If you’re reading this gift guide, you know gift shopping for a boat owner is both easy and difficult. Boating and fishing require a lot of gear. That’s good. However, anglers and boaters use their gear for fun, so they have high standards for their tools and toys. The formula is simple: Any gift that makes boating easier and more fun is great. Whether the gift is practical, such as a life vest or cooler, or fun, such as a fishing rod or a towable toy, a boat owner is happy to have something nice to improve his experience. If you’re looking for a gift for a boat owner, look no further.
Practical Boater Gifts
Electronics
Garmin InReach Messenger Plus: Give the boater on your list peace of mind with a satellite messenger to stay in touch outside of cell service. The new Garmin inREach Messenger Plus offers messaging and tracking with the ability to send voice messages and photographs. Connected to the Garmin Connect app and Iridium satellite network, the inReach is easy to use with my cellphone. When I’m fishing offshore and the bite is hot, I simply message my wife I am going to be late. I can even message other boaters who have an inReach messenger. And, the new Messenger Plus system allows me to send photos of my catch before I reach the dock. The unit fits in a pocket so I keep it on me when I’m on the water. I take my inReach on land-based adventures too. The inReach gives the gift of confidence and safety anywhere on Earth.
Safety
Mustang Survival M.I.T 100 Automatic Inflatable PFD: In addition to the mandatory wearable foam life vest I carry for every member of my crew, I also have a Mustang Survival M.I.T. 100 Automatic Inflatable PFD I wear when I fish alone. The inflatable life vest is light and low profile so it doesn’t interfere with fishing or boating. When the lifejacket’s trigger mechanism is submerged, a CO2 canister inflates the bladder automatically for 28 pounds of buoyancy. Or, I can manually inflate the life vest with a pull cord. Since 87 percent of boating death victims were not wearing a life vest, the Mustang M.I.T. Automatic Inflatable leaves no excuse to add to the statistics.
Trolling Motor
Minn Kota Riptide Saltwater Transom Mount: If your gift list includes a kayaker, canoeist or row-boater, Minn Kota’s Saltwater Transom Mount trolling motor will make them very happy. With shaft sizes from 30 to 42 inches and power ratings from 40 to 55 foot-pounds, the Riptide and 12-volt battery powers anything from a sit-on-top kayak to a small skiff. There are a lot of transom mount trolling motors, but the Riptide has been tested and redesigned with corrosion-resistant parts, sealed electronics and a composite shaft. To extend battery life, the computer controlled variable throttle maximizes energy efficiency at any speed. Even if your angler fishes freshwater, the Riptide Saltwater will extend the life of his trolling motor. The Riptide Transom mount is so popular with kayak anglers, aftermarket mounting brackets are available for almost any brand of fishing kayak.
Luxury Gifts for Saltwater Fishing
Blacktip Inshore HD1 Spinning Combo: When a new angler asks me to recommend a fishing rod, I suggest starting with a six-foot, six-inch medium-action spinning combo like the Blacktip Inshore HD1 Spinning Combo. This combo is so versatile I can fish everything from topwater lures to bottom rigs. The short rod is easier to manage and transport and the action provides flexibility to cast a light lure and backbone to beat a nice-size fish. The Blacktip rod and reel are perfectly matched to assure the best performance. With a sealed drag and anodized aluminum spool in the reel and stainless steel line guides on the rod, the combo will provide many years of happy fishing memories. Blacktip Inshore HD1 Spinning Combo is a perfect example of a quality rod and well-built reel combined to save a few dollars.
Coolers
Yeti Roadie 24: I strive to give practical and tasteful gifts. Yeti coolers fit both categories. Not only is the Yeti 24 Roadie an overbuilt and perfectly designed picnic cooler, but it looks cool and fits anywhere. The 24 quart cooler is narrow to stash behind a car seat and tall to fit a wine bottle. Boaters and anglers need a variety of coolers and nothing keeps contents cold like Yeti. The tough rotomolded body and super efficient insulation with a rubber gasket around the lid trap cold air and keep four Yeti ice packs frozen for hours and food or fish cold for days. When I’m on a road trip, I keep a Roadie 24 in the backseat with Yeti Thin Ice packs to maintain lunch meat and beverages for days. When I give a Yeti cooler, my friend rips off the gift wrap and their face lights up with the cool colors, smart design, and visions of years of adventure ahead.
Towable Toys
Rave Sports Razor 2: My boat is a serious fishing machine, but I can turn it into a recreational vehicle by adding a Rave Sports Razor 2 trick tube. My family loves a boat ride and a towable tube is a perfect excuse to cool off on a hot day. The two-person tube is easier to transport and store on my 20-foot boat. On the water, the sporty triangle design with heavy handles and PVC-coated hull is easy to maneuver at any speed. Even if the gift recipient has other towable toys, the Razor 2 adds a sporty element to tubing and doesn’t take up a lot of space in the garage.
Gift Shopping for Boaters Can Be a Breeze
Gift shopping for boat owners and anglers is difficult. I have a long wish list of very specific items. That leaves a lot of options for gifts but a super picky gift recipient. A great gift goes directly onto my boat. A substandard gift goes into a box in my garage. My advice is to learn what the friend or family member needs or wants. Then, research the best examples in the category because quality and features are important to anglers and boaters who depend on their gear to have a good time.
