Once you possess your treasured boat, many people think you have everything you will ever need. Yet boaties know that the acquisition of their vessel is just the starting point, and there are always all sorts of handy gadgets and accessories they would like to use while out and about on the water.
We chatted with Gold Coast chandlery business owners, Tom from Bosuns Locker and Jason from Muir Marine, for the latest and greatest products ideally suited to boaties of all ages.
If you need to give your family members and friends some hints for your Christmas present this year, or would like to check out ideas for other boatie friends, read on for a selection of suitable gifts.
MAUI JIM SUNGLASSES
With all that light and glare to contend with when on and near the water, a boatie needs to own a good pair of sunglasses. Tom at Bosuns Locker is a big fan of the entire Maui Jim range. The sunnies are durable, lightweight, and often wrap around to provide the best eye protection. Many of their products are polarised, meaning they allow you to see the world in clear, vibrant, glare-free colours.
PLASTIMO BINOCULARS
Another product every boa tie requires is a quality pair of binoculars. These are used to spot hazards in the water, as well as landmarks, other boats, marine life, and more. Tom recommends the Plastimo brand. Check out the well-regarded Plastimo 7 x 50 binoculars with built- in compass. The binoculars feature illumination, impact-resistant design, autofocus, a distance calculator dial, rubber fold-down eye cups, carrying case, neck strap, and cleaning cloth. The product is also waterproof to one metre, fog-proof, and provides a non-slip grip and superior quality optics.
MUSTO CLOTHING
Boaties want to dress appropriately when enjoying days at sea. Jason at Muir Marine suggests gifting a Musto Essential Fast Dry Crew Cap to those who spend their weekends and other days on a vessel to protect the face and eyes. These make for an affordable, quality present, and always look good, even after months of wear in all-weather conditions. The caps, as their name suggests, dry quickly, which is perfect for boaties. They feature UV protection (UPF of 40), a rear adjustment, and a retainer clip for a snug, secure fit.
Jason also recommends the higher-priced, but just as useful, Sardinia jacket from Musto. Available for both men and women, this jacket is lightweight and breathable, and perfect for the warm climates we enjoy in Queensland. The coat is an excellent all- round offering that can be worn around the club, too. Each jacket features zipped side and chest pockets to keep possessions safe, plus an internal pocket with an exit point for headphones. The jacket features a two-layer waterproof fabric to withstand persistent downpours, and a fully seam-taped construction to give wearers a watertight seal.
At Bosuns Locker, Tom sells many Musto shorts and tees to boaties and the people buying gifts for them. The brand’s range features a variety of stylish yet fast-drying shorts to keep wearers looking good but staying dry while out on the water, while the t-shirts provide sun-blocking protection with their UPF 40-treated fabric. The tees are also made from a fast-drying cotton-polyester blend.
AC SHOES
Boaties always need a comfortable, reliable pair of shoes to wear on their days out. That is where AC (Active Casual) shoes come in. Tom recommends this brand of footwear as the shoes provide everything sailors and recreational boating enthusiasts require. They are slip-resistant and feature an anti-fungal removable insole. They boast a light, flexible EVA with rubber outsole, and are non- marking, so you don’t have to worry about scuffing up your boat’s beautiful decking. Furthermore, the shoes have an adjustable strap so that you can get the right fit for your needs.
CRUISING THE CORAL COAST
Tom knows that books always make for a suitable gift for boaties. One of his annual Christmas bestsellers is Cruising the Coral Coast by Alan Lucas. Now in its ninth edition, and first published back in the late 1960s, this title is considered a boating bible in Australia. At just under 350 pages, the book provides the essential guide on all of Queensland’s ports and anchorages, including the whole east coast of the state and the Great Barrier Reef. The new, fully updated edition features 50 new charts, an overview of the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Top End, and 29 pages of landmark photographs. The paperback book is also fully illustrated, with some colour.
Ready to do some Christmas shopping? Head into Bosuns Locker at 1 MacArthur Parade, Main Beach (www.BosunsLocker.com.au), or visit Muir Marine at 453 Esplanade, Manly (www.MuirMarine.com).
By Kellie Byrnes
(Published in the Oct-Dec 2019 edition)
