Ask Andrew: Santa Andrew
Dec 5, 2024
The wife of one of my long-term clients reached out last week to get some advice. In a very timid email, she wrote and asked what I thought their boat might need for next year, and if I could prepare a quote or two for some things that might make life easier and more enjoyable aboard in 2025. She was hoping to ‘gift’ an upgrade or some project labour as a Christmas present to her sailor husband.
On the same day, my mom reached out with her annual request for Christmas gift ideas.
I realized that many of us miss the boat (pardon the pun) on Christmas gift ideas for the boater in our lives, because we shift modes: the boat is put away (for most of us) and we’re not thinking about summertime on the water.
This year, I’m directing my mom to this article; and I hope you’ll keep some of these ideas in mind for the boater in your life:
1) An off-season boating course. Canboat/Nautisavoir offers a list of courses (online and in-person) as do many clubs and marinas. You can courses on: obtaining your Pleasure Craft Operators Card, Marine first-aid, VHF radio, coastal navigation, celestial navigation, rules of the road, practical boat handling, etc.
2) A nautical themed book. This is one of my personal favs (mom, take note). A service manual for your boat’s engine, a textbook on navigation, a new paper chart, an Avionics card for your GPS, historical fiction from the golden age of sailing, or a round-the-world memoir from a more recent boater.
Amazon will find you some solid options, Chapters/Indigo a few more. If you’re looking for a deep rabbit-hole of choices – I recommend a specialty shop like The Nautical Mind (they’re based on the Toronto waterfront, but also have a great online shop: www.nauticalmind.com)
3) Boat gear. A new lifejacket, a boat hook, a man-overboard detector, a GPS unit, a multifunction display. From $5 to $5000, the list is limitless. These items are stuff that we already need/have aboard, but that need to be upgraded, added-to, or refreshed
4) Boat supplies. Screws, butt connectors, mooring line, antifoul paint, paint brushes, acetone, painters tape, coveralls, teak oil, toilet paper, boat soap, varnish, etc.. Take a peek at what needs refreshing and stock up in the stockings!
5) Comfort items. I also call these comfort upgrades: Plastic dishware, tumblers, tablecloths, curtains, bimini tops, boom or sail covers, mooring covers, cushions, bedding, toilets, coolers, appliances, etc. Anything and everything that will make the trips to the boat that much more enjoyable and convenient.
6) Toys. These are rarely the ‘must-have’s’ – but they are the ‘so fun!’. Because we often boat on a budget, toys are sometimes the last thing a boater will buy for themselves. Think of things like: tubes, wakeboards, water guns, a stand-up paddle board, a kayak, snorkel or scuba gear, etc.
7) Maintenance consumables: These are the standard items that belong to the boat. The inventory that is constantly used and replaced throughout a season. Items that are grateful needed and accepted – like a fresh tie or a new pair of socks: tape, sandpaper, engine oil, gear lube, caulking/sealant, zip-ties, brushes, soaps, sprays, sun screen, etc
8) A project/contract. There’s never any shortage of seasonal maintenance needed when you own a boat. This includes: spring engine start, gelcoat polishing, antifouling, wood/brightwork, mooring fees, mast stepping, engine oil change, or a repair project.
Trying speaking with your favourite marine contractor, or your local marina. You can book service and include a note under the tree, or inquire about holiday gift certificates.
9) Gift Cards: Too many options to narrow down? Consider a gift-card and let the boater in your life choose for themselves.
10) Show tickets: Still unsure? January kicks off boat-show season across the country. Try buying tickets for your local boat show and spend the daydreaming of warmer weather, together. (Mom, we should go!)
I hope this list gives you (boaters and no-boaters alike) some gift ideas for the boater in your life this holiday season. Happy Holidays!
Andrew McDonald is the owner of Lakeside Marine Services – a boat repair/maintenance firm based in Toronto. Andrew has worked in the marine industry for 12 years and is a graduate of the Georgian College ‘Mechanical Techniques – Marine Engine Mechanic’ program. Questions or comments for Andrew? Email him directly via: info@lakesidemarineservices.ca
