Need a last-minute gift idea for the sailor in your life? Here is a little list of items that are useful on the boat every day. Also a few options for any kind of traveler or adventurer. For even more of our favorite items visit our Gear page.
UNDER $20
Sarong – Not only useful to cover up on the beach but great as a lightweight beach towel and to add more shade to the cockpit.
Portable Inverter – We use this in the car to power the laptop or for gear with only a 110V charger. Also used it on our smaller boats where we didn’t have a full-sized inverter. Be sure to check the wattage needed by your laptop before buying.
Folding Table – We keep a folding table and a couple of folding chairs in our minivan at all times because we often end up having an impromptu picnic.
Laundry Dryer – Great for small personal items you might not want to hang on the rail for the world to see. Folds up like an umbrella.
Removable Hooks – If I need a hook I add it, if it’s in the wrong place, I move it. Simple, strong and no holes in the boat. I found that you need to wait a few hours before hanging really heavy items.
Traction Socks – Sometimes my feet get chilly but slippery socks can be dangerous on deck. These socks have little rubber nubs on the bottom.
Quakehold – I use this to secure picture frames, shells, and other decorative items. Sticks well and doesn’t leave any residue when you want to remove it.
Dinghy Tub/Basket – We use it to transport all of our gear in the dinghy – sandy towels, snorkel gear, etc. Easy to rinse the sand off the bottom and keeps things from sliding all over the dinghy floor.
Outdoor Blanket – Great for chilly and damp nights in the cockpit. The outside can get wet, yet the inside stays dry.
Memoryfoam Bathmats – Very cushy on the feet and non-skid on the bottom. Also it’s microfiber so it can absorb a lot of water.
Handmixer – 12-volt galley gadgets are too expensive and how long do you really need to mix the cake batter? Our inverter has always been able to handle the 110-volt hand mixer.
Small plastic tubs – We use these for everything! To hold tools while doing projects, small batches of laundry, cleaning fish, shoe tub, rinsing snorkel gear, temporary aquarium, etc… We have several and when not in use they stack neatly while the top one can still be used for storage.
Grip Clip Clothes Pins – They are a bit pricey but after losing a few clothes overboard due to cheap clothes pins I feel they are well worth it! Super-grippy! One single pin easily holds a towel in a blow. Much cheaper from K-Mart, Fred Meyer’s, or Walmart!
Liquid Bandaid – It’s waterproof so you can continue swimming if staph is a danger. Also lets the skin breathe. Do not buy the spray-on kind – it’s expensive and empty in no time.
Silicone Baking Pans – I have a loaf pan and an 8×8 pan. Easy to store because they are flexible, don’t make any noise underway, and are quite non-stick. Easy to clean up too!
Silicone Pan Lids – Take up a lot less space than regular lids and can be used between pots and pans to stop rattling and scratching. The handles can get a little hot.
UNDER $50
Oil Extractor – Easily change the oil without electricity or a huge mess. Plastic ones are available from West Marine.
Fishing Rod Holder – Make sure they are all stainless. We bought cheap ones for a previous boat and the clamps corroded.
Baja Fuel Filter – One for diesel and one for gas. Never had an issue with our fuel or our engines!
OVER $50
Glass Bottom Bucket – I always wanted one of these! Great for making sure the anchor has set from the dinghy or just drifting over a reef.
Kindle Paperwhite – I read every night in bed. This book is backlit so I can read in the dark without a light. We each have our own.
Stand-up Paddle Board – We bought our SUP used. I love the vantage point it gives you when paddling over a reef.
SUPs also make a great swim-up bar!
I love the new website and layout which make things easy to find.
I also like your choice of items here. It shows you don’t have to spend a lot to make life easier. Silicon baking pans are great as they take up less space and don’t rattle around. They are also non stick which is great for me washing up.