Want to find the perfect gift to celebrate the sailor in your life? (Or need inspiration for your own wishlist?) This guide offers a variety of options, from stocking stuffers to sailing lessons, all designed to enhance everyone's sailing experience.
Under $10
- Hat clips will keep your sailor’s favorite hat from blowing overboard.
- Croakies for sunglasses - floatable and prevents lost shades.
- Hand warmers perfect for those chilly days on the San Francisco Bay.
- Waterproof cell phone case or pouch with lanyard protects their phone while allowing app use and picture taking.
$10 - $30
- Waterproof floating flashlight – choose one with a lanyard or wrist strap for easy access.
- Waterproof headlamp with red light and white light – Hands-free option with red light for night vision and chart reading.
- Sailing gloves – Essential for preventing chafing, consider fingerless for summer and full-fingered for winter.
- Neck gaiters provide sun protection, and warmth, and can double as a face mask.
$30 - $60
- Portable Marine Bluetooth Speaker with a clip that is resistant to saltwater and weather.
- Rigging knife with marlin spike are useful for knots and fouled lines.
- Knee pads for sailors are especially beneficial for racers who move around the deck frequently.
- Inflatable solar lantern with a built-in rechargeable battery that also charges your phone via USB port. These floatable lights fold compact to tuck into your dry bag or backpack and come in handy on overnights, camping, hiking or when you're sailing solely on wind power. $35-50
$60 - $100+
- Navigation Toolkit – Essential for advanced sailors, includes rulers, dividers, magnifying glass, pencils, erasers, case, and a copy of NOAA U.S. Chart No. 1 (Chart Symbols). Perfect for Modern Sailing students.
- Hand bearing compass helps find bearings using fixed points on land. Choose a palm-style for compactness.
- Sextant – Ideal for sailors with ocean-crossing ambitions. Basic plastic models are good for beginners, while brass models offer more durability. Requires additional learning materials.
- Marine binoculars – Waterproof, floatable, with a detachable neck strap and case for optimal use.
Safety First
- Handheld GPS + VHF Marine Radio – Provides location on charts and communication with Coast Guard and other vessels.
- Harness and tether – Crucial for staying clipped to the boat in rough conditions. Ensure their PFD has tether rings or consider a new PFD with them. Choose a stretchy, springy tether with high-quality clips. This is an excellent gift for any sailor planning a coastal excursion or to take ASA 106, Advanced Coastal Cruising.
- Waterproof duffle bag for sailing gear – The lowest-priced sailing gear bags of decent quality begin at around $70 and can cost as much as $150 - $200 or more depending on brand, size, and/or quality. Note that metal zippers and zipper heads degrade quickly when exposed to salty air or saltwater. Go with high-quality stainless steel or durable plastic zipper components and avoid ordinary metals if you can.
- Foul weather gear and sailing footwear tend to be a very personal choice. Unless you know your sailor's size and exactly what gear they have their eye on, consider a gift card from a boating retailer roughly equal to the purchase price. Good quality foul-weather jackets and pants range in price from $200 to $500, and deck shoes or boots can range from $50 to $200.
The Gift of Experience
- Introductory Sailing Lesson Perfect for beginners. Learn basic sailing principles and enjoy the San Francisco Bay scenery. Consider a shared experience with our Holiday Specials (available November 30 - December 31, 2024) gift of two Introductory Sails for $275 (save $75).
- ASA 101, Basic Keelboat is the beginner-level course in the American Sailing Association certification series. Over 4 days total, aspiring sailors will learn all the essential skills for crewing on day sails. Holiday Specials offer 25% discount on this course.
- Silver Skipper Special Package (Cruising Boats) and Sportboat Skipper Package offer everything needed to start sailing San Francisco Bay and qualify for chartering sailboats.
- Modern Sailing Gift Card Allows your recipient to choose between a Course, Clinic, Club Sail, or Pacific Coast Expedition such as a Farallones Day Trip. It can even be applied towards membership initiation or a private lesson.
Need some help picking out the perfect gift for your sailor? Contact our friendly office. We're happy to help you make your favorite sailor's birthday or holiday one to remember.
