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- Best Overall
- Onyx MoveVent Dynamic Paddle Sports Life Vest
- 4 colors and 5 sizes
- Suitable for various canoe
- 6 adjustable straps
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- Premium Choice
- Tommy Bahama Maritime Eau de Cologne
- Maritime scents available
- Professional fragrance
- Elegant packaging
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- Great Value
- Marchway Floating Waterproof Dry Bag
- Adjustable shoulder strap
- Portable, and waterproof
- Recommended for boating
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If you’re reading this, then you most definitely have a friend or family member who is crazy about boating. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Boating is fun, thrilling, and relaxing all at the same time, and lets them enjoy communing with nature.
Now, with all the holidays and celebrations popping up all year, not to mention their birthdays, it can be hard to think of a nice and appropriate gift for them. You may even have considered just about anything from buying a whole new boat.
We’ve got you covered. Here’s a complete review and buying guide to help you find the best gift for boaters:
Best gifts for boaters
Take a look at these 12 best gift ideas for boat lovers that are sure to make your friend or loved one’s time in the water more fun and exciting. We’ve listed down plenty of different options for your selection, from boating gear, sports wear, unique nautical gifts and accessories, and more.
Onyx MoveVent Dynamic Paddle Sports Life Vest
Our best bet is the Onyx MoveVent dynamic paddle sports life vest, a US Coast Guard and Transport Canada approved life saving device that’s sure to keep your loved ones safe in the open waters so they can focus on enjoying their time outdoors.
It’s uniquely designed with a sculpted flexible foam that not only conforms to the wearer’s build but also stays in place the entire time even with heavy movement. It’s made with heavy duty nylon fabrics that are resistant to tears and punctures so it looks good as new for longer.
Moreover, it features strategically located mesh ventilation panels at the front and lower back to keep the wearer cool under the blazing sun. It also incorporates highly reflective materials for increased visibility, and is equipped with other features such as a lash tab and an expandable zipper pocket.
- Available in 4 colors and 5 sizes
- Made with cool and breathable materials
- Suitable for various canoe and kayak seat sizes
- Ensures a snug fit with 6 adjustable straps
- Offers plenty of storage space for essentials
- High quality and affordable
Tommy Bahama Maritime Eau de Cologne
Second best on our list is this Tommy Bahama maritime eau de cologne spray for men, which is a perfect gift for those who are not quite sure what exactly their loved ones do out in the water. Trust us, you can never go wrong with a tropical scented perfume for him like this one.
Filled with aromatic and invigorating warm and fresh scents from the Bahamas, it’s a nice and intriguing fragrance perfect for a spirited adventurer. It clearly evokes memories of sailing winds over crystal clear waters of the open sea.
With a combination of sandalwood, jasmine, and bergamot, there’s no better than this fragrance in serving as an ode to your loved one’s inner sailor. In fact, even the bottle is cleverly designed. With a glass bottle tinted in ocean blue and a metal cleat wrapped in nautical rope, it gives a clear statement of serenity while being adventure ready.
- Amazon’s Choice product
- Available in 2.5, 4.2, and 6.7 oz
- Can be purchased as a gift set
- Other maritime scents available
- Excellent professional fragrance
- Elegant packaging
Marchway Floating Waterproof Dry Bag
Going back to something that’s a bit more practical, another excellent gift choice is the Marchway floating waterproof dry bag. It may not exclusively be a boat gift idea, but it’s the perfect gear for any type of extreme outdoor adventure in and out of the water.
That’s because it’s lightweight, compact, and durable due to its ripstop tarpaulin construction that’s reinforced with sturdy welded seams. It’s designed to last for many years without any rips, tears, and puncture holes.
It’s also completely waterproof thanks to its solid roll-top closure mechanism that guarantees a leak proof seal to keep your belongings dry and free from water and other elements. It’s highly versatile, easy to use, requires little to no cleaning, and can even float on water.
- Amazon best seller
- Practical on-the-go bag
- Available in 5 sizes and 16 colors
- Comes with adjustable shoulder strap
- Lightweight, portable, and waterproof
- Recommended for boating, surfing, etc
Marmot Men’s Minimalist Waterproof Rain Jacket
Looking for boating gifts for dad? Taking the fourth spot is this minimalist and lightweight waterproof rain jacket for men by Marmot. It guarantees a reliable performance as you tackle the outdoors under unpredictable weather conditions.
Made with Gore-Tex technology and 100% polyester, this protective garment is sure to keep you cool and dry at all times. It’s breathable and weighs like a feather, and it’s also water repellant thanks to being treated with plc-free DWR compounds.
Plus, it’s also a hundred percent leak proof due to its dual layer construction and seam taping engineering, so you don’t have to worry about getting water, snow, and other elements inside the jacket. And even better, it makes use of heat releasing pit zips to regulate your body temperature and provide adequate ventilation.
- Available in 5 sizes and 12 colors
- Made with hydrophobic and temp regulating materials
- Designed with an attached hood for better protection
- With zippered front pocket for storage
- Simple and discreet design
- True to size fit
HDS-7 LIVE – 7-inch Fish Finder with Active Imaging
If you want something a little more high tech and one that is sure to be loved by someone who has a passion for boating, fishing, and snorkelling, we recommend the HDS-7 live fish finder, a boat gadgets that’s packed with a lot of amazing features to really enhance one’s experience in the water.
It boasts of the most advanced fish finder technology that allows for a simultaneous viewing of StructureScan 3D and CHIRP Sonar so the user can clearly see not just the fish but also the underwater structure below and at the sides of the boat.
What’s also really great about this is that it displays a new dynamic range of color that creates never before seen high visibility contrasts, offering a unique enjoyment of near photographic quality images of the underwater surroundings in 2D and 3D.
- Available in 4 sizes
- High speed dual core processor
- Dual channel CHIRP Sonar
- Automatic route planning
- Embossed control buttons
- C-MAP Genesis live on screen mapping
JBL FLIP 4 – Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker
On the other hand, if you are looking for boat accessories that more people will enjoy and appreciate, we highly suggest the JBL FLIP 4, a portable bluetooth speaker that is waterproof and therefore perfect for pool parties and trips to the beach.
In fact, with an IPx7 waterproof label, you are guaranteed that this device will stay dry and fully functional despite splashes, raindrops, and even getting fully submerged in the water. It even features a long lasting rechargeable battery so outdoor activities can be enjoyed with background music the entire time.
And, it can easily be connected to two different smartphones or tablets to take turns in playing music, as well as to a hundred other speakers enabled with JBL connect+ in order to really amplify the party.
- Available in 9 colors
- 20 KHz sound clarity
- 3000mAh rechargeable li-ion battery
- With dual external passive radiators
- Voice assistant integration
FELL Marine Mob+ Wireless Man-Overboard Cutoff Switch
Another highly useful and life saving device that is ideal for gifting to your boater friends and loved ones is the FELL marine mob+ wireless man overboard cutoff switch. It’s a hundred times better than a traditional kill switch lanyard and offers a better freedom of movement.
It’s also innovative and ABYC compliant, and makes use of an xHUB that can easily be mounted near or directly on the boat’s console while the user is wearing the XFOB. These two seamlessly communicate to each other wirelessly so that the engine can automatically be stopped in the event that the XFOB becomes submerged in water or goes out of range.
It can even be connected with other xFOBs to act as alarm units while the main one for the boat captain is designated to stop the engine. The xFOBs are also easy to wear, either on your wrist, neck, or on your life jacket.
- One click user interface
- Powered by a coin cell battery with 300 hr life
- Works with outboard and sterndrive engines
- Connectible with extra xFOBs
- Can be purchased with xBAND or xTAG accessories
Viski Rolling Wine Angled Crystal Glass Tumblers
If you want unique gifts that showcase your thoughtfulness by thinking of the little and often unnoticeable things that certainly make life better, check out this Viski rolling wine angled crystal glass tumbler that looks uniquely stylish- a true statement to every connoisseur’s cabinet.
It’s made of crystal clear glass with a wide mouth, an even wider angled base, and a pointed bottom center that is designed to enable swirling the glass right on the table in order to oxygenate the wine inside.
This unique design is also what ensures that there will be no spills whatsoever, making it perfect for use when in motion, especially aboard boats where the rocking motion of the sea can be a headache if there are uncapped drinks lying around.
- Made with Venetian glassmaking
- 100% lead free crystal
- Comes as a pair of 2 12 oz glasses
- Also available as a decanter
- Excellent packaging
Garmin Quatix 5 Multisport Marine Smartwatch
Here’s something that is a real statement when it comes to stylish maritime gear. With all its surprising features, the Garmin Quatix 5 multisport marine smartwatch feels like something that Agent 007 would definitely wear.
For one thing, it’s way more than just a time telling watch, seeing as it can connect to boats with Garmin compatible devices like chart plotting in order to enable the wearer to stream data on boat speed, temperature, and wind patterns, as well as allow for autopilot control and more.
Aside from all that, this watch can also be connected to Stereo active products and other ANT enabled stereos, offer sail racing assistance with countdown timing and track assist, measure heart rate, provide GPS navigation, and be set to various other activity profiles. And did we mention you can change the wristband if you want a more personalized gift option?
- Comes in blue and silver
- Built-in Fusion Link Lite app
- 2 week battery life (smartwatch mode)
- Smart notifications and activity tracking
- Changeable wristband
SIMARI Men’s & Women’s Water Shoes Sports
Now, for your boater friends, chances are they already own a pair of trusty water shoes, but there’s no reason why you shouldn’t get them an upgrade, or at least something else to wear as they get tired of their old pair.
The best high quality and value-for-money option you’ve got is the Simari men’s and women’s water shoes. It comes in dozens of unique designs for you to choose from, and is perfect for a variety of outdoor activities such as swimming, sailing, kayaking, beach sports, and more.
It’s also really ergonomic seeing as it’s made with a comfortable lycra fabric that is breathable and quick drying, features holed soles that allow for ventilation and drainage, makes use of elastic shoelaces fitted with locking mechanisms, and uses high quality bumped rubber for the soles to prevent slippage.
- Amazon best seller
- Available in 14 sizes and 32 colors
- Made with polyester and lycra
- True to size fit
- Unisex styles and designs
GoPro HERO 7 Waterproof Action Camera
A must have gadget to capture all the action and immortalize the majestic and surreal views from above and below water is a superior sports camera, and there’s nothing better than the GoPro Hero 7 waterproof action camera.
Among its excellent features are a hyper smooth and gimbal like stabilization, a time warp mode that captures and compresses time lapse videos for sharing, a live steam function that records, saves, and shares your videos in real time, a super photo feature that takes images in HDR, and so much more.
The camera itself is also made with a rugged and waterproof construction even without a housing, so it’s perfectly safe to use on the water. It’s even equipped with hands free voice commands in a variety of languages to make the user’s outdoor experience as fun and hassle free as possible.
- Amazon’s Choice product
- 4K60 videos and 12MP photos
- Waterproof for up to 10m (33ft)
- USB connection port
- Can be purchased with other accessories
iCOVER Trailerable Boat Cover
Finally, what says “gift for a boater” better than an actual boat cover? The iCover trailerable boat cover is a universal cover that fits a variety of boat types, from V-hull boats, tri-hull runabouts, bass boats, and more. It’s a great option on boat warming gifts for a new boat owner.
It’s waterproof and UV-resistant thanks to its durable canvas fabric construction that’s coated with water resistant PVC and finished with an anti-UV compound. So, there’s no need to worry about stuff like fading, tearing, cracking, and failing to keep the boat protected due to inclement weather conditions.
It also comes equipped with heavy duty elastic cords that are sewn right onto the hemline in order to guarantee a snug and form fitting fit, and there are also added buckles and straps to ensure that the cover stays in place at all times.
- Amazon best seller
- Available in 6 sizes and 5 colors
- Suitable for storage, mooring, and trailering
- With 12 month warranty
- 100% money back guarantee
How to choose the perfect gift for boaters
Still not quite sure how to choose the best gift for your boat loving friends and loved ones? Don’t worry, here’s a guide to help you out. Below, we’ve listed down some of the most important things you need to consider if you want to find the right gift that your boater friend is sure to love.
Hobbies
First of all, you need to figure out just what exactly are the hobbies of the person receiving the gifts. Sure, searching for boat stuff on Amazon or any other online selling platform may give you results, but if you really want to be thoughtful in your gifts, it’s always nice to take the extra mile.
For example, what kind of boating do they usually partake in? What do they do on the boat? Do they have any other related activities that they usually enjoy, such as swimming, diving, fishing, and whatnot? This will help you find a more appropriate gift for them.
Type of boat
It’s also important that you identify the kind of boat they own, sail, or ride, since different boats make use of different equipment and accessories, and, well, they’re just different. And this is a must if you want to buy boat specific gifts.
Think of it this way. A fishing boat is different from a kayak, a yacht, or a cruise ship for that matter. If they fancy bigger “party” boats, you can try searching for pontoon boat gifts and go from there. Alternatively, if they like to keep things small and simple, try to get them something that will help them enjoy the peace and calm of the open waters.
Boat owner age
Of course, you should also take into account how old the recipient is, since not all boating related gifts are made for the same age group. Typically, younger age groups would be excited for something more adventurous and thrilling, while older ones may want something less frilly.
You might also want to stay away from stuff that are too complicated to operate, especially if the recipient is not too tech savvy. And, their age (and preferences) should also tell you something about the sort of designs and styles of stuff they will appreciate and be more in line with their personality.
Price
It’s also nice, especially for yourself, if you can set a budget on how much you are willing to spend on a gift without hurting your finances, and more importantly, be able to stick to that budget. Once you’re decided on a price range, you can go from there.
The great thing is, regardless of how much you have set aside, there are plenty of amazing options you will find that the gift recipient is sure to appreciate. From little trinkets that show them you know and value their interests, to bigger things that can totally enhance their boating experience, you can’t really go wrong as long as you take the time to pick out a nice gift.
Overview
When choosing a gift for boaters, what’s most important to keep in mind is that it’s always the thought that counts. Meaning, keep in mind that you are buying the gift for them, not you, so make sure to take their interests and preferences into account.
This way, you are sure to find the perfect gift that they will love and cherish, and of course, enjoy using during their adventures.
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