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101 Gift Ideas for Boaters and Loopers 2023
Post Summary: Best Gifts For Boaters Under $25, Under $50, Under $100, luxury, budget-friendly, and more!
We lived onboard our boat for almost 3 years and these items were either critical to our enjoyment, or ones we wanted!
This guide features the 101 best gifts for boat lovers. This list has been organized by price range, ranging from less than $25 to over $1000, boater gifts for any budget including free gift ideas, and boating gift ideas for her.
Whether you’re looking for a holiday or birthday gift, this gift guide for boat lovers will help you find the best boat gifts for that special someone!
Note: We use affiliate links which provide us a little kickback each time you use one of our links and make a purchase, without any additional cost to you. We do not recommend products that we don’t already love or have heard great things about, so you can trust we’re only suggesting great products to you.
Best Gifts for Boaters – 2023 Edition
This guide contains 101 gift ideas for boat lovers this holiday season! This list is focused on boaters, full-time cruisers, or loopers. This list is meant for people who travel and live on their boat, whether it’s for a weekend trip or indefinitely.
Our Favorite Gift-Giving Tips
Before we get into the actual gifts in this guide, here are a few things we like to keep in mind when we shop for presents. We’re huge believers in using what we already have, so being mindful about what we’re purchasing is important to us. We thought we’d pass along a few tips to keep in mind in case they’re helpful to you:
1. Give the gift of an experience or time. Everyone has someone in their life who has everything they need or want. Gifting them an experience is a great way to gift them something meaningful. We’re true believers that experiences are greater than things, so whether it’s tickets to a show, a fun day trip on a boat, or giving your time to wash their boat.
2. Lean towards practical gifts. Think about things that they will actually use instead of stuff that’s just going to collect dust. Sometimes this means they’re not the cutest items, but they’ll surely get much use! Add on something small like some locally brewed beer to make it just a little more fun!
3. Shop local or small when possible. We love supporting products made in the US and have included a few in this guide. We also included several products on Etsy to support small artists.
4. Look into the companies you’re supporting. When we purchase things, it’s like “voting” with our money. This helps keep businesses alive and thriving, so when possible, choose to support companies that are doing good things like giving back and operating ethically. We know it’s not always possible to vet every single company you purchase from (and we’re guilty of buying things without doing any research quite often). But we’ve tried our best to include some companies on this list that are doing some pretty cool things like Patagonia, Stream2Sea, and Waterlust!
5. Try Thrift Shops. We love perusing thrift shops before making purchases. We often look at our local thrift store for trendy items that no longer interest people, cooking gadgets, clothes, games, and so much more. In this list, we’ve included a few companies that sell used gear like Patagonia’s Worn Wear.
6. DIY it! We’re huge fans of DIY gifts. Save money by making some gifts yourself.
7. Skip traditional wrapping. Traditional bags and paper are pretty darn wasteful and they can be expensive. Why not try using recycled wrapping paper or buy a handful of reusable tote bags for your gift-giving this year? You can use ribbon to tie the handles together for a festive touch!
Boat Gift Ideas Under $25
Polarized Sunglasses
We have these polarized sunglasses and love them! Goodr sunglasses are known for being affordable, durable, and lightweight. They come in a variety of colors and styles. Goodr polarized sunglasses are great gifts for boaters no matter the season. The best part is they have a one-year warranty. This is the style Elliot has and this is the style Jen has. We have loved our Goodr glasses!
Floating Eyewear Holder
Nothing is worse than seeing your sunglasses fall into the deep blue abyss. These sunglass holders are made out of cork and can be customized with a boat name, monograms, or an image. They’re a great personalized gift for the boater in your life and make awesome stocking stuffers!
Neck Gaiter
This neck gaiter makes the perfect gift for the boater who is sensitive to sun exposure and needs full coverage when he or she is out on the water. They are worn over the neck, ears, and lower face to give you full UV coverage. Neck Gaiters are great for boaters traveling to the Florida Keys or Bahamas.
Dry Bags
Every boater needs a dry bag! They’re perfect for transporting goods from the boat to shore and much more. These Remote Designs bags are lightweight and compact making it an essential dry bag for all your travel plans. They are designed to last through even the toughest conditions. Remote Designs is a small family business and the founder, Gatewood, inspires us through his beautiful kayak camping videos.
Flexible Shatterproof Wine Glasses
One of the most enjoyable experiences on a boat is sundowners: watching the sunset while enjoying your beverage of choice. Some boaters prefer to use traditional glass, but they’re always susceptible to breaking. These wine glasses are flexible and shatterproof making them perfect for sundowners or docktails without compromising the look and feel of traditional wine glasses.
Thermacell
A Thermacell is a great gift for boaters who like to enjoy being outside on the decks of their boat during dawn and dusk but are constantly annoyed by bugs. This is the perfect gift for them to use in their cockpit, at their bow, or at docktails to get rid of pesky mosquitos or no-see-ums. They’ll be forever known as the Thermacell hero at cocktails. Make sure to also grab Thermacell refills!
Bug Zapper
A bug zapper is a must for any boater who lives full-time on their boat. There’s nothing worse than a fly or mosquito buzzing around in a tiny home, especially when you’re trying to sleep. We constantly used our bug zapper along the eastern ICW during our Great Loop.
Stainless Steel Wine Glasses
An alternative to the wine glasses mentioned above, these cups can be used for wine, cocktails, juice, and frozen drinks. This stainless steel set is a low-cost option to the Hydroflask or Yeti similar cups.
Solar Cockpit Light
The Luci Outdoor 2.0: Solar Inflatable Lantern uses LED lights to last up to 24 hours. It’s collapsable down to one inch, making it easy to store on a boat. It has a fixed top strap, making it easily hung from a bimini above. It’s waterproof up to IPl67. They can be easily charged completely through the solar panel in 7 hours. There are no batteries, which makes it great for energy consumption on a boat. It’s the perfect boat gift for anyone who loves to sit outside on their decks when the sun goes down and needs a little light.
Subscription to Cruising World Magazine
A subscription to Cruising World Magazine is a great option for the boat lover in your life who needs some boating inspiration in their life. The magazine shares sailboat reviews, stories about near and far destinations, and sailboat maintenance. It’s a great gift for the sailor in your life.
Great Loop Ceramic Ornament
This ornament is a perfect gift for any looper in your life who recently completed the Great Loop. They can hang this ceramic ornament to remember all of the great memories they had while on the Great Loop. It’s a small gift that will spur positive experiences aboard their boat.
Boating Cookbooks Under $25
This is the perfect gift for the boat lover in your life who also loves to cook in their galley.
The Boat Cookbook: Real Food for Hungry Sailors
On the Boat and on the Road – Plant-Based Recipes from the Galley
Great Loop Tri-Burgee/Logo Coffee Mug
A Great Loop coffee mug is a great gift for the looper in your life who loves waking up on the water with a cup of coffee or tea. It’s a small gift to remind them of countless memories.
Stream-2-Sea Toiletries
This is a super practical gift for any boater, full-time cruiser, or looper who is mindful about protecting the ocean. Stream-2-Sea is a small business, woman-owned/veteran-operated, made in the USA, and a percentage of ALL purchases support ocean conservation organizations. Their entire product line is eco-friendly, biodegradable, and safe for sun & body care. We love their shampoo and body wash!
Boating Books to Inspire
If the boater in your life loves to see the places a boat can take you, these books fit the bill. These books are the perfect gift to inspire wanderlust.
Lonely Planet Amazing Boat Journeys
Fifty Places to Sail Before You Die
Sorry for What I Said When We Were Trying to Dock The Boat Pillows
This is a more comical gift. All boaters know the stress of trying to dock a boat when a gust of wind or strong current makes the already difficult job just a little bit harder. This pillow makes light of the challenging task of docking the boat.
Great Loop Books
Here are some great books for your boater with dreams of completing the Great Loop one day! These books range from inspiration from individual stories to guide books that could help turn the boat lover in your life’s dream into reality. We also have our favorite Boating and Great Loop books available on Bookshop.org for those who are interested in supporting independent booksellers. Bookshop.org is a climate-neutral company, who are committed to operating sustainably with the majority of its profits going to support local independent booksellers.
100 Great Stops on America’s Great Loop
Honey, Let’s Get a Boat…
The Great Loop Experience
Crossing the Wake
Cressi Neoprene Mask Strap Cover
This is the perfect gift for the boater or looper who loves to snorkel or does a lot of work on their boat including scrubbing the bottom of their boat. This mask strap cover increases comfort by not pulling or tangling hair. It’s a great idea for boaters who plan to get in the water and snorkel!
Hydro Flask Cooler Cup
This cooler cup transforms from a water cup to a wine glass to a coffee mug to a beer koozie (it holds both bottles and cans! It’s perfect for the boat in your life to bring to docktails or enjoy as their main cup on the boat. You can add this cup to a cooler with their favorite 6-pack beverage and it’ll be a complete gift!
Rope Knife
A perfect gift for any boaters planning on taking their boat through locks. We carried this exact knife as we went through locks as it’s a piece of necessary safety equipment. It’s a small gift that is practical and useful for boaters and loopers alike.
Floating Keychain
If the boater in your life doesn’t have a floating keychain, then be their lifesaver and get them a floating keychain. It’s a simple gift that goes a long way to prevent hassle when a key goes overboard and into the deep blue. Theres nothing worse than losing your keys in the water and this simple accessory makes sure that doesn’t happen.
Classic Card Games
Games can be a great addition to any boat. They’re the perfect gift for boaters to break out during sundowners, docktails, or to have on rainy days on anchor. Here are some classic card games perfect for the boater in your life:
Waterproof UNO
Phase 10
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza
Ocean-Themed Board Games
We love playing games aboard our boat and often played Catan’s Seafarer’s Expansion (already having the original game) with our friends aboard SV Acadia. Games are the perfect gift for boaters to break out during sundowners, docktails, or to have on rainy days on anchor. Here are some ocean-themed board games for the boater in your life:
Settlers of Catan Seafarers Edition
Battleship
Ocean-Opoly
Coffee from around the Great Loop
Its no surprise that we love coffee and have tried several coffee shops along the Great Loop! If your boat lover also loves a good cup of coffee, getting them some freshly roasted beans from some of our favorite coffee shops along the Great Loop would be perfect for the boater who has everything he or she already wants and needs. They can wake up to a delicious cup of coffee on anchor. These also make for a great stocking stuffer!
Perc Coffee in Savannah, GA
Our personal favorite is the Ethiopian blend! Make sure to use our discount code SCHOANDJO at checkout.
Uncommon Coffee Roasters in Saugatuck, MI
Bitty and Beau’s Coffee in Charleston, SC
Easily one of our most memorable coffee shops along the Great Loop for the cause they support!
Hudson Roastery in Hudson, NY
Great Loop Route Map
This is a great gift for the boaters in your life who are dreaming of doing the loop in the future. The map comes in two sizes, poster and mini. We posted the mini Great Loop Map on the wall in our boat and constantly referenced it throughout our travels. This makes a great gift for the boater who’s currently doing the Great Loop or is dreaming about it in the future.
Sleep Eye Mask
We each had a “non-negotiable” item when it came to boat life and this was Elliot’s. He values good quality sleep and gets that with this sleep mask. It helps to prevent the sun from coming in early on summer days so he can still get his 8 hours of sleep. It’s the perfect gift for any sensitive sleeper who needs some good sleep. This sleep mask keeps our captain happy!
Flexible Mini Phone Tripod
The adjustable octopus-style legs help to capture clean shots from any angle. The ball head and no-slip feet make positioning or mounting it on various places like the bimini, handholds, or helm station easy even as a boat is moving. It’s a great gift for the boater who wants to record some of their adventures from their phone.
Handheld Milk Frother
One of Elliot’s favorite things to do on the boat was to wake up on anchor and enjoy a cup of coffee from the bow or flybridge. This milk frother is a great gift for the boat lover who also loves their coffee shop beverages. This handheld milk frother would make a great cappuccino, frappe, matcha, or hot chocolate. It’s small and doesn’t take up a lot of space and is energy efficient as it’s battery operated. This Zulay milk frother has a lifetime guarantee.
Personalized Leather Journal
Spending time out on the water can ignite people’s creativity. If the boat lover in your life also loves journaling or sketching, this personalized leather journal is a great gift idea for them to record their memories.
Boat Gift Ideas Under $50
Digital Handheld Anemometer
A digital anemometer is a tool I wish we had while cruising the Great Loop. During a windy storm, we would listen on the VHF radio to the sailboats calling out top wind speed. This would be a great tool for the boater in your life who’s weather-conscious and loves to put a number to the wind strength. This digital handheld anemometer measures the wind speed (5 units: m/s, km/h, ft/min, knots, mph), temperature, and wind chill.
Custom Hydro Flask Travel Tumbler
Most people have a reusable water bottle, but in case your boat lover doesn’t, this water bottle keeps your water extra cold with its double-layer insulation. These Hydro Flask Travel Tumblers can be customized based on color selection and engraved with your boat’s name or the name of your boat crew making it the perfect gift for boaters. They’re extra large, which means you don’t have to refill them as often when you’re at the helm.
The Boat Galley Cookbook
The Boat Galley Cookbook is known as the Holy Grail amongst boat cookbooks. Written by Carolyn Shearlock and Jan Irons, two well-cruised women who combined their knowledge, experience, and tried and true methods for cooking, storing, and galley tips into this cookbook. The Boat Galley cookbook is the perfect gift for boaters who love to cook! If you’re interested in supporting local, independent booksellers, make sure to check out bookshop.org!
Great Loop Map T-Shirt
A Great Loop T-shirt is a great gift for the boater who wants to represent the Great Loop around town. The shirt might just even start up some conversations which could lead them to reminiscing about their incredible journey.
Sandcloud Beach Towels
These Sandcloud towels are easily our favorite beach towels aboard our boat, PIVOT. They’re a premium, sand-resistant, ultra-absorbent Turkish cotton towel. Sandcloud gives ten percent of profits go to marine conservation!
Custom Welcome Mat for Boats
Oftentimes we were welcomed onto other looper boats. As we got onto their boat, they had mats to help keep their boat clean. This custom welcome mat would be a great gift for the boater in your life who’s adamant about keeping their boat neat and tidy.
Apple Air Tag
A great gift for boaters to attach to their dinghy, dog, or keys so they don’t lose these items again! We attached one to our keys after misplacing them and having to open our door lock with a saw. We recommend also getting an Apple Air Tag keychain or stick-on mount. It takes the guesswork out of “Where is my (insert lost item here).”
Hemlock Hats and Visors
A great gift for boaters or loopers who plan to cruise to the Florida Keys or Bahamas! The straw is a staple to the island time cruiser and nothing says I love you more than sun safety! The boater in your life can look like a laid-back local with a Hemlock Hat. They also have straw visors for the women boaters who prefer to wear a hat with a ponytail.
Stainless Steel French Press
We’re coffee lovers. Maybe even a little obsessed as we had 3 different ways to make coffee aboard our boat including this French Press which was our most used option for morning coffees. It makes about 2-3 cups of coffee. A stainless steel French Press won’t break like a glass coffee maker might and is the perfect gift for the boater who loves their morning cup of joe.
Hydro Flask Stainless Steel Tumbler
A stainless steel tumbler is a great compliment to any of the methods or accessories to make coffee for the boat lover in your life. This tumbler will keep their coffee hot for hours at the flybridge or helm station. Each time they enjoy a sip of coffee from this mug, they’ll thank you for keeping their coffee hot. Hydro Flask is a great brand that works to recycle its products through its unique recycling program, unlike its competitors.
Aeropress Original Coffee Press
We have this Aeropress aboard our boat and Elliot uses it for his afternoon cup of coffee. It’s a great way to quickly make one cup of coffee, with very little mess. Aeropress is compact, and versatile, has a one-year warranty, and is made in the USA. We love our Aeropress and know the boat lover in your life will also like it!
Scuba Snorkeling Dive Mask
A scuba mask and snorkel is a great gift for any boater who plans to visit Florida or the Bahamas and get in the water. This is the same mask that Elliot has and he loves it! It’s a good quality mask that doesn’t break the budget. When taken care of properly (rinsed with fresh water and kept out of extended UV exposure), it should last for years to come.
Solo Stove Campfire
We attended a beach campfire with other loopers who had this solo stove campfire and loved it! It makes a great fire pit without a lot of mess and residue. The best part was it’s designed to have less smoke than a traditional campfire, making our clothes smell less like a campfire which is a great benefit since laundry is a hot commodity. It’s not powered by liquid or gas fuel, making it a lot more eco-friendly as it uses sticks, leaves, twigs, etc.
Wool Socks
Wool socks are crucial for boaters who travel in the cooler months or loopers as it’s more often cooler than warmer. Wool socks are naturally sweat-wicking to keep your feet warm which helps to keep your entire body warm. We wore wool socks for two full months going south on the Midwest rivers. They’re a practical gift for boaters that also make great stocking stuffers!
Wine Bag
Docktails are part of the Great Loop culture. This handcrafted wine bag made from recycled sail cloth in Maine would be a great gift for the boater who loves to entertain and is constantly hosting sundowners aboard their boat. Add their favorite bottle of wine, and it’s a complete gift!
Boater Gift Ideas Under $100
The Looper’s Companion Guide
The Looper’s Companion Guide is a mile-by-mile guidebook to the 6,000-mile boating journey called the Great Loop. Its detailed guide is followed by many loopers as they constantly cruise through new waters. This book would be a great gift for the boater who has dreams and aspirations of completing the Great Loop.
6-Month Audible Subscription
One thing boaters have a lot of is time at the helm. During our Great Loop, we loved listening to Audiobooks while we cruised. Sometimes they were about the places we cruised through that elevated our experience as we learned while we cruised. Giving the gift of an audible subscription to the boater in your life is truly a wonderful gift!
Headlights
We constantly use our headlights! Elliot uses it daily to go into our engine room. These Mantus Headlights are waterproof (up to 30 feet), USB Rechargeable, and feature a RED light for night cruising. Headlights are a practical gift that the boater in your life will thank you for!
America’s Great Loop Cruisers Association Yearly Membership
It’s the perfect gift for any boater who has a dream of doing the Great Loop one day. The AGLCA is the place for all Great Loop news, resources, and information. Membership gives access to a private forum, webinars, discounts for fuel, dockage, rental cars, and more, member-only events, and access to Harbor Hosts. It’s a great gift for both boaters and loopers. We’ve met several boaters who are AGLCA members who cruise up and down the east coast, but don’t have interest in completing the whole Great Loop but still find the membership to be valuable.
Omnia Oven
The Omnia Oven is a great galley tool for the boaters in your life who don’t have an oven aboard. This is a practical gift for the boater who loves to bake!
UV Long Sleeve Shirt
If theres one piece of clothing we’re always in on the boat, it’s these UV shirts! These Colombia UV long-sleeve shirts are lightweight and vented in the back for airflow making them cool. The Omni-Shade material blocks UVA and UVB rays to help prevent sunburns and long-term skin damage. We’ve loved these shirts thoroughly and wouldn’t do boat life without them.
Tilley Broad Brimmed Hat
The Tilley hat is a classic hat with UPF 50+ rated sun protection. The boater lover in your life can enjoy this super durable, moisture-wicking hat while they’re out and about on their boat. Nothing says I care about you more than sun protection.
Eno Hammock
We took our Eno Hammocks with us on our Great Loop and used them to read in. They made a great spot to hang out in and enjoy the breeze. They can be hung on the boat or trees when you go to shore, making them a versatile boat accessory for the boat lover in your life.
Customized Boat Burgee
A customized boat burgee is a great gift for the boater lover in your life who loves seeing his or her boat name on things. The boat burgee would make a great gift for the boater who loves customized boat accessories.
WACACO Nanopresso Portable Espresso Maker
This espresso maker is a bit of a luxury item for your boater who loves their coffee and espresso. This portable espresso maker is a travel-sized expresso maker that uses manual pressure to extract espresso from finely ground coffee beans. It doesn’t use any electricity, making it energy efficient for that boater lover in your life.
Fleece Pullover
Cruising down the Midwest rivers, we constantly layered up to stay warm. Jen frequently wore the Patagonia Synchilla Snap-T Fleece Pullover and later bought the Patagonia Bettersweater Quarter Zip. Although our favorite sweater is from Patagonia, the LL Bean sweaters are a great budget-friendly option and can also be custom embroidered with a boat name or logo! We love to look at Patagonia’s Worn Wear for used items which are a budget-friendly and sustainable option to buying new.
Slippers
These slippers were the number one thing on Jen’s Christmas list after spending a very chilly two months heading south in 2021. Now she wears them all the time. Slippers make a great gift for the boater in your life who cruises in cooler months. Keeping the feet warm is one crucial way to stay warm on a boat.
Rumpl Sherpa Fleece Blanket
Their fleece blankets use 100% post-consumer recycled materials. Each fleece blanket recycles 45 water bottles originally destined for the landfill. They’re a great budget-friendly option to the Original Puffy Rumpl Blanket. They’re anti-static and anti-microbial, making them a great addition to a boat.
Boater Gift Ideas Under $200
Rumpl Original Puffy Blanket
These blankets would be perfect for snuggling up on the flybridge or bow of the boat during sundowners. Often throughout the Great Loop, it was cooler rather than warmer, so having a blanket to stay warm would be perfect. These blankets are water resistant, are made out of durable materials including duck down insulation, and are 100% post-consumer recycled polyester shell and insulation. These blankets have a 100-day guarantee, so if your boat lover doesn’t love these blankets you can always send them back.
Nebo Link
Nebo is a must for any boater! We used Nebo daily throughout our loop. Nebo gives you detailed captain logs and the nebo link automates voyage logging when you turn on and off your boat. We’re able to track other boaters and loopers. It’s one piece of equipment we wouldn’t boat without! Make sure to use our code schojo23 for 5% off your Nebolink!
Patagonia Rain Jacket
If 2021 was the year of the slippers, then 2022 was the year of the rain jackets. We gifted each other these rain jackets when we were going down the Midwest rivers and they were clutch! Our old rain jackets were falling apart after 10+ years of wear and tear, so we upgraded to these Patagonia rain jackets and love them! We love Patagonia and all the good they do, so we’re happy to support a company that has such a positive impact. We love to look at Patagonia’s Worn Wear for used items which are a budget-friendly and sustainable option to buying new. If the boater in your life is a serious cold-weather boater, consider getting them a Helly Hansen Sailing Jacket. Developed with input from coastal sailing professionals, it’s fully waterproof, windproof, and breathable to keep you dry on deck.
Marine Binoculars
Binoculars are essential on a boat. From seeing upcoming day markers to wildlife, they help extend your visual distance dramatically. These waterproof marine binoculars include a rangefinder and a compass. We were gifted a pair of marine binoculars and loved them!
Soft Cooler Insulated Bag
The Rtic cooler is a floating cooler, so it can go anywhere you go! It’s perfect for summer days of floating in the water, bringing drinks for sundowners on friend’s boats, and Looper docktails. It’s practical and versatile, which is essential to every item brought onto a boat.
Magma Nesting Cookware
This Magma Nesting Cookware is a great option for boaters who plan to cook a lot in a tiny galley. Their compact design makes them ideal for compact galleys who need multifunction kitchen tools. Their thoughtful design makes them a no-brainer when it comes to tiny galleys. These Magma Nesting Cookware come in stainless steel or non-stick ceramic.
CLIQ Portable Chair
These lightweight folding chairs are great for taking to shore for campfires, on the dock for docktails, or carrying them to the beach for a day at the beach. We like how lightweight and compact these chairs are, making them easy to carry in our backpacks when we take them to shore.
Sea Bag Tote Bags
From beach bags to totes, these bags are made in Maine out of recycled sails. What a great way to up-cycle old sails! Sea Bags would make the perfect gift for a boater regardless if they’re a weekend boater or a full-time cruiser. Their bag designs are timeless, stylish, and durable.
Magma Outdoor Grill
Grilling aboard our boat while we’re at anchor has to be one of our favorite parts of boat life. Being able to cook outdoors while also having the comforts of home is unmatched. We constantly used our Magma grill during the summer months in Canada and winter months in Florida. It was especially a crowd-pleaser that set the mood and made trips extra special for our guests aboard. This Magma outdoor grill would make a great gift for the boater in your life who also loves to grill.
Paperwhite Kindle E-Reader
We each have a Kindle aboard and it is easily one of our favorite items. We are constantly downloading and reading books. The Kindle makes it easy to read in the sun with bright sunlight or in the dark while in bed. It’s waterproof and a must for any boater, looper, or traveler.
Mantus Dinghy Navigation Light
The Mantus Dinghy Navigation Light is a must for boaters who use their dinghy often. Their dinghy light is solar and USB chargeable and it’s easily attached to a dinghy, small boat, or outboard engine. We genuinely love all Mantus products, making us confident the boater in your life would also love their products.
Sport-a-Seat
Sport-a-Seat is a chair, cushion, and recliner in one. These versatile chairs can be used as a seat on a dinghy, kayak, outdoor venues, lawn seating, or at the beach. This portable chair uses marine-grade Sunbrella fabric which is meant for harsh UV exposure and has a five-year limited warranty. It’s a great gift for any boater or looper!
Collapsable Dock Wagon
This folding dock wagon is a must for any boater or looper, regardless of whether they visit marinas or anchor out a lot. This dock wagon can be used at marinas to transport laundry, groceries, and so much more from marina offices to a boat. It can also be used by boaters who anchor out as a way of transporting groceries from the store to their dinghy. It’s collapsable, so it can easily fit into the nooks and crannies of a boat. This practical gift would please any boater.
Waterproof Phone and Table Case
Whether it’s for a phone or a table, these cases make a great gift! They’re waterproof up to IP68 and use drysuit zippers to ensure water stays out. The cases have been designed to float if they go overboard and are designed to be used inside the case perfect for the dinghy! We use our phones for navigation during dinghy adventures, and this makes great insurance in case our phones go overboard.
Waterproof, Bluetooth Speaker
It’s no surprise that we love to listen to audiobooks and music while we cruise. Our waterproof and Bluetooth speaker allows us to do so regardless of whether we’re on the flybridge, at the interior helm station, or jamming out in the galley while cooking. We use our speaker daily!
Boater Gift Ideas Under $500
Berkey Water Filter
We invested in our travel-sized Berkey Water Filter before leaving the dock for our Great Loop and it was easily one of the best purchases we made. The best part is that it doesn’t require power and the filters can be cleaned (unlike many filters out there) which reduces plastic pollution. The washable filters mean we’re not constantly buying replacement filters; instead, we maintain the filters by washing them once every month or two. Jen loves our Berkey Water filter because it makes the various tap water we drink have a consistent taste. Gifting a Berkey Water Filter to a boater would show your love and care for their health.
Dinghy Anchor
A dinghy anchor is a great gift for boaters who frequently take their dinghy to shore. This item might be on their wishlist as it’s not required for daily life aboard making it a great gift! We love our Mantus Anchor and wouldn’t buy any other anchor. It’s perfect for any boater who’s planning on visiting the beaches in Florida or the Bahamas.
Stand Up Paddleboard
We loved our SUPs! We used them throughout our summer in Canada and our winter in the Florida Keys. Stand-up paddleboards make a great water toy to keep on board as they deflate and can be stored away when we’re not using them. We were skeptical about how sturdy they would be but were pleasantly surprised by how sturdy they did feel. We would have loved to receive this as a gift!
GoPro Action Camera
A GoPro Action Camera is a great gift for boaters who want to share their adventures with friends and family back home. It’s small, durable, and waterproof making it a great option for boaters who can be rough on their gear. If the boater in your life wants to explore underwater, make sure to also get the floating handle so it’s not lost to the deep blue.
Portable Mini Projector
A mini projector is a great gift for boaters who love to watch movies. We’ve seen several boaters have this mini projector and a screen (or white sheet) and make their salon into a movie theatre. It gets rid of a TV on board which can take up a lot of space and power compared to this mini projector. It can also be carried to shore or a dock for an outdoor movie night with other boaters. This brand is a more high-end projector if your budget allows it.
Boater Gift Ideas Under for the Big Spenders
Canon R Mirrorless Camera with 24-105mm Lens
A Canon Mirrorless Camera is a great gift for boaters who are looking to photograph their travels or loopers who want to document their Great Loop journey. The Canon R Mirrorless Camera is the same series as our cameras that we’ve used and have truly loved filming over 300 Great Loop videos and countless photos. The color quality and durability of Canon cameras are unmatched by its competitors in our opinion.
DJI Mini 3 Drone
This is the perfect gift for boaters who are interested in getting some great shots of their boat and the scenery they visit. A drone is a great way for boaters to document their once-in-a-lifetime Great Loop journey. We have the DJI Mini 2 (to use in Canada) and the DJI Air2S and love them both. We highly recommend getting the DJI Mini 3 for its strength in wind, lightweight and compact size, and tracking abilities for hands-free shots.
Boating Gift Ideas for Her
Sea Bags Crossbody Bag
The Tan Chebeague Crossbody Bag is handcrafted from recycled sailcloth in Maine. This sophisticated and stylish bag would be great for any woman who wants hands-free convenience with a timeless feel and a connection to the water.
Vaga Bella Swim Suit
Vaga Bella Swimwear is made by Elayna from Sailing La Vagabond. Vaga Bella Swimwear were something I saw on Instagram and definitely had my eye on. Their swimsuits make a great gift for the woman who loves to jump off the boat and swim!
Waterlust Swim Leggings
These leggings are not only made from recycled, post-consumer plastic bottles but they also have a UPF sun protection rating of 50+. These leggings were designed by a company that goes above and beyond to do good for Ocean Conservancy! This purpose-driven, family-run company advocates for marine conservation, donates to research and education, and is sustainable.
Osea Skincare Products
If the female boater in your life loves to try new skin care products, these might a great fit. Osea is a female-founded company is climate-neutral, vegan, and cruelty-free all while being good for the ocean as they’re an Ocean Positive brand.
Sea Bags Cosmetic Bag
Sea Bags makes tote bags, toiletry bags, and cosmetic bags that are handcrafted from recycled sailcloth in Maine. A cosmetic bag would be a great gift to the female boater in your life. To elevate the gift, you could purchase a few Osea Skincare Products and put them into the bag for the female boater in your life.
Wallaroo Wide Brimmed Hat
Wallaroo is a US company based out of Colorado committed to sun protection with their UPF 30 and UPF 50 hats and visors. After losing one of our hats to a gust of wind, we’ve been eyeing the Wallaroo Hats! Make sure to get a hat with a chin strap so it doesn’t blow away in the wind like ours did! They’re stylish sun protection that any female boater would love. The Wallaroo Gabi hat has a cutout for ponytails, the Wallaroo Sanibel is a classic and timeless look, and the Wallaroo Explorer is a classic outdoor research-style hat.
Custom Coordinates Necklace
For the female boater lover who also loves to wear jewelry, this necklace makes a great gift with engraving your home or home port coordinates. This custom-engraved necklace can be a reminder of home even when you’re miles away.
Boater Gifts Ideas for Any Budget
Gift Cards
If you’re not sure what the boater in your life would like, gifting them a gift card to a boating gear store can be an easy solution for you and a thoughtful present in their eyes. Whether it’s to a boating gear website like several listed below or to Dockwa or Amazon, they’ll be able to purchase whatever they need for their boat. Dockwa makes a great gift for the boater in your life who loves to travel from one marina to another. Giving a boat gear gift card is a thoughtful gift for any boater!
Boat Gear USA – Use our code SCHOANDJO to receive 10% off products in our Cleaning and Maintenance Category
Dockwa – Use our Referral Code 450ZMS3 for a $15 discount on your Dockwa reservation!
Make a Donation in their Name
Maybe the boat lover in your life has everything he or she needs and wants. You can make a donation gift in their name to various waterway conservancies. Here are ten great organizations to consider donating to:
- Alliance for the Great Lakes https://greatlakes.org/
- Save the River – Upper St. Lawrence Riverkeeper – https://www.savetheriver.org/
- Billion Oyster Project – https://www.billionoysterproject.org/home-1
- Mission Blue – https://missionblue.org/invest-in-the-ocean/
- Marathon Turtle Hospital – https://www.turtlehospital.org/
- Coral Restoration Foundation – https://www.coralrestoration.org/
- Captains for Clean Waters – https://captainsforcleanwater.org/
- Tennessee Riverkeeper – https://www.tennesseeriverkeeper.org/
- Chesapeake Bay Foundation – https://www.cbf.org/
- Tampa Bay Watch – https://tampabaywatch.org/
Time
Time is the most precious gift and resource of all. Giving the gift of time, whether it be to share a weekend out on the water together or time helping the boat lover in your life do boat work. Time is such a valuable resource and the ability to share time together while making memories is really the most underrated gift.
Final Thoughts on Gift Ideas for Boat Lovers
I hope this list helped you find the perfect gift for that boat lover in your life! Remember that gifting experiences and quality time is the best gift of all. Our favorite memories aboard our boat PIVOT all revolve around spending quality time with the ones we love most. We hope this list of gift ideas for boat lovers helps you in planning your holiday presents!
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One response to “101 Gift Ideas for Boaters and Loopers 2023”
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Would you please tell me what brand and size of the bowls you eat out of? Thank you. Love the show!!
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