Ok, all you sailors! I need a gift idea for my father. He just purchased a 14' O'Day Javelin and has enjoyed two days on the water so far. He loves it! Any ideas for a gift - books, magazine subscription, needed equipment. He's been an enthusiast for a while, but just go the urge to buy this sailboat. Any ideas at all would be nice. I'd say the most is $200.
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gift books
David Seidman's The Complete Sailer, 15.95 This book speaks to the beginning sailor, and has a lot of information packed into it, very understandable and easly referenced chapters. It assumes ownership of a smaller boat like a Javilin. Annapolis Book of Seamanship (check Amazon.com for best prices), This is the encyclopedia of Sailing. Costly but worth it. A once in a life time type of purchase. One sailors always want gifted to themselves, because they would rather put that kind of money into their boats. A gift certificate to West Marine (at least get him a catalog) As for magazines, SAIL, is the dream fuel, followed by THIS OLD BOAT, which is more realistic for the used boat owner, likely top the charts. If he is a fixer-upper, sail also publishes BOATWORKS. Ask to see his list of things he is planning for his boat, or get him talking about the add on's he is thinking about. That should give you some good gift suggestions.
David Seidman's The Complete Sailer, 15.95 This book speaks to the beginning sailor, and has a lot of information packed into it, very understandable and easly referenced chapters. It assumes ownership of a smaller boat like a Javilin. Annapolis Book of Seamanship (check Amazon.com for best prices), This is the encyclopedia of Sailing. Costly but worth it. A once in a life time type of purchase. One sailors always want gifted to themselves, because they would rather put that kind of money into their boats. A gift certificate to West Marine (at least get him a catalog) As for magazines, SAIL, is the dream fuel, followed by THIS OLD BOAT, which is more realistic for the used boat owner, likely top the charts. If he is a fixer-upper, sail also publishes BOATWORKS. Ask to see his list of things he is planning for his boat, or get him talking about the add on's he is thinking about. That should give you some good gift suggestions.
We like you
A couple of ideas for the new sailor: buy him some safety equipment. Here are some great items that are cool and will make both him and you more comfortable on the water. You can get a nice handheld VHF radio for less than $200. Also functions as a weather radio. Don't let anyone kid you that a cell phone is an adequate substitute. How about an inflatable PFD or two? So much more comfortable than the Mae West or watersport models. A handheld GPS unit will not only show him the way home in the fog, it will also tell him how fast he is going, and is quite the cool toy to boot. Waterproof gear bags (the kind with the roll tops that buckle) are always useful in a small open boat. Some waterproof charts of his favorite cruising ground would also be nice. One more suggestion to the list of magazines: Sailing. More, bigger pictures of boats for the boat lover.
A couple of ideas for the new sailor: buy him some safety equipment. Here are some great items that are cool and will make both him and you more comfortable on the water. You can get a nice handheld VHF radio for less than $200. Also functions as a weather radio. Don't let anyone kid you that a cell phone is an adequate substitute. How about an inflatable PFD or two? So much more comfortable than the Mae West or watersport models. A handheld GPS unit will not only show him the way home in the fog, it will also tell him how fast he is going, and is quite the cool toy to boot. Waterproof gear bags (the kind with the roll tops that buckle) are always useful in a small open boat. Some waterproof charts of his favorite cruising ground would also be nice. One more suggestion to the list of magazines: Sailing. More, bigger pictures of boats for the boat lover.
A different approach
Let's start by saying....when you are new to sailing, you can't get enough things (books, picutres, magazines etc...etc...) This is a small day sailor. They tend to be wet at times. Get him some serious sailing shorts that dry out quickly. Maybe sailing pants (rain gear). Both of these will seem a bit expensive, but they are worth every dime, adn your dad will never spend that much money for shorts. No one, even sailors, likes to sit in wet clothing (that statement will come as a shock to motorboaters). A bag to carry extra items during sailing. The bag needs to be compact and water proof (see above) A US Boat or West Marine Catalog with a gift cert inside. When I wanted to learn how to sail, I didn't know what the things in these catalogs were for. Now that I "am" sailing, I want at least one item form every page. A book on someone who has take a big (long) trip on a small boat. It will set his imagination into high gear. A magazine subsription to a sailing mag. Make sure it consentirates on samll boats. This gift gives every month. I've been sailing for years and still watch the mail at magazine time. A inflatable life perserver. The more comfortable a life preserver is, the more likely it is to be worn. Man!!! Christmas is coming.....I hope my wife reads this
Let's start by saying....when you are new to sailing, you can't get enough things (books, picutres, magazines etc...etc...) This is a small day sailor. They tend to be wet at times. Get him some serious sailing shorts that dry out quickly. Maybe sailing pants (rain gear). Both of these will seem a bit expensive, but they are worth every dime, adn your dad will never spend that much money for shorts. No one, even sailors, likes to sit in wet clothing (that statement will come as a shock to motorboaters). A bag to carry extra items during sailing. The bag needs to be compact and water proof (see above) A US Boat or West Marine Catalog with a gift cert inside. When I wanted to learn how to sail, I didn't know what the things in these catalogs were for. Now that I "am" sailing, I want at least one item form every page. A book on someone who has take a big (long) trip on a small boat. It will set his imagination into high gear. A magazine subsription to a sailing mag. Make sure it consentirates on samll boats. This gift gives every month. I've been sailing for years and still watch the mail at magazine time. A inflatable life perserver. The more comfortable a life preserver is, the more likely it is to be worn. Man!!! Christmas is coming.....I hope my wife reads this
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