Advice on Perfect Sailing-Related Gift, Please !

[billskip]

Dear all,

I'm not a sailor of any description myself, but I thought someone may be able to help me with something sailing-related;

My boss has recently purchased a small-ish boat, which he keeps at Lake Windermere, in the Lake District in England.

Because I know nothing about boats, its difficult to describe what type of boat it is, how big etc but I know it's big enough for two or three people to sleep in and a bit too big to be towed by a normal car.

He is fairly new to sailing and is currently doing some renovations on the boat (or at least he was, before the snow here got in the way!).

Anyway, I've got him as my 'Secret Santa' person at work - which means I have to buy him a small gift for christmas. So, I was hoping that some of you may be able to come up with some suggestions as to what to buy. We're limited to spending about £10 or under but I was thinking maybe a book about sailing, or boat restoration or are there certain small things which make a massive difference when sailing? I don't know...special hand cream or little tools or clothing or lights etc etc

Any ideas?

Cheers

Bill

[boatman61]

Floating key rings good.... but with a fortune of ten quid.... buy him 2 or 3 things from here
MarineStore: £10 and less

[skipmac]

A good flashlight (torch to you guys "over there") is always handy on a sailboat. I personally light SCUBA diving lights on my boat. They're waterproof, sturdy, bright and good battery life.

UK (Underwater Kinetics not United Kingdom) is my preferred brand but others like the Pelican brand. Get a halogen or zenon bulb type. Brighter and longer battery life. The new ones use LEDs but a good, bright LED torch will significantly exceed your £10 budget.

[Livia]

I don't know what version would be found in the UK, but a collapsible bucket like this can be used a lot of ways on a boat:

Collapsible Buckets at REI-OUTLET.com

They have various sizes.

[boatman61]

Canvas Bucket is the 'technical term' here Livia.... and your right.. collapsing buckets are great space savers especially on a small boat..
This is a 'POSH' one... plastic bottom..
Dead easy to make yourself..

[Bash]

$29.99 for a folding bucket! Cough. Sputter.

Boatman61, I'm sensing a business opportunity here. Exactly how "dead easy" would it be to make such a bucket?

[mbianka]

I posted a few suggestions here:
THE BIANKA LOG BLOG: Gifts for Sailors this holiday SEAson.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Bash

$29.99 for a folding bucket! Cough. Sputter.

Boatman61, I'm sensing a business opportunity here. Exactly how "dead easy" would it be to make such a bucket?

Dya want the answer 'Posted'... or PM'd

You need to be able to do nice splicing... and sewing

[Wand]

Originally Posted by billskip

He is fairly new to sailing and is currently doing some renovations on the boat (or at least he was, before the snow here got in the way!).

Maybe some 30+ sunscreen? It'll keep his enthusiasm up when the renovations gets tough.

[Livia]

I know, I know. I like shiny gear. Do canvas buckets hold water long enough to soak laundry etc?

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Livia

I know, I know. I like shiny gear. Do canvas buckets hold water long enough to soak laundry etc?

I doubt it... you'd have to rig up a support...
otherwise they live up to their name.... collapse able...

[Livia]

Well, my shiny blue REI soaker bucket thingy can!

[mbianka]

Just thought of another gift for a sailor: solar charged LED dusk to dawn lights. Don't know if you can find them in England. But, they are available on Amazon. Had two on board for over three years and the just keep working great:
THE BIANKA LOG BLOG: Another gift for sailors this SEAson.

[hugosalt]

Very basic tool that every sailor must have...a rigging knife,
think you might buy an inexpensive one for a little over your
budget...shop around, prices widely vary. Good luck

[atoll]

a bottle of rum,mind you in the uk £10 will only get you a small one