Connected to the Garmin Connect app and the Iridium satellite network, the inReach is user-friendly with any mobile phone.
Sport Fishing
If you’re reading this gift guide, you already understand that shopping for a boat owner can be both straightforward and challenging. Boating and fishing require a lot of equipment, which is beneficial. However, those who enjoy fishing and boating use their gear for leisure, setting a high standard for their tools and toys. The concept is straightforward: Any gift that enhances the joys of boating is appreciated. Whether practical like a life vest or cooler, or entertaining like a fishing rod or towable toy, a boat owner will appreciate receiving something nice to enhance their enjoyment on the water. If you need a gift for a boat owner, your search ends here.
Useful Gifts for Boaters
Electronics
Garmin InReach Messenger Plus
Courtesy Garmin
Garmin InReach Messenger Plus: Provide the boater on your list with peace of mind using a satellite messenger that allows them to stay connected beyond cell service. The updated Garmin inReach Messenger Plus features messaging and tracking capabilities, including sending voice messages and photos. It’s easy to connect to the Garmin Connect app and Iridium satellite network using a mobile phone. When I’m fishing out at sea and the action heats up, I simply text my wife to let her know I will be late. I can also message fellow boaters who own an inReach. Plus, the enhanced Messenger Plus allows me to share pictures of my catch before heading back to the dock. This compact device fits in my pocket, ensuring it’s always with me while I’m on the water. I also take my inReach on land adventures, providing confidence and safety wherever I go on Earth.
Safety
Mustang Survival M.I.T 100 Automatic Inflatable PFD
Courtesy Mustang Survival
Mustang Survival M.I.T 100 Automatic Inflatable PFD: In addition to the mandatory foam life vests I ensure every member of my crew has, I also possess a Mustang Survival M.I.T 100 Automatic Inflatable PFD, which I wear when I fish solo. This inflatable life vest is lightweight and low-profile, allowing for complete freedom of movement while fishing or boating. When submerged, the vest’s trigger mechanism activates a CO2 canister that inflates the bladder automatically for 28 pounds of buoyancy. Alternatively, I can manually inflate it using a pull cord. Given that 87% of boating fatalities involve individuals not wearing a life vest, the Mustang M.I.T. Automatic Inflatable ensures I have no excuses for contributing to these statistics.
Trolling Motor
Minn Kota Riptide Saltwater Transom Mount
Courtesy Minn Kota
Minn Kota Riptide Saltwater Transom Mount: If your gift list includes a kayaker, canoeist, or rower, Minn Kota’s Saltwater Transom Mount trolling motor is sure to be a hit. With shaft lengths ranging from 30 to 42 inches and power ratings from 40 to 55 foot-pounds, the Riptide, powered by a 12-volt battery, can suit anything from a sit-on-top kayak to a small skiff. While many transom mount trolling motors exist, the Riptide has undergone extensive testing and redesign to feature corrosion-resistant components, sealed electronics, and a composite shaft. To prolong battery life, the computer-controlled variable throttle maximizes energy efficiency at any speed. Even freshwater anglers will find that the Riptide Saltwater extends their trolling motor’s lifespan. Its popularity among kayak anglers is such that aftermarket mounting brackets are available for nearly any fishing kayak brand.
Luxury Gifts for Saltwater Fishing
Blacktip Inshore HD1 Spinning Combo
Courtesy Blacktip
Blacktip Inshore HD1 Spinning Combo: When a novice angler seeks my advice on which fishing rod to start with, I recommend a six-foot, six-inch medium-action spinning combo like the Blacktip Inshore HD1. This combo is exceptionally versatile, able to handle everything from topwater lures to bottom rigs. The compact rod is easy to handle and transport, and its action lends itself to casting lightweight lures while providing the backbone needed for catching sizeable fish. The Blacktip rod and reel are ideally matched for optimal performance. With a sealed drag and anodized aluminum spool on the reel, as well as stainless steel line guides on the rod, this combo promises years of joyful fishing experiences. The Blacktip Inshore HD1 Spinning Combo serves as a prime illustration of a high-quality rod combined with a well-constructed reel, all while saving money.
Coolers
Yeti Roadie 24
Courtesy Yeti
Yeti Roadie 24: I aim to present gifts that are both practical and stylish. Yeti coolers fulfill both roles perfectly. The Yeti 24 Roadie is not just a robustly constructed picnic cooler; it’s also attractively designed and fits in any space. The 24-quart cooler is slim enough to tuck behind a car seat while being tall enough to accommodate a wine bottle. Boaters and anglers need a range of coolers, and nothing compares to a Yeti for keeping its contents cold. Its tough rotomolded construction and highly effective insulation, coupled with a rubber gasket around the lid, trap cold air and maintain the freeze for four Yeti ice packs for hours, keeping food or fish cold for days. On road trips, I keep a Roadie 24 in my backseat with Yeti Thin Ice packs to keep lunchmeat and beverages cold for days. When I gift a Yeti cooler, the recipient tears open the wrapping, and their face lights up at its vibrant colors and sleek design, envisioning countless adventures ahead.
Towable Toys
Rave Sports Razor 2
Courtesy Rave Sports
Rave Sports Razor 2: While my boat serves as a serious fishing vessel, it also transforms into a recreational machine when equipped with a Rave Sports Razor 2 trick tube. My family loves boat rides, and a towable tube offers an ideal way to cool off on warm days. The two-person tube is conveniently transportable and easy to store on my 20-foot boat. On the water, its sporty triangular design, robust handles, and PVC-coated hull make it easy to maneuver at any speed. Even if the recipient already owns other towable toys, the Razor 2 adds an exciting element to tubing and occupies minimal garage space.
Gift Shopping for Boaters Made Simple
Shopping for gifts for boat owners and anglers can be a challenge. I maintain a long list of specific items I desire. While this provides plenty of gift opportunities, it also means the recipients can be quite discerning. An outstanding gift goes straight onto my boat, while a subpar one ends up collecting dust in my garage. I recommend discovering what your friend or family member needs or desires. Next, research the best options available because quality and features matter significantly to anglers and boaters who rely on their gear for enjoyment.