Sometimes we all find ourselves stumped when contemplating something both special and useful to gift that special someone on your shopping list. With so many products available on the market how can a person choose that perfect gift for boat owners? May I suggest considering items that any boater or outdoorsman for that matter would find both useful and practical on almost all their boating or outdoor excursions. I’ve tried to keep the list of suggested items broad enough price wise so everyone may find something suggested that will fit their budget needs.

Leatherman Tool: Simply the handiest single tool I have on the boat and it fulfills and performs so many tasks “well enough” When things go wrong on the water and the only things around are oil-rigs and kingfish, a Leatherman could be the difference between a good story and “Gilligan’s Island.”

Pocket Knife: There are just too many instances where a good sharp pocketknife is both handy and necessary on ship or shore to list here. A good quality pocket knife that will hold an edge well is a useful thoughtful gift for anyone.

Binoculars: A good pair of binoculars can be both handy and useful to have on board any boat.Besides checking out the “deck queens” on other boats in the area they are also helpful in identifying other boats, boaters and other features in the distance.

Hand held GPS:  A hand held GPS unit receives data from multiple satellites orbiting the Earth,performing the necessary calculations to arrive at a position fix accurate to within a few feet. The GPS receiver can plot your location on a display,providing navigational directions or help you find your way back to any fishing structure you may have found.

Hand held VHF: Should through unfortunate unforeseen circumstances any boater could find themselves capsized those without surely would wish they had one. Beside life jackets, and drinking water a working VHF radio could make or break the difference between a quick recovery or ………..

Weather Station: We all probably guilty of getting out on the water despite what the weatherman maybe warning (we all know he often lies). But by having a weather station onboard oftentimes a person will have enough warning to reach safe harbor before things really get out of hand.

Waterproof Duffle Bag: On many types of boats keeping things dry can be a real challenge. So if you chose to ignore the weatherman and the fishing was just too good to pay any attention to the weather station, it’s a real comfort to at least have some dry dud’s for what may be a long cold run back to port.waterproof duffle bag

Unbreakable Glasses:Should the water get rough, or maybe some of the guests imbibe a bit too much or maybe a bit of both the last hazard needed on any boat is broken glass. In reality anything readily breakable should be limited as much as possible on a boat.

Charts: How old are the charts? I’m guessing that many are two, three, five or maybe even older, has any attempt been made to keep them updated? There are always changes taking place in the waters we all frequent and having current charts available is maybe the best way of avoiding calamities with some of them.

Grill: We all would enjoy sizzling steaks, juicy brats and tasty burgers anywhere on the water when you have a high-quality, corrosion-resistant Magma grill. The large, perfectly balanced lid closes completely over big cuts of meat and opens with a full-length stay-cool handle. The lid latches to secure the grates and internal components while traveling between fishing spots. Drippings are channeled to a rattle-free grease tray sized to fit in most sinks. Snap-out, easy-clean radiant plate evenly heats cooking surfaces. Use the included fold-away legs,or attach the optional marine mount for on-the-water cookouts. Best of all,it's pre-assembled – just attach a 1-lb. propane cylinder and start grilling.Consider a Rod Holder Mount or Rail Mount (sold separately) for safer easier grilling on the boat. Note: Even after years of service I’ve observed Magma’s that still cleaned up, functioned and appeared as new, hence my recommendation here.

Service Manual:Every boater should have and own the specific service manual for their particular propulsion choice installed on their boat be it inboard or outboard in design. Having a service manual handy inspires confidence in performing the routine maintenance as needed or required. It could also at times allow you to diagnose and fix the problem rather than being towed back to port. In reality a service manual should be included with every boat or motor sold, it should be a required handbook to be kept aboard every boat.

Collapsible Box Anchor:Just throw it out and it quickly sets in any bottom material. Its fixed scoop design and narrow side panels set it into sand, grass, mud and even rock.Narrow side panels reduce resistance for easy retrieval. Stainless steel stabilizing bar and return spring make it easy to lock open or collapse down for easy storage. It doesn’t require any lead chain and only needs half the anchor line for scope. Galvanized or stainless steel construction is also available. This could be the last anchor you will ever have to purchase. Note:I’ve tried and used many different anchors on our boats, and none of them even remotely held our boat as well and securely as this design does.

Flashlight:What more can really be said here can anyone ever have too many flashlights?The only real issue is trying to find one when you really need it. With so many styles and choices available now on the market you’re bound to find a style that would be useful for your intended recipient. But may I recommend one of the many LED’s styles available today, I find their lighting acceptable and the batteries do last a lot longer if lower litmus levels are chosen.

Chargeable Spotlight:There just isn’t anything else handier to have on board when for-what-ever reason you may have to light up the darkness and see something. Though models are available that are rated in millions of candlepower, I’ve found the more compact stow-able models have served me just fine. Fact is the model I have will fit in my back pocket (though barely) and has a low power setting that can be used as a flashlight or flip the switch and light up the shoreline a hundred yards away. For me at least it’s the perfect utilitarian spotlight to keep aboard our boat.

Collapsible Folding Cooler: Though we do utilize the extreme series coolers on all our outdoor excursions we prefer to minimize the quantity of them we have to deal with especially on our boat. We’ve also found it awfully handy to also have and keep a quality collapsible cooler convenient to have along also.Though the ones we’ve had will not hold as well as the hard side coolers will,they are extremely handy for holding surpluses until enough resources are consumed from the main coolers. Then they can be emptied, collapsed and stowed out of one’s way eliminating some cooler clutter on board. They’re also handy should someone in the group choose to make a resource run for their own needed replenishments.If asked and given an easy to deal with cooler and the cash most fellow boaters will willingly pick up your needed items for you, saving you a run for supplies yourself.

Personalized Tee’s, Baseball Caps, Coffee Cups and Stigns:Maybe you’re looking for something unique and personal as a gift. We’ve got a store started that also allows an individual to upload his or her personal favorite picture or design and have their own tee’s or hats displaying something they love for all to see. We personally had a couple of pontoon boat tee’s and coffee cups made up as wedding gifts for some boating friends of ours who married and they loved them. They were really amazed and surprised to view their very own pontoon boat embossed onto their gifts for their very own special occasion. We left them up and you can view or purchase them if you care to or make your very own with your own Photo's.

Gift Card:Though I’ve attempted to cover a lot of viable suggestions from both the useful to the unique gifting that special someone on your list maybe you’re still stumped. A person really can’t go wrong with purchasing gift cards with any reputable outdoor/ marine source and allow them to pick their own gift. After all the few times I’ve had the opportunity to spend someone else’s money was pretty pleasurable in itself.

Also if you’re so inclined and still looking for ideas you may also like to view our other blogs, or visit our website Pontoon Houseboat Odyssey for inspiration. Maybe you’re special gift will be something useful written about or used in one of our other articles used in our website here, or our other blogs.

Thank you for taking the time to visit us here from Pontoon Houseboat Odyssey