Last week, Lynette asked what was generally considered "required equipment" onboard a boat so she could find an appropriate present for her husband this holiday season.
After reading the post, my wife, Rebecca, put the very same question to me: What do you (meaning me) want for Christmas? So I decided to give her my answer here, in this very blog, on behalf of spouses everywhere who may be seeking the perfect nautical gift for the boater(s) in their life.
For starters, a new boat that's two feet bigger would be great! But since I know my wife wants to surprise me and we don't necessarily have plans to upgrade our current model just yet, I'm going to give her a few other ideas to choose from.
Rebecca (hope you're still reading this week): I would be happy with any – or all – of the following.
- Hand-held Depthfinder. I currently have sonar on the boat, and it works fine for locating fish or obstacles directly under the boat"¦but I often wonder what fish are lurking off to the side of my boat. With a hand held depthfinder, I'd be able to aim it "over there" and look for that next big catch. I could also use it to find deep spots in the water and get the boat right up next to the bank. My first choice of hand-held depthfinders would be the Norcross DF2200. It's waterproof and float – the perfect combo! It has a 200-foot range and functions somewhat like an underwater flashlight; not only will it spot objects under the water, but it'll also give you the water and air temperature as an added bonus. It can shoot right through the hull of the boat. Oh, and it's less than $100!
- Gear bag. I have lots of gear now and could definitely use a new gear bag to haul it around. Something that's waterproof and, if possible, has wheels for rolling stuff back and forth from the dock to the boat. Not too many pockets; one huge opening will work best, as I tend to lose things if I have too many compartments. Look for something with heavy duty handles and stay away from leather, as it stands a good chance of getting wet and therefore is not the best choice for a nautical environment.
- Filet Knife. If you want to help me polish my fishing skills, skip the rod and reels (since I'm basically an equipment-snob when it comes to this subject, and I just bought two new ones at the Bass Pro Shops sale this fall). The ideal tool to help me bring out my inner pro-angler is a good quality filet knife. Look for one with a thick, plastic handle and a serrated blade. Most filet knives come with a case, but if not I'd recommend getting a matching sheath to protect the blade – that's like getting two gifts in one!
If you decide to skip over my "Dear Santa list" entirely and stick with a more tried-and-true Christmas Day favorite – like a package of striped tube socks – I beg you to at least instead consider a new pair of Crocs. They work well on the boat, are stylish, and when I get home from a long day out on the water I can simply spray them with the hose and they're ready to go fishing again the very next day!
This is my laundry-list of "wants" for Santa Claus (a.k.a. my wife) this Christmas, but I suspect most spouses/boating enthusiasts out there would be happy tearing open nearly any boating- or fishing-related gift on December 25th. When it comes to fishing specifically, just remember: Go with something general unless you're familiar with the species of fish and/or technique the angler in your life enjoys. If you know your significant others' clothes size, you can even consider some boating couture fashion – like a Guy Harvey t-shirt – instead of gadgets and gear.
You gettin' all this, Santa?
The Boating Guy answers all kind of questions. To give it a try, visit DiscoverBoating.com. You'll receive an answer in a day or two, and who knows"¦your question and answer may just end up in this blog!