Sailors learn to live with very little. Lockers are small, salt water ruins most things, and anything left loose ends up on the cabin floor. So a good sailing gift either earns its place on board or means something back on shore. This guide lists 10 sailing gifts for men. Most of them suit any sailor, skipper or boat owner.
This guide was put together by Bellore. Of the 10 ideas, 2 are our own products and are clearly marked. For everything else we name no brands and tell you what to look for instead.
The best sailing gift is either kit that survives salt water or a keepsake that speaks of home and a safe return. A brass compass and an anchor glass carry meaning on a modest budget. A rigging knife and a waterproof kit bag get used on every trip in the mid-range. Marine binoculars and a proper sailing jacket are the most appreciated presents at a higher budget. The anchor has long stood for hope and a steady hold, which is why anchor gifts sit so well with sailors.
Three questions before you choose a sailing gift
Is it his job or his weekend? A merchant seafarer or a Royal Navy sailor can be away for months and takes very little along. A weekend yachtsman or dinghy racer goes out on Saturdays and chooses his own kit with care. For the first, meaning matters most. For the second, function does.
What kind of boat? A yacht on a coastal mooring, a racing dinghy, a motor cruiser and a narrowboat on the canal are different worlds. Binoculars and waterproofs suit open water. Canal boat owners get more from things for the cabin and the long evenings tied up.
Will it live on board or at home? Anything used at sea should resist rust, keep water out and stow small. Presents that stay ashore have no such limits. A model ship or a brass sextant can take the best spot in the house.
Nautical gifts by budget
| Budget | Gift ideas | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Modest | Brass pocket compass, knot board, anchor rocks glass, anchor mug | A friend, a crewmate, someone who has just passed a sailing course |
| Mid-range | Rigging knife, waterproof kit bag, wooden model ship, brass sextant | A partner, a husband, a dad, a new boat owner |
| Higher | Marine binoculars, sailing jacket | A first command, a retirement, a big birthday |
10 sailing gifts for men who love the water
1.Marine binoculars
Binoculars live by the companionway and get picked up all day. They find the next buoy, read a sail number and identify the ship on the horizon. A pair of his own is a present most skippers and boat owners will value.
The standard at sea is 7x50. Seven times magnification keeps the picture steady on a moving deck, and the wide lens gives a bright view at dusk and in poor light.
What to look for: Look for a waterproof body that will not fog. A built-in compass makes taking a bearing far easier, and a floating strap saves the day if they go over the side.
2.Anchor rocks glass
The anchor is the oldest promise a boat carries: wherever she goes, she can stop and hold. It has long stood for hope and a steady heart as well. Giving a sailor an anchor says "wherever you go, there is a place that holds you."
That is why it means most coming from a partner or family before a long passage or a posting away. The first drink poured after he steps back ashore belongs in this glass. It also suits the end of the season, when the boat comes out of the water and the stories begin.
The 300 ml glass tumbler has a decorative metal anchor figure set by hand into the glass body, and it comes in its own gift box. As anchor gifts for men go, it needs no size and no knowledge of his kit, and it is as welcome on a shelf at home as on the saloon table in harbour.
3.Rigging knife
Anyone who works with rope on deck keeps a knife close. A sailing knife differs from an ordinary pocket knife. It opens with one hand, grips when wet, and often carries a marlinspike for freeing knots and a shackle key.
A good one is a daily tool and a piece of safety kit, ready to cut a jammed line in a hurry.
What to look for: Choose steel that resists salt water and a lanyard ring, because a knife dropped overboard is gone. UK law is strict on carrying knives in public and on sales to under-18s, so check the current rules for the blade type before you buy.
4.Waterproof kit bag
Everything that must stay dry on board goes in here: phone, wallet, spare layers, the boat's papers. Roll-top designs keep their contents dry even after a dunking in the tender.
Soft bags matter on boats for another reason. They fold flat and stow in a locker, where a hard suitcase never will. Larger sizes double as luggage for a week on a charter boat.
What to look for: Twenty to thirty litres suits day sailing. A shoulder strap helps on the long walk down the pontoon.
5.Sailing jacket
British weather turns quickly, and it turns faster afloat. A breathable jacket that stops wind and spray makes long hours on deck bearable. For most sailors it is the most important thing they wear.
Good ones have a high collar, an adjustable hood and reflective patches. Bright colours are popular for a reason: being seen in the water is a safety matter.
What to look for: It should be roomy enough for a mid-layer underneath. Inshore, coastal and offshore jackets are built for different conditions, so match it to his sailing. If you are unsure of the size, buy from a shop that will exchange it.
6.Brass pocket compass
A compass stands for never losing your way, and it is one of the oldest presents given to people who go to sea. A lidded brass pocket model works and makes a handsome keepsake.
Tuck a handwritten note inside the box. It is a fitting present for someone who has just earned a first sailing qualification or is setting off on a first long passage.
What to look for: Liquid-damped models have a steadier needle. One that comes with a leather pouch will not scratch in a pocket.
7.Anchor coffee and tea mug
On a British boat, most problems are met by putting the kettle on. The dawn watch, a cold beat home, a wet morning on the mooring waiting for the tide: each begins with a brew. This is the mug for those mornings, and the anchor on it is a reminder of who is waiting ashore.
If the rocks glass marks the return, the mug keeps him company along the way. It is the right choice for someone who does not drink, for a skipper who stays dry on passage, and for a retired sailor who takes his first tea of the day while reading the sky.
The 340 ml glass mug has a handle and a decorative metal anchor figure set by hand into the glass body. It suits tea and coffee and comes in its own gift box. Among nautical gifts for him it is one that gets used daily, on a narrowboat as much as in a kitchen.
8.Wooden model ship
A model ship is the boat a sailor keeps on dry land. It sits in a study, an office or a front room and tells every visitor where his heart is.
Finished models go straight on the shelf. For someone who likes making things, a kit of parts fills the winter evenings when the real boat is laid up ashore.
What to look for: If you know the type of boat he sails or admires, choose something close to it. A glass case keeps the dust off the rigging.
9.Knot board
Knots are the alphabet of seamanship. A board showing the essential ones in real rope, mounted in a frame, is a classic sight in sailing clubs and seaside homes.
For a new boat owner or someone learning to sail it is decoration and a quiet teacher in one. The bowline, the clove hitch and the round turn and two half hitches will be used for life.
What to look for: Boards with each knot named are more useful. A wooden frame copes better with damp than card.
10.Brass sextant
Before satellites, navigators found their position by measuring the sun and stars with a sextant. Screens do that work now, yet the sextant remains the emblem of navigation.
A decorative brass one in a wooden box is a traditional present for the big moments: a first command, a retirement, the end of a long career at sea.
What to look for: Decorative sextants are for display. If he wants to practise astro navigation he needs a working instrument, which is a different and dearer purchase.
Who are you buying for?
- A partner or husband who sails: the anchor rocks glass or a brass compass with a note in the box. Both say "come home safe".
- A skipper: marine binoculars or a brass sextant. Classic choices for a first command or a retirement.
- Dad: the anchor mug or a model ship. Sailing gifts for dad work best when he can enjoy them between trips.
- A new boat owner or sailboat owner: a waterproof kit bag, a knot board or binoculars. There is always room for them on board.
- A narrowboat or canal boat owner: the anchor mug, a compass or a knot board. Life on the cut runs on tea and long evenings.
- A sailor who has everything: something that is not kit at all. An anchor glass or a sextant for the shelf.
- Someone just starting out: a rigging knife and a compass. A good memento of the first season.
What makes a good present for use at sea?
Salt water and damp will rust ordinary metal within weeks. Anything used on a boat should be stainless steel, brass or properly waterproof. For electronics, check the waterproof rating before you buy.
Space matters as much. Cabins and lockers are small, and large or fragile things become a nuisance. So presents that go to sea should be small and tough, and the showpieces should stay at home. Glassware belongs in the second group, or on the table in harbour once the lines are made fast.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best sailing gifts for men?
The best sailing gifts for men are kit that survives salt water or keepsakes that speak of home. Popular choices are marine binoculars, a rigging knife, a brass compass, a waterproof kit bag and an anchor rocks glass. Large or fragile presents cannot go to sea, so treat those as gifts for the house.
What are good gifts for boat owners in the UK?
Practical things used on board: a waterproof kit bag, a rigging knife, binoculars. For evenings in harbour, a pair of anchor rocks glasses suits the saloon table. New boat owners are usually short of the small things, so ask what is missing before you buy.
What does an anchor mean as a gift?
The anchor stands for hope, steadiness and a safe return. Given to a sailor, it says there is a place that holds him wherever he goes. That is why partners and families so often choose anchor gifts.
What does the anchor in the Bellore glass represent?
It is a decorative metal anchor figure set by hand into the glass body. It represents a ship's anchor and the idea of a safe harbour. It is a symbol made for the glass and has not come from a boat.
Which glass suits a sailor who does not drink alcohol?
The same design comes as a 340 ml glass mug with a handle. It is made for tea and coffee, which makes it a natural fit for early starts and night watches.
Is there an anchor glass set for two?
At present the anchor design comes as a single 300 ml rocks glass and a single 340 ml mug. For a couple, two rocks glasses or one of each make a pair. Other designs are in the Profession & Hobby Edition.
What do you buy a sailor who has everything?
Skip the kit, because he has chosen his own. Go for something for the house or for the boat's quiet hours: a model of the kind of boat he sails, a brass sextant, or an anchor glass with a handwritten card.
Are the anchor glasses dishwasher safe, and do they come gift boxed?
Yes. The glasses are dishwasher safe, and each product comes in its own gift box.
For other profession and hobby designs, see the Profession & Hobby Edition collection.