Best Sailing Gifts

Here’s a classic for boat, home, or office that connects you to the beauty and history of sail. Combining clock, barometer, and thermometer/hygrometer in beautiful brass on a mahogany base, the Weems and Plath Trysail Weather Station is a work of art that’s also quite useful. The fine workmanship will be appreciated by any sailor.

Here are three of the best prepared foods that keep and can be ready for a great meal or dessert aboard as boat.

There's a good reason why historically sailors have always relaxed or slept aboard on hammocks: they're supremely comfortable and easy to stow away, and they replace a boat's often violent motion with gentle swinging. A Yellow Leaf hammock would make a great addition to your boat or gift for a favorite sailor. Not only are they attractive, well made, strong and durable, and weatherproof and mildew-resistant, but they're woven by hand by the Mlabri Tribe of Thailand in a program committed to environmental and economic sustainability. Do good for the world as you feel good in your beautiful hammock. The deep queen size holds one or two people securely and is perfect on deck or in the cabin. Learn more and order at the Yellow Leaf website.

Here's a clever little device with multiple uses on a sailboat - not the least of which is replacing clothespins that never seem to hold towels and laundry as tightly on the lifelines as you'd like. Toweligators are tough little spring clamps (in the gator's jaws) combined with a bendable tail. As shown here, the tail can be wrapped around things for more support, and they can also anchor your beach towel into the sand like a tent peg or keep a towel in place on your lounge chair.

This great little device should be aboard every boat carrying sails or any kind of canvas. It takes only a few minutes to make small repairs when you catch a seam giving way or need to sew in a patch.

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The Ice Lite II is a useful, small, inexpensive multi-tool for every sailors pocket or ditty bag. Boaters have tools for the boat and engine, but the Ice Lite is more of a personal toolkit with items not usually found in the boat's toolbox. The size of a credit card but a little thicker, it contains tiny flat and Phillips screwdrivers (sized for eyeglasses), tweezers, scissors, a nail file, and - my favorite - an LED red light. A red light won't hurt your night vision the way a regular flashlight will, and every sailor should have one in case of being caught out in the dark.

This watch has more features that sailors like and can use than almost any other. Read the full review for the details.

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Books always make a great gift for sailors, whether narratives or novels, seamanship of boat maintenance. Check out this collection of the best sailing books, including both some classics and some fun new titles.

Atlantis WeatherGear is a boutique sailing clothing manufacturer specializing in technical outerwear and base layers for sailors who demand the best. The long-sleeve US SAILING Technical Shirt has the quality and features sought by professional racers but is just as comfortable and high-performance on an afternoon’s day-sail. It’s lightweight, breathable, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying. Wear it alone on a warm day for sun protection or as the base layer under a jacket or foul weather gear.

Here's a brief article about four simple items you can buy as gifts to make a boat brighter and more enjoyable!