fish on board quickly with this telescoping fish gaff. It has a stainless steel hook and a rubber non-slip grip. This one can extend to almost 4 feet for easy reach down to the water from the deck of any boat.
Solar Shower ($20)
This is a great way to get hot water for a shower using only the sun. Just fill the bag and let it sit in the sun for at least 3 hours. This bag has a built in thermometer so you can see how hot the water is getting (it can get remarkably hot!). This one also holds 6.6 gallons which is a little more than other solar showers at this price.
Gifts for Everyone
Ultralight Medical Kit ($33)
This medical kit is watertight and extremely light, making it a great kit to carry with you to your onshore excursions. These Adventure Medical Kits are available in multiple sizes so you can have the tools you need no matter how large your crew is.
Adventure Medical Kits - Marine Medicine Book. ($10 on Kindle)
This companion book to the Adventure Medical Kits is written for anyone with a passion for life on the water. This book will help you prepare for your marine adventures whether your setting sail for months or just for the day.
Black Diamond Headlamp ($35)
Most boat projects seem to require both hands in a dark, cramped space - you’ll be thankful you have a headlamp to light your way. This one has multiple settings, including strobe and red light.
Kindle ($99)
Space is always limited on a boat and a kindle is the perfect gift for book lovers. They are light and pack easily for any kind of traveling you have planned. Prices will vary depending on the features you’re looking for, but this Kindle starts on the low end at $100.
Foldable Camp Chair ($29)
This is a compact, lightweight foldable camp chair that’s great for shore excursions. We used ours almost every day while cruising, whether it was sitting on the beach or hanging around a campfire. I like that this brand has pockets on either side for holding drinks or cell phones.
If your sailor is a racer, this watch was voted best racing sailing watch by Yachting World. Besides attaching this watch to your wrist, it also comes with hull, mast, and boom mount options. I’m not a racer but this one sounds pretty nice to me!
Bocce Ball ($35)
Playing Bocce Ball on the beach is a great way to spend your cruising days. This kit comes with a nice little carrying bag and durable crack-resistant balls. It’s also super easy to learn for any newbies out there!
Gifts for Her
For when you need a safe place to put your drink down. This non-tipping cup holder keeps your drink upright and off your cockpit floor! This one will hold a 16-32 oz tumbler and is made with stainless steel to prevent rusting.
Waterproof Dry Bag ($8 - $20)
A dry bag is essential to keeping your clothes and valuables safe when heading to shore. It will even float once it’s rolled closed. This brand comes in some fun patterns so you can ditch the boring dry bags.
Salt water and sun can really dry out your hair and scalp. Kitsch solid shampoo and conditioner bars help bring your hair back to life without any harsh chemicals. Their environmentally friendly and cruelty-free to boot.
Simple Modern Tumbler ($29)
I know the giant Stanley Cup is all the rage right now but this version by Simple Modern is a good dupe. With 4.8 stars and over 24k reviews, it must be good.
Chaco Women’s Sandal ($60)
You’ll never regret buying a decent pair of sandals. Chaco sandals are meant for adventure. They come in many styles and colors to choose from. I know many sailors who love their comfort and durability. Chaco sandals can even be re-soled and re-strapped to reduce waste.
Keeping those lips protected from the suns harsh rays with a sunscreen lip balm. This one from Sun Bum uses zinc oxide to provide safe sun blocking lip hydration. It’s SPF 30 which is a little stronger than most other SPF lip balms.
Gifts for Him
Rechargeable Spotlight ($25 - $30)
Spotlights are an incredibly valuable tool to have onboard. You’ll be amazed at how often you’ll find yourself in need of this thing. Not only is this one rechargeable, but it’s also waterproof and has a detachable red lens to preserve your night vision.
RoboCup Cup Holder ($29)
We have this cup holder and we love it. We keep it attached to our helm and it never moves or slides down. Use it to hold your drinks, cell phones, and anything else you can think of. The bottom unscrews to let water drain and so you can set your fishing rod in it as well!
Every sailor needs a multi-tool. My husband has carried this one around for years, lost it once, and replaced it with the same exact one because he liked it so much. It’s such a handy little tool and you never know when you’ll need a knife or pliers in a pinch!
Tilly Men’s Hat ($50 - $100)
You can’t go wrong gifting a hat from Tilly! These hats were created by a sailor for sailors. They provide excellent sun protection all while being lightweight, breathable, and extremely durable. Tilly hats will float if they land in the water and they won’t shrink with exposure to water and sweat. Most importantly, they look great on!
Cut Resistant Gloves ($13)
If he’s catching fish, he’s gonna need a pair of filet gloves. My husband wears his any time he’s fileting a fish, especially on a boat that’s constantly moving. these gloves are food safe and you can toss them in the washing machine when they get funky.
For the Little Sailors
Books, Books, and more Books!! Living on a small boat makes you put limits on the amount of things you can actually have. However, we do have one caveat to this rule - Books. We do not limit the amount of books our kids can have on board. So if you’re looking for a gift for a child of any age, you can’t go wrong with books.
If your adult sized binoculars are too big or too expensive for your little sailor to use, why not get them their very own pair? They’re designed for little hands and are shock proof to withstand even the roughest of kids. And they come in lots of fun colors!
Magnetic Tiles ($20 - $100+)
Kids go crazy over these magnetic building tiles (my little one included!). They provide hours of open-ended play and help stimulate little minds. This set comes with a carrying bag so they store really nicely in the small confines of a boat. And because they’re magnetic, they don’t fall over * as easily* as regular building blocks when the boat starts rocking.
Yoto Mini ($70)
This little box will provide scree-free entertainment for kids of all ages. You just pop an audio card (sold separately) in the top and the Yoto Mini plays the recording from the card. The cards play stories, music, and other sounds for up to 14 hours on one charge.
My toddler loves to play with our headlamps but they don’t fit his head and he usually walks around blinding us out. Not the case with the Wiz Kids Headlamp. This headlamp is designed for little heads, won’t blind you, and automatically shuts off after 2 hours to preserve the battery life.
Kids Digital Camera ($35)
How fun would it be to see the world captured from your child’s perspective?! This little camera is durable and small enough for little hands to hold.
Kids Headphones ($17)
A good pair of headphones are great for traveling on a boat. Boats are loud and make lots of strange sounds. Headphones allow your kid to tune all that out, especially if its scary for them. Also, not everyone on the boat wants to listen to kiddie shows and music all the time.
Kids Lifejacket (Prices will vary greatly)
A good life jacket is not only smart but required if you’re going to be sailing with kids. You’ll want one that’s easy to get on and adjustable. It’s also important to make sure it’s US Coast Guard approved.
This little device allows anyone to see under the water without putting your face in. It’s great for viewing reefs from the dinghy or for scoping out tidal pools onshore. We had a DIY version of this using a bucket from home depot with a piece of plexiglass secured to the bottom.
Water Shoes ($15)
Water shoes are a great gift for an adventurous kid. They should be quick drying and fit well so they don’t slip off. Make sure they have a good non-skid sole so your kid will be protected from sharp rocks and reefs.
Kids Yeti Water Bottle ($25)
The Yeti Tumbler is BPA-free and made with stainless steel to withstand even the roughest of kids. It has a nice little handle for carrying and a leak-proof straw. It’s also dishwasher safe for those times you get to experience the luxuries of land life.
Stand-Up Inflatables ($52)
How fun is this Inflatable! The pieces attach to your stand-up paddle board to transform it into something the whole anchorage will be talking about. The tail is even a seat so smaller kids can tag along with you.