Christmas gift ideas for cruisers?

[Rhonda S]

Last year I gave my brother a fishing belt for when he finished the boat. I'm looking for suggestions for $20-40 gifts for use when we are cruising. I like to look ahead with a positive attitude. : )

[JPA Cate]

Lures for pelagic fishes. Double s/s fishooks.

Music CD's.

Books are kind of old fashioned these days, but there is a book about fishing for cruisers that shows a lot about techniques and good ways to cut up the big pelagic fish: The Cruiser's Handbook of Fishing, by Scott and Wendy Bannerot.

Years ago, we bought a "Grant's Guide to Fishes", printed on polypropylene paper, so it can be out in the cockpit while you are trying to identify a new-to-you fish, used that a lot. The writer is an ichthyologist, and the book's photos show things like color variations within and across species. It will be above your price range for this year, though. Since it deals with tropical fishes, and they are pretty consistent the world around, it applies to more than just the Queensland coast of Australia. If I were handing out grades for books, I'd give it an A+.

Ann

[Rhonda S]

Thank you for the suggestions! I will check them out.

I am not just focused on fishing presents. Anything to do with cruising is also of interested. There are so many things needed.

[Rhonda S]

I bought a used copy of the book, so I can buy something else too. : )

[JPA Cate]

Well, one of the things I'm quite enthusiastic about are image stabilizing binoculars, but they're way outside the 20-40 dollar price range. They make it possible to read boat names at a distance, or hold the aid to navigation still so you can tell what it means for you to do.

In that range, you're sort of looking at small luxury items, like nautical paper napkins.

There are many old books, but you're going to be (hopefully) in a giant catamaran, and the old books are good about weather, but the tactics will be different for you than for their monohulls.

My Jim has always carried a pocket knife --you never know when you'll want to cut something; and for years, I did, too, a Swiss Army knife that included screwdriver and corkscrew. Still over your budget, though.

Wait for someone with more apposite advice.


Ann