Essential Boating Gifts for Yachties and Sea Lovers

Captain Mike and I, with 10 years of full-time liveaboard experience, have put together a list of practical, functional, and fun gifts that should cater to all our friends and subscribers around the world. We are sure many of the yachties and boaters out there will find something they would like to treat themselves with, too! With Christmas around the corner, we hope to give you ideas and inspiration.

Affiliate Disclosure: Yes, we are Amazon affiliates and receive a minimal commission if you make a purchase through us. This does not affect the price you pay. I have purposefully included links with almost every product listed, so you can easily click on them, see the product and price, and then compare for yourselves. We have either gifted, been gifted, bought for ourselves, or have every item on our wishlist (the underwater drone is one!)

PRACTICAL:

Waterproof Floating Bluetooth Speaker: A rugged and waterproof speaker allows boaters to enjoy their favourite music while on the water without risking damage to their device when it gets splashed. And it will, especially with all the dinghy rides to the beach!

Portable Waterproof Dry Bag: A dry bag keeps belongings safe and dry during those dinghy trips. Look for one that is durable and has a comfortable carrying strap. We like this one as it comes in different sizes (we have 3) and has pockets to keep your cell phone and wallet in an easy-to-reach place without having to scramble through all the beach towels and empty wine/beer bottles that you’ve thrown into the bag.

Boating Safety Kit: A boating safety kit is essential for any boater. It can include items like a whistle, flashlight, first aid supplies, multi-tool, and a waterproof floating phone case. Most yachties and boaters should have one of these, but a new boat owner might not have done so yet. After our disastrous dismasting in the Atlantic Ocean in 2020, we check our safety kit regularly! Another obvious necessity is a waterproof medical kit. This is a great basic kit, and you can add your own preferences and favorite meds to it.

Marine Binoculars: High-quality binoculars designed specifically for marine use can significantly enhance the boating experience by allowing boaters to see distant landmarks, wildlife, or other boats more clearly. We had a pair that unfortunately went overboard, so we are looking at replacing it with night vision binoculars that also feature a camera function, allowing you to take pictures of any boats around you. This is particularly handy for sailors when they’re rocking and rolling!

Waterproof Smartphone Case: A waterproof phone case provides protection from water damage while still allowing boaters to access their phone’s features, such as navigation apps or taking photos. Speaking from experience, this is a really great gift.

Waterproof camera: This will probably be our next purchase as a treat to ourselves. A hardy underwater camera plus a floaty strap for when we forget about it and it starts floating away!

Boating Books and Guides: Books on boating techniques, navigation, and local boating destinations make excellent gifts for boating enthusiasts who enjoy expanding their knowledge. If boaters plan to sail in a particular area, a book is a great gift, such as The Great Loop or a book about solo sailing around the world.

Fishing Gear: If the boater enjoys fishing, consider gifting fishing gear such as a quality fishing rod and reel, tackle box, or fishing accessories specific to their preferred type of fishing. A fish finder is a nifty gadget for a fisherman. There are loads of options on Amazon. We haven’t tried our hand at fishing yet (awful, I know!), so we cannot really give accurate advice on anything to do with fishing. Captain did catch an albatross once……

Marine GPS System: A marine GPS system helps boaters navigate and ensures they stay on course. Look for a compact and waterproof unit with features like chart plotting, waypoint marking, and depth readings. This is not something you would probably buy for a boater, as they will likely already have one, but it’s a nice gift for the First Mate to buy for the Captain.

Boat Maintenance Kit: A comprehensive boat maintenance kit with cleaning supplies, wax, brushes, and polish is a practical gift for boaters who want to keep their vessels in top condition. If there is a lot of brass on the boat, for example, this can be a cute gift.

Waterproof Floating Dry Box: A floating dry box is a secure and waterproof container similar to a dry bag for storing keys, wallets, and other small essentials while out on the water. It is also bloody brilliant for keeping sandwiches, muffins, etc, dry while in the dinghy!

Foldable Solar Charger: A compact and portable solar charger can keep their devices powered up while out on the water. It’s an eco-friendly and practical gift for boaters who enjoy more extended trips.

FUN:

A Captain’s, first mate or crew hat is always a fun gift. There are loads of options on Amazon. Captain Mike always wore his during our 6 months in Greece, and we gifted quite a few to the flotilla captains.

Captain hat on his head, even when he is clearly NOT on duty.

Nautical-themed Jewellery: Nautical-themed jewellery, such as anchor bracelets, sailing-inspired necklaces, or compass pendants, can make for elegant and meaningful gifts. I love my little “boat” necklace and wear it often.

Personalised Nautical Gear: Consider personalised items like boat mats or clothing with the boater’s name or boat name embroidered on them.

Personalised Nautical Chart: Get a nautical chart of your favourite boating area and have it custom-framed or mounted. This unique and personalised gift will be a great addition to the boat. We have one of our favourite areas along the West Coast of South Africa.

Customised Yacht Robe or Beach Towel: Get them a luxurious and personalised yacht robe or beach towel with their name or yacht name embroidered on it. It’s a stylish and practical gift they can use while on board or at the beach. We love this SPF 50 hat with a strap to keep the hat attached to our heads when the wind picks up!

Marine-inspired Artwork: Commission a local artist to create a unique piece of artwork inspired by the recipient’s love for boating or yachts. It could be a painting, sculpture, or mixed-media piece that captures the essence of their passion.

Personalised Life Jacket: A personalised life jacket adds a personal touch and ensures safety on the water. You can have their name or a custom message embroidered on the life jacket.

USEFUL:

Towels: quick-drying, able to fold up into a small bundle to tuck away. A must-have are these Turkish towels!

French press: a strange fact, but we hardly ever drank coffee on board, until we spent six months in Greece. Coffee simply didn’t excite us! Now it does. A lovely French press makes a great gift. Stainless steel for boaters, please, no glass.

If we move into the galley, there are loads of ideas for gifts, but do remember space is a premium in a boat galley and consult with the chef before you buy a set of anything as a gift. A personalised bamboo cutting board is very trendy right now. We like this particular one as it has a ridge for collecting juices if you are slicing anything messy, plus we use it as a tray. Similarly, a charcuterie board is a great gift. This one comes with all sorts of goodies and gadgets. Check it out.

Another set of must-have boat accessories is boat scuff erasers. They remove tough dirt, mildew, and stains on boats. Scuff erasers are a handy tool that makes great gifts for boat owners who want to spot-clean before heading out. Boat scuff erasers activate with a little bit of water. They don’t have bleach and are safe to use on vinyl, leather, and Gelcoat. Trust me, if you gift this to a boater, they will be truly appreciative – even if you think it’s boring!!

Reef-safe sunscreen should be your “go-to” sunscreen; it will not only protect you and your family but also the marine life and reefs you swim around as well.

One of our favourite gifts was these stainless steel wine glasses. You CANNOT go wrong gifting these to anyone who is out on the water!

We also use these wine glass tags and love them.

While on the subject of wine, a marine bar caddy is another lovely gift, as is this mounted mug holder. LED spotlights are fantastic gifts for boaters who enjoy a relaxing evening cruise. I am a sucker for fairy lights and love these “candles” I first bought in Greece.

Fans! In hot, dry, or humid areas, a fan is an absolute necessity, whether it’s clipped on somewhere in your cabin or around your neck! Any boater would appreciate any type of heat-relieving fan, so look around and see what is on offer.

This is a pricey gift (and one I’m saving up for myself!), but an underwater drone seems to be the latest incredible piece of equipment to take with you when snorkelling or scuba diving.

Another fun gift is a floating swim platform or floating swimming devices. A great gift for boaters with kids.

Now, the following item is a winner! A portable folding boat chair. This is a game-changer for us, as we don’t have a fixed seat behind the helm, and this seat fits easily into our limited space (on top of a hatch!)There are also lots of options for fold-up beach chairs, which make great gifts, provided you check that there’s enough space to store them. We LOVE our floating chairs too and keep a few on board for when friends join us.

A deck of waterproof cards plus any games like Jenga, Uno, Scrabble, etc, are also great gift ideas.