The Best Gifts for Boaters this Boating Season

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If you are out here searching for the best gifts for boaters this season, chances are boating season is upon us. Or maybe you are looking for Christmas gifts for boat lovers. And we have sections of the best gifts for a fisherman and gifts for water lovers who love adventure. This collection of gift ideas for boaters should lead you to the perfect gift!

husband of Arkansas blogger, Amy, on tube on Lake Ouachita with text for gifts for boaters

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If there is one thing that unifies people from all over the United States, it is the love for water. The U.S. is blessed with gorgeous bodies of water – oceans, rivers, lakes, ponds, and oceans. If you are are reading this post, chances are you are blessed with some type of body of water near you.

And if you’ve ever been to one of Arkansas many gorgeous lakes, you know we are boat people around here! Nothing says summer time more than a weekend on the lake for us. Therefore, most of us either have a boat or know someone who has a boat.

But you know what? Owning and maintaining a boat is expensive. That is why it makes perfect sense to buy boat gifts for boaters in your life. Help them out a bit. Now, whether you are looking for useful gifts for new boaters or fun new gadgets for boaters, presents for boaters are sure to be appreciated!

Know What Type of Boat the Boater Owns

Keep in mind the many different types of boats there are and the different purposes for the boats. Some boats are simply for leisure and recreation, while others might be fishing boats destined for the lake and other inland waters, and still others might be geared for ocean adventures.

Around here in Arkansas, most people seem to own pontoon boats, ski boats, and deck boats for recreation and fishing boats for fishing adventures. The majority of our friends with boats own pontoon boats and deck boats. We’ve tried to choose best gifts for boaters regardless of the type of boat they own. Obviously, some boating essentials will lend themselves more toward one type of boat or another.

Safety Gifts for Boaters

Safety first! Before we get to the fun stuff, let’s take a look at some boat safety gifts you might want to gift new boat owners. There are more things for boat safety than just what I have listed here. For more ideas of safety gifts for boaters, check this boat safety checklist.

First off, friends don’t let friends boat without properly-fitting life jackets! For babies, infant life jackets are a must! If toddlers to early elementary children are involved, these young children’s life jackets come in various sizes to fit 3-8 year olds. They have the leg straps and padding. And for elementary-aged children, these child life jackets are suited for 50-90 pounds. Life jackets for teens are a bit more tricky as far as the fit. Since so many of the adult life jackets seem to run small, you might be safe to outfit teens in those. However, that would highly depend on the size of the teenagers. As I just mentioned, it seems to be a common complaint of people that adult life jackets run small. This style of adult life jackets comes in a universal adult size and an extra large size. Fisherman may prefer an inflatable life jacket as it is not as restrictive. And don’t forget about the pups! This dog life jacket comes in different sizes to accommodate different breeds.
This LED SOS distress light replaces the need for flares in times of emergency on the boat. Or maybe you would prefer to gift traditional alerter flares.
Buy the boater in your life this air horn for a boat emergency kit.
A first-aid boat kit should not be forgotten!
Consider gifting your boater friends with water rescue throw bags with rope. Sure, they may not exactly be fun gifts for new boaters. But if they ever need it, won’t you be glad you got it for them!?

General Gift Ideas for Boaters

Gifts for new boaters should include the basics – things the boaters will need for organization, safety, and such. These things get pricey so often times it takes a while for new boaters to gather such things.

We found so many cool gift ideas for new boaters, that we had to narrow down our list and narrow down again to make this list reasonable!

Many boat owners will prefer to have a boat cover. The style of boat determines the type of cover. You will also need to know the size/length of the boat. This 24 foot pontoon boat cover has a five year warranty. For a T-Top boat, this T-Top boat cover comes in six size options. For a center console boat, you will need a center console boat cover like this one which comes in two size options.
Anyone who has a boat may need a way to dock that boat! These docking ropes are basically bungee cords and are suggested for any style of motorized or not-motorized boats. This docking bungee cord also gets great reviews.
These boat erasers are kind of like the Mr. Clean of the boat world. Gift some of these for a fun “boatwarming basket!”
And speaking of clean, this basket of boat cleaning supplies would be another perfection addition in your gift basket.
This 10-In-One boat tool includes a safety whistle, a fishing line cutter, a bottle opener and so many other features!
What boater doesn’t enjoy a good afternoon of tubing? This towable boat tube has room for up to three people to ride together. If you would rather gift a slightly smaller floater, try this Hot Shot tube that fits one-two small kids or one adult.
This under-water towable sports board looks super fun! And the great thing is nearly any water-proficient swimmer (who is comfortable under water) could use it with no training or skill. You basically just hold on and enjoy the fun. This would make an especially fun gift for those who enjoy scuba diving and snorkeling.
Amp up the night boating fun with some LED light strips for boats.
A clamp on umbrella can be a life saver in those boats that do not have a canopy.
What can I say? I’m a sucker for a good trash can. Not having a well thought-out plan for trash can make or break an outing. So many times, we’ve dealt with trash bags blowing in the wind on boats. And you can sometimes see trash that has flown out of boats. This boat trash can caddy works well on various styles of boats (and vehicles). It has great reviews, and includes a slot on the top to prevent trash blow-out. This is a practical gift for new boaters!
Heavy duty wheel chocs are important for keeping the boat trailer steady when not in use.
The weathered look of this boat hair baseball cap makes it outdoor perfection!
A waterproof dry bag is a must on a boat. This one comes in multiple sizes and tons of color choices.
This LED cooler light will help keep things lit after dark out on the water! (Hehe…you see what I did there?)
A rubber flat-bottomed bag is the perfect organizer for all the boating and water accessories. This BOGG XL bag is nice for a boat because you can load it down and leave it on the boat most of the time. The color choices are amazing!
The avoid-a-spill cups will help keep drinks upright when coasting over the waves. Or maybe you would like to gift this 12-pack of boat koozies (notice this set has some wordy durds so think of the person you are gifting, but there is also this 6-pack set of boat koozies) or maybe this set of floatable drink holders.
My friends swear by Blue Lizard Sunscreen. They keep it on hand on their boat. Personally, I love the Neutrogena Wet Skin stick sunscreen for dealing with kids who are in and out of the water. No more chasing them down, forcing them to dry off and wait around while I reapply their sunscreen.
The same friends recommend this Garmin boat navigation system (GPS) to get them around the various lakes they go boating on.
If your friend’s pet is going to be going on boat rides, these collapsible dog bowls for travel are extremely handy. This particular product comes in a ton of great color combinations! The price point on this set of collapsible dog bowls with mat is a bit higher, but the built in mat will help bowls from moving around as the boat moves and grooves.
And speaking of pets, check out this fun dog float (for medium to large dogs)! What a fun gift for new boaters who plan to bring their captain…err…dog along on the boating adventures!
These boat fenders will serve as a buffer in between the boat and the dock or the boat and other boats. Many people view boat fenders as boating must haves since they are highly protective for the boat. Two or three for each side of the boat is often preferred.
Many boat owners enjoy displaying an American flag boat flag. This would make a special gift for someone!
Our local marinas sell these floating keychains. They are bright and vivid for easy spotting in the event the keys fall into the water. As long as the keys aren’t weighed down too much, they should float near the top of the water. What a helpful little boat gift so boaters won’t lose their keys!
Your boat captain (and captain assistants) need to protect their skin while aboard. My Hubs has this particular long-sleeve SPF shirt, and he wears it for all kinds of activities.
I ordered this half-zip long sleeve rash guard shirt for ladies and these swim shorts, and they fit perfectly! They were originally recommended to me by some of my boat owner friends.
A lot of people with boats would find this collapsible wheeled wagon cart super helpful for toting things to and from their boat. Whether they are loading things to the boat from a lake house or a car, this wagon can carry a lot and has all-terrain wheels.
For those who love lounging by an anchored boat, a huge water pad can provide endless lounging. This floating water pad rolls up tightly – much like a yoga mat – and can be tethered to the boat.

two children riding large tube float behind boat for ideas for gifts for boaters

Gifts for Water Lovers

So maybe your person is not a boat owner but is a major water lover. This section is devoted to gifts for water lovers.

This stand up paddle board set is a great gift idea for folks who enjoy being on and in the water.
So many of my water-loving friends have their own kayak. They seem like such a simple way to enjoy the water. (Have you ever visited my post about kayaking on the Arkansas River? Check it out in my list of links below! So fun!)
These oars are great for keeping on a boat in case of necessity or for using with an inner tube on the lake. They would also be great with this highly-rated inflatable boat! Don’t forget to get a good air pump to help with all kinds of inflatables!
Speaking of inflatables, this two-person water mattress is for the true water lounger!
These water shoes come sized for men and women, and they come in a wide range of patterns and solid colors.
Sun hats for men or women are must have gifts for water lovers!
How amazing is this huge water raft that fits six people!?

Gifts Fisherman Will Love

If the person you are buying for is a fisherman, check out this section on gifts for a fisherman. We’ve selected gifts fisherman will love!

This fishing vest comes highly rated! It has plenty of pockets to house the many things people have to juggle while fishing. And here is a fly fishing vest your loved one might enjoy. (Also see the inflatable fisherman life jacket I linked in the first section of this post!)
For people who enjoy night fishing, these flashlight gloves will lend…ahem..a lighted hand. Or maybe they would enjoy a clip on headlamp for hats or this around-the-head headlamp. This ball cap with lights would be handy for so many activities in the dark. For those who fish in cooler conditions, this beanie hat with LED light might be helpful.
This fishing multitool includes a bait cutter, a scale scraper, a measuring tape, and more! It seems to have many uses for a reasonable price.
This digital scale has many uses – like weighing food, luggage, fish, etc. It is the best gift for a fisherman!
When your favorite fisherman is away from the water, he or she is probably thinking about the water and the fishing boat! Treat him or her with some fun fishing socks!
This folding backpack camping stool is also a cooler! I sure do love a multifunctional piece! What a great gift idea for a fisherman!
Keep your favorite fisherman organized with this rod and reel bag. This canvas bag holds up to five rods plus extra equipment on the inside.
This fishing cart will keep all the fishing gear in order at home.
Give your friend or family professional fisherman vibes with this sonar fish finder. This fishing gadget could help save a lot of time!
This fishing tackle backpack has 11 independent sections for storing all the fishing things. Or maybe this LED over-the-shoulder tackle bag is your person’s preference.
This boat tote organizer has great reviews on Amazon. If you are specifically looking for accessories for Jon boats for your fisherman, this one is nifty for holding keys, cell phone, bait, cup of coffee, etc. (Maybe you are wondering what is a Jon boat anyway? A Jon boat is an aluminum fishing boat – typically with a flat bottom. A lot of serious fisherman have these types of boats as they are somewhat inexpensive in comparison to other styles of boats.)
Fishing hats are a must. For a little quippy fun, this fishing bucket hat is a hoot. And this other hilarious fisherman cap might be just what your fisherman would love! This gray fishing hat with neck flap will help keep exposed skin safe from the sun.
And is he or she really a fisherman if he/she doesn’t sport a funny fishing t-shirt?!

When in doubt of what type of gifts for boaters or gifts for fisherman to get, you can always gift a Bass Pro gift card or a Cabela’s gift card!