Got a boater in your life? It might seem like they already have everything they could possibly need for their time on the water—but trust us, there’s always something more that can enhance their adventures. Whether they’re into DIY projects, tech toys and electronics, watersports, or just enjoy spending time on the boat—or even if they’re new to boating—there’s always a new gadget or accessory that can elevate the experience. When it’s time to exchange gifts, consider these handpicked options. Here are 25 cruising-inspired gift ideas that are sure to make their day.
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Great Life Afloat | Hands-On Sailor | Timeless Techie | Newbie Boater | Fun on the Hook
For the Great Life Afloat
The Loafer by Amberjack
Give the gift of style and comfort with The Loafer by Amberjack. Made from water-repellent Italian suede and sustainably sourced in Tuscany, these shoes are perfect for boaters. A thermo-moldable insole and innovative outsole provide all-day comfort, rain or shine—no socks needed. Tested and loved by our editors at boat shows around the world, they’re a durable and stylish addition to any boating enthusiast’s wardrobe.
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Weems & Plath 6″ Brass Bell with Monkey’s Fist Lanyard
Add timeless charm to any boater’s collection with this handcrafted brass ship’s bell. Made in Northern Italy, it boasts a mirror-polished finish and a resonant tone. The included wall-mount bracket ensures easy display or storage, while the hand-tied monkey’s fist lanyard adds nautical flair. A perfect holiday gift for traditional sailors and maritime enthusiasts alike!
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Jack Rudy Old Fashioned Kit
The Jack Rudy Old Fashioned Kit is perfect for warming up during the off-season. This holiday-ready gift set includes Demerara syrup, bourbon cocktail cherries, aromatic bitters, and a polished graduated jigger to measure the perfect pour. Just add your favorite whiskey—bourbons from Charleston’s High Wire Distilling make an excellent choice. Beautifully boxed, this kit brings craft cocktail vibes straight to your home bar or galley.
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Skipper Swag Personalized Gifts
Give your favorite boater a gift as unique as their adventures with Skipper Swag’s personalized boating gear. From custom mouse pads and phone cases to cozy embroidered towels, Skipper Swag offers stylish, high-quality items tailored to their vessel or lifestyle. These one-of-a-kind gifts are practical, thoughtful and sure to impress any sailor or skipper this holiday season.
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Helly Hansen Women’s Manchester 2.0 Shell Jacket
The Helly Hansen Manchester 2.0 Shell Jacket combines style and function with features like a brushed-fleece collar, detachable hood, and adjustable elastic cuffs. Waterproof and seam-free at the shoulders, it offers comfort and durability for any adventure. An adjustable hem ensures a perfect fit, and it’s available in six colors and sizes XS to 3XL—making it a thoughtful gift for the active woman on your list.
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Silwy Magnetic Crystal Longdrink Glasses
Keep drinks steady on the go with Silwy Magnetic Crystal Longdrink Glasses. Built-in magnets in the glass bases pair with metal foil pads to hold them upright, even underway. Perfect for boats, the pads are washable, reusable, and double as storage bases. Sold in sets of two, these elegant glasses combine functionality and style, making them an ideal gift for any boater who enjoys sipping in style.
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Helly Hansen Men’s HP Foil HT Sailing Shorts
For the speed-loving sailor, the Helly Hansen Men’s HP Foil HT Sailing Shorts are a perfect gift. Designed for inshore racing in wet conditions, these waterproof shorts feature a reinforced seat for durability and a mesh lining for comfort. Available in sporty navy, gray fog, and black, they combine performance and style to keep him ready for action on the water.
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For the Hands-On Sailor
Standard Horizon HX320 Handheld VHF Radio
The Standard Horizon HX320 is an affordable, feature-packed handheld VHF radio. It offers 6 watts of transmit power, a 2,100 mAh rechargeable battery with up to 17 hours of operation, and an IPX7 water-resistance rating—it even floats! The HX320’s 700 mW speaker ensures loud, clear audio, and it’s compatible with the optional Bluetooth SSM-BT10 headset for wireless use. A water-activated strobe adds safety, making this a great gift for any boater.
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Coast RL35R Voice-Controlled Headlamp
The Coast RL35R is a perfect gift for boaters who venture out at night or work in dark spaces. This voice-controlled LED headlamp offers over 15 hands-free commands, like “Coast High” or “Coast Spot,” so there’s no need to touch it with messy hands. It features cool and warm white light, red, blue, and green options, and an adjustable 280-degree beam. With 1,110 lumens at max power and a reflective, adjustable strap, it’s built for both comfort and performance.
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Snap-On Crow’s-Foot Wrenches
For the DIY boater, Snap-On Crow’s-Foot Wrenches are a must-have tool. Perfect for those hard-to-reach spots, like through-hull fittings, pumps, or marine engine fixtures, these wrenches provide the extra leverage needed to get the job done. Available for both 3/8-inch and 1/2-inch ratchet drives in various sizes, they’re designed to tackle even the most difficult repairs. A thoughtful and practical gift that any boater will appreciate when they need precision and access in tight spaces.
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Blue Seas Clamp Meter
The Blue Seas Clamp Meter is the perfect gift for the DIY boater tackling electrical issues. This AC/DC multimeter allows for easy diagnosis without piercing wire insulation, thanks to its clamping jaws that sense electrical properties by induction. It also functions as a traditional digital multimeter with metal-tipped probes and includes a carrying case for convenience. With an auto-range feature covering 0.01 to 400 amps and 0.001 to 600 volts, this tool makes troubleshooting simple and efficient.
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Samson Tubular Aluminum Splicing Fid Kit
The Samson Tubular Aluminum Splicing Fid Kit is the ideal choice for boaters who want to perfect their splicing skills. This high-quality kit includes five aluminum fids in sizes from 1/4″ to 1/2″, a pusher, and clear instructions for a Samson standard eye splice. The aluminum fids slide smoothly through rope braids, making splicing easier and more durable than plastic alternatives. A vinyl pouch keeps everything organized, while the etched “short fid” mark ensures precise splice length. Perfect for any sailor’s toolkit.
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For the Timeless Techie
Garmin MARQ Captain Gen 2 Smartwatch
The Garmin MARQ Captain features a titanium case, AMOLED display, and race-inspired nylon strap. It tracks tides, anchor drag, and integrates Navionics coastal charts when synced to compatible boat devices. With the autopilot app, you can even control the boat remotely.
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Garmin inReach Mini 2 Marine Bundle
This compact satellite communicator is the perfect gift for boaters who love to stay connected. With text messaging, social media sharing, and inReach-to-inReach communication, it ensures peace of mind on every voyage. Trigger an SOS to Garmin Response in emergencies, share your location, and access detailed weather updates for safer routing. A thoughtful and practical gift for staying connected and prepared on the water.
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MyCineDrive Movies
Surprise your long-distance cruiser with a library of movies to enjoy offline. At MyCineDrive.com, you can select from thousands of films from various eras, download them onto a drive, and send it to yourself. Simply connect the drive to a screen, and your boater can enjoy movies while anchored out or at the marina—no Wi-Fi or streaming subscription required. It’s the perfect gift for entertainment on the water.
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ACR Bivy Stick Mesh
For the adventurous boater, the ACR Bivy Stick Mesh offers reliable communication anywhere. This innovative satellite messenger combines LoRa-enabled mesh networking with the Iridium Satellite network, ensuring messages get through even without cellular coverage. It can function as a standalone device or connect to a smartphone for added convenience. Perfect for staying connected in remote locations, it’s a smart and practical gift for any explorer.
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Starlink Actuated High Performance Kit
Bring high-speed connectivity to the water with the Starlink Actuated High Performance Kit. Designed for easy installation and reliable service, the kit includes a 22.6-by-20.1-inch satellite dish, router, base, power supply, and all necessary cables. It supports up to 20 users onboard, making it perfect for staying connected while cruising. A game-changing gift for boaters who want fast, cost-effective internet wherever their adventures take them.
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For the Newbie Boater
Towing-Service Membership
Give the gift of peace of mind with a towing-service membership from companies like BoatUS or Sea Tow. Even the most prepared boaters can face unexpected breakdowns, and this membership ensures they’ll get back to port safely and conveniently. Starting around $100, it’s a practical gift for any boater. Just be sure to verify coverage on your local waterways before purchasing!
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Nautical Knot Tying Kit
The Nautical Knot Tying Kit by ReferenceReady is the perfect gift for boaters looking to master essential sailing and boating knots. This pocket-sized kit includes a waterproof knot guide, two 3-foot lengths of 550 cord, and a 4″ horn cleat for practicing key knots like the Cleat Hitch and Midshipman’s Hitch. The kit covers 20 important knots, with easy-to-follow diagrams and usage tips. Ideal for sailors and boating enthusiasts, it’s a practical and fun way to enhance knot-tying skills.
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ACR RapidDitch Express Bag
This buoyant survival ditch bag keeps essential safety gear and important personal items organized and together, should the need to abandon ship ever arise. The RapidDitch floats up to 15 pounds of gear, and its reflective exterior assists in being spotted by Search and Rescue. A tough, water-resistant fabric and self-repairing corrosion-resistant zippers withstand the harshest of elements, especially salt water.
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Passages: Cape Horn and Beyond, by Lin Pardey
Lin Pardey takes readers on a heartfelt journey in Passages: Cape Horn and Beyond. Blending thrilling sailing adventures with deeply personal memoir, Lin shares tales of navigating gales, calms, and the emotional passages of life. From her and Larry’s voyages from Cape Horn to Canada, to her solo adventures and a new chapter with a different partner, this book celebrates the love of sailing, the sea, and the bonds that shape a life well-lived.
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For Fun on the Hook
Ronix Expert Carbon Foil and Board
Treat the wakefoiler on your list to Ronix’s complete Expert Carbon Foil setup. Designed for speed and performance, it features the Ronix Speed front wing with 1,530 square centimeters of lift for effortless pumping and energy generation. The setup includes a Velo 29-inch mast and is available in two board lengths: 3’9″ and 4’2″. Perfect for riders looking to travel higher, faster, and elevate their foiling game.
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Bluefin SUP Cruise Lite Inflatable Paddleboard
Experience the joy of paddleboarding around the anchorage. Meet the Bluefin SUP Cruise Lite, the ultimate stowable companion for any cruising adventure. This SUP is as portable as they come, thanks to its ultra-lightweight design at just 21 pounds. It comes with a robust backpack with comfy carry straps and other features including full-length stringers for extra rigidity; tough, lightweight TPR construction; a UV-resistant HQ coating; and a thermostatic Croco-diamond deckpad.
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HO Sports Hawaii Dock
The HO Sports Hawaii Dock is the ultimate floating oasis, making it a perfect gift for water lovers. Measuring 8 square feet and 6 inches thick, it’s ideal as a floating dock, sun island, or even a yoga mat. The marine-grade EVA deck pad offers a soft, nonslip surface, and its smart design ensures easy folding and packing. Complete with an electric air pump and repair kit, it’s ready for endless fun on the water.
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Magma ChefsMate Gas Grill
Upgrade outdoor cooking with the Magma ChefsMate™ Gas Grill, perfect for boaters, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts. This high-performance grill features wind-tested heat distribution for perfectly cooked meals, whether on your boat or at the beach. Its compact design with fold-away legs makes it easy to transport and store, while its stainless steel construction ensures durability in harsh environments. The grill accommodates both propane and natural gas, and cleanup is a breeze with a snap-out radiant plate. A must-have for any culinary adventure on the water or shore!
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