Who wants to cut into the cruising kitty for gifts that won’t work when you take off? It’s just about that time of year, so Jamie and I came up with a list of fun and affordable gifts based on our everyday cruising life. Maybe some of these will fit the sailor in yours! We aimed to skew practical but keep it fun and easy, with ideas that are (mostly) under $50.
Polarizing filter. An inexpensive addition to your camera that turns photos on the water from OK to awesome (filtered image on left, non-filtered on right) with effects you can’t get in post-processing.
Check this post for more examples here if you need any convincing. I can’t believe cruisers who like taking pictures ever leave without one! I’ve abused used this Tiffen circular polarizer for years.
Aloha shirt. We may get a little “grotty yachtie”, but a there’s a ritual at the end of a day of boat chores where we clean up and Jamie traides a grimy tee for a fresh aloha shirt. It’s the signal that it’s time to relax, maybe have a sundowner in Totem’s cockpit or with friends. I love Reyn Spooner’s classic reverse-prints, but hey, go with whatever feels right. Score vintage for <$30 on Etsy, eBay, or thrift shops.
Cooler bag. Right, about those sundowners: unless you’re European, cruisers bring their drinks with them when invited to another boat, and who wants a warm beer? Get a durable cooler bag; I like having one that can do triple duty with beach barbecues and provisioning runs, too. Look for one that collapses (e.g., no hard liner or top) for easier storage; a couple of pockets can be handy. Ours looks a lot like this one.
Books. I love gifting books, and have been building out a list of my favorite books for cruisers. There are books to inspire, practical references we use again and again, and favorites for regions we’ve traveled. I’d love to add a personal note to go with a gifted copy of Voyaging With Kids: just let me know! It’s written for families but is full of guidance that can help anyone who wants to go cruising, not just those of us with children aboard.
Beachy jewelry. I was never big into bling but the basic jewelry I wore got even simpler after we went cruising. Natural materials, touches to remind me of places we’ve been, and anything inspired by the ocean…I’m a sucker for anything that incorporates sea glass. I reached out to my tribe of sailing women, because a number of them aren’t just cruisers – they’re artists creating lovely, affordable, cruisey adornment.
- Melody turns shackles and line into understated nautical pieces for Maggie + Millie, like the one here (love!).
- Catherine spins her hand-made glass beads into pieces at Sailorgirl Jewelry (like these beautiful earrings)
- Bead Girl Nauti Line offer pendants that Cindy will customize with your boat’s name!
- How about a mermaid bracelet like this one, made by Cheryl from SS Magpie?
- For beachy boho, check out Dani’s Anchored Grace shop on Etsy.
- For ocean style with a little more flash, SeaShineDesigns turns real shells into precious metal jewelry; a knockout is this seahorse cuff from Suz Somersall (wow).
Cobb barbecue. OK, so I’m breaking the <$50 rule for this one, but it’s worth it. A lightweight, portable, use-it-anywhere (outside) grill that cooks delicious meals- the top photo shows Jamie using ours on a beach in Comoros. It isn’t fixed to the rails, like most boat BBQs, but portable. It’s charcoal, which means better tasting barbeque. Because it stays cool on the outside (on ALL sides), you can actually just place it on deck…or take it to the beach, or whatever! We’ve removed our (always corroding/ can’t get parts/ rattling noisemaker in a light breeze/ burnt everything anyway) Magma, and I don’t miss it at all.
Butane torch. Because every cruiser needs crème brulee! Well not really (although that’s a great, easy way to impress guests), but these culinary torches are also handy for heat shrink during electrical work…something we do a lot more than we ever expected. And hey, you can have fancy desserts, too!
Still stumped? Check out my list of holiday gift ideas from last year.
It’s always appreciated when you click through to the Sailfeed website! All opinions mine; Cobb provided product for review. Amazon links are affiliate; if your click through a link and purchase from Amazon, it throws a little change in our cruising kitty. It doesn’t cost you a penny, but it’s a nice help for us. Thank you for supporting our family!
