Arrrgh you ready to start sacking the Internet for all the holiday loot boaters need?

Here's the Waterway Guide's short list of unconventional goop, gadgets, goodies and gifts to give boaters, or put on your own wish list. The range is from the affordable to Bucket List items this year.

Let's begin with our secret weapon, the super goop of the year:

EelSnot

$49.99 (20oz)

EelSnot Boat Therapy is an eco-friendly hydrophobic compound that shields surfaces from direct contact with water. Eelsnot Boat Therapy retards marine growth on hulls at the molecular level. You will go faster. By reducing drag so efficiently, Eelsnot Boat Therapy has been shown to reduce fuel consumption by up to 25 percent.
Without using harsh chemicals, Eelsnot Boat Therapy will rid your hull of unwanted slime and growth with a simple wipe and spray action.
Eelsnot Boat Therapy protects wood, copper, aluminum, fiberglass, epoxy, gel coat, rubber, polypropylene, and nearly any other surface for four to six months. A 20 oz. tub of Eelsnot Boat Therapy will cover a 30 ft boat through two applications. That’s 12 to 18 months of protection.
We have been applying Eelsnot to boats since it was first invented. Let us apply it to your watercraft with the care and expertise that you can trust. Click here for more information.

• Eelsnot is designed to keep the mariner in his/her element and not in the laborious task of cleaning, scraping and/or fixing our investments.
• Speed: Eelsnot does not allow water to adhere to any surface, which significantly reduces friction. With less growth, your boat will glide through the water more efficiently.
• Time: Applying Eelsnot to the waterline or hull of your boat will prevent scum and algae from adhering eliminating hours of labor for cleaning.
• Fuel: With less growth and less drag, your engines will work more efficiently. Giving you longer life with less engine use. Lowering fuel consumption and maintenance costs.
• Environment: Eelsnot eliminates the use of many harsh chemicals for cleaning and protecting. These chemicals go into our ecosystem as well as into us as we use them.

Wearable Wonderful and Made in the USA

Flag Logo Graphic Cotton Long Sleeve from Montauk Tackle Co.

$36.00

Hanging out never looked so good. One of our new graphics featuring 100% ring spun cotton. The classic American tee has just arrived. Made in the USA. Everything from this company is comfortable, classic and American made. Men's and Women's fashions and accessories.

Tech Treats

iNavX

"Editor's Choice Winner" -Practical Sailor
"The Standard" -Cruising Magazine
"Must Have List" -Cruising World

iNavX™ is the #1 handheld chartplotter and the only chartplotter on your phone that delivers thousands of charts from your favorite chartproviders and hundreds of features.

Selected Waterway Guide data is also available as an overlay in the iNavX app including Navigation Alerts / Bridges & Locks / Anchorages and Marinas. You can download Waterway Guide data from Fugawi X Traverse for a seamless integration into the iNavX app.

Trusted internationally by casual and professional sailors, fisherman, and cruisers, download iNavX today and automatically receive a complimentary copy of high-resolution NOAA RNC raster United States marine charts of the West Coast, Gulf Coast, East Coast, Great Lakes, Alaska, Hawaii, and US Virgin Islands.

Additionally, iNavX is the only app to give you access to all your favorite charts directly through the app. From Navionics, CHS, NV Charts, Soltenick, to a host of other chart providers, to overlays from Theyr and GRIB file weather data - its all ready for you in your hand.

Waterway Guide Editor-in-Chief/ General manager, Ed Tillett’s Recommendations offer one high tech and one twist on an Old School classic to offer this season.

High Tech Crew Watcher

$89 for one unit, app included

Tillett explains, "While at the 2017 Annapolis Boat Show I visited the venerable Weems and Plath at their East Port location and was introduced to a new offering of theirs called Crew Watcher,"

"I met the designers and was impressed with their concept, technology and quality of the components. The man overboard sensor is lightweight and unobtrusive," he adds. "So much so that I envisioned the sensor hanging on a pet’s collar. The corresponding app is straightforward and compatible with Android and iOS. I think Crew Watcher would make an excellent gift or as an add-on to a vessel’s safety gear"

Fatty Knees Dinghies 

Call 781-307-2466 for pricing.

"I also visited with and discussed the merits of Fatty Knees dinghies with the owner of the company at the Annapolis show. I was quite taken with the design and craftsmanship and soon discovered why," Tillett says. " Designed by Lyle Hess, the little yachts have been around since 1946 and are quite the showpiece."

The dinghies are solid, handsome, and stable and come in 7’, 8’ and 9’ lengths with many options. Over 2,000 have been built. Treat yourself this season!

BioLite CampStove 2 (Device charger & stove)

Ranges between $69-$129.95

The award-winning BioLite CampStove's latest upgrade features 50% more power, an integrated battery, and an updated LED dashboard for improved control and feedback. Burning only wood, the CampStove 2's fan creates a smokeless fire that can cook meals and boil water in minutes while turning its heat into usable electricity. Compatible with the KettlePot and Portable Grill, cook up wood-fired meals and charge devices using only the sticks around you.

Portable Travel Safe by SAFEGO

$39.95

SAFEGO is a portable safe you can take to the beach, pool, park, or even use at home. The strong ABS plastic is water- and sand-resistant. Attach the steel cable to your beach chair, picnic table, or any secure place that a would-be thief won’t—or can’t—run off with. Keep your wallet, phone, passport, jewelry, and other small valuables safe, anywhere.

• Materials: ABS plastic, nickel-plated zinc alloy lock, steel cable
• Care: Should not be submerged in water
• Comes with 2 keys and a wrist coil band
• 3 digit custom combination or key access
• Heavy duty flexible steel cable allows you to securely lock your SAFEGO around it for stability (i.e. bedpost, beach chair, closet pole)
• Earphone plug opening
• Water-resistant, impact-resistant, heavy-duty materials
• 88 cubic inches of interior safe space. Interior Dimensions: 6” tall; 6.75”-5.25” width; 2.25”-3” depth
• Dimensions: 7" x 4" x 7.5"

Personal Water Filter by LifeStraw

$24.95 

LifeStraw is a personal water filter that’s simple to use, small enough to fit in your pocket, and capable of filtering 1,000 liters of water—that’s enough water for one person for a whole year.

Since 2005, Vestergaard (the international company behind the product), has been distributing LifeStraw to people in developing countries who don’t have access to safe drinking water. Now, LifeStraw is available for consumers as well. Whether you’re traveling to a country where the water may not agree with you or filtering water from streams while hiking and camping, LifeStraw could be a real lifesaver. It also comes in handy for everyday on-the-go use.

LifeStraw utilizes advanced hollow fiber technology, a highly efficient method of filtration that requires no chlorine and no iodine. It has been shown to trap 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria, including E. coli and 99.9% of waterborne protozoan parasites such as Giardia.

Simple and rugged personal water filter designed to provide safe, clean drinking water. Perfect for an emergency kit, hiking, or for use when traveling.

• Materials: BPA-free Tritan
• Lightweight and compact portable water filter
• Filters up to 264 gallons (1,000 liters) of water
• Utilizes an innovative hollow fiber membrane filter. Contains no chemicals (no iodine or chlorine) and leaves no aftertaste
• Reduces turbidity, filtering down to 0.2 microns
• Very high flow rate
• Includes a lanyard for easy transport
• Can be used periodically—simply put caps on the mouthpiece and end piece to store
• Comes with easy-to-follow instructions for care and maintenance
• Contained in a sealed bag and has no shelf life, making it perfect to store for emergencies
• Dimensions: 9" x 1"

GoSun Solar cooker

$279

VIDEO

Instead of using propane, gas, or charcoal, why not cook a meal with the sun? The GoSun solar cooker is a fuel-free, green way to cook—at the beach, while camping, or just in the backyard. Inventor Patrick Sherwin is a solar energy expert. After disassembling a solar water heater, Patrick noticed the vacuum tubes were still hot enough to reheat his lunch. It inspired the idea for a solar oven.

GoSun uses an evacuated glass tube to absorb sunlight and convert it to heat. Just open the reflective panels and angle them toward the sun. It’s so efficient that you can even cook on a cloudy day, it just requires a bit more time.

Cut food into small pieces to cook more quickly and better fit the tray. We suggest lining the tray with aluminum foil or parchment paper for easier cleanup, too, and using a fork or tongs to remove food. Even though the outer glass is cool to the touch, the inside can reach up to 550°F. Take GoSun tailgating, on a picnic, or on a hike.

The design channels heat into a vacuum tube and reflectors (which you angle toward the sun) help speed up the process. It’s so efficient that the inside can reach 550°F on a clear day—but GoSun works on cloudy days, too. Leave the charcoal, wood, or propane behind and cook fuel-free.

Materials: Aluminum, borosilicate glass, and stainless steel

• Fuel-free, uses only solar energy
• Reaches temperatures up to 550°F
• Works in all temperature and sun environments
• Great for camping, tailgating, picnics, backyard, and the beach
• Internal tube capacity can fit up to 40 oz. or 3 lbs. of food
• Narrow 2” tube diameter suitable for cooking sliced vegetables, hot dogs, small proteins, fish filets, and eggs
• Can cook meals in as little as 20 minutes: See Cooking Chart
• Dimensions: 24” x 16” x 12”
• Weight: 7.12 lbs.

LEGO Fishing Boat $14

Of course, you can't miss with the classics. Nobody really outgrows LEGO.

The LEGO City Great Vehicles Fishing Boat (60147) Features:
Features two outboard motors with spinning propellers, canopy with driver's console and a swiveling chair to fish from.

• Also includes a shark figure with an opening mouth

• Accessory elements include two life vests, one grey fish, two orange fish, fishing rod and a buildable buoy

• Fishing Boat measures over 4 inch (11 centimeter) high, 11 inch (28 centimeter) long and 2 inch (6 centimeter) wide

• Shark figure measures over 2 inch (7 centimeter) long

Boat US Membership

For a tried and true grownup classic the Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), has three holiday gift ideas that are perfect for any boater, sailor or angler:

The gift of on-water towing: Give the gift of a BoatUS Unlimited Towing Membership with towing service provided by TowBoatUS. For saltwater boaters, an annual Membership is just $149 per year, and for freshwater boaters, the price is only $72. Both provide 24/7 dispatch assistance, and your boater will never have to pay out of pocket for a tow back to the dock or for a soft ungrounding. Included with an Unlimited Towing Membership is a subscription to award-winning BoatUS Magazine; exclusive fuel, transient slip and repair discounts; and the opportunity to earn rewards on boating gear at West Marine stores.

The gift for roadside breakdowns: For a stocking stuffer that offers big benefits to a trailer boater, consider gifting a BoatUS Membership with Unlimited Trailer Assist for $38 that takes care of roadside breakdowns. In addition, a BoatUS Magazine subscription, membership discounts and West Marine rewards, one hundred miles of free on-road towing for both a disabled boat trailer and its tow vehicle to a safe location or repair shop are included, along with lockout, flat tire, battery jump and fuel drop-off service.

The gift that makes boating better: A basic BoatUS Membership for just $24 includes more than 25 benefits and services, including round-the-clock on-water or roadside dispatch with BoatUS paying the first $50 in towing services, a BoatUS Magazine subscription; exclusive fuel, transient slip and repair discounts; and rewards on boating gear at West Marine stores. Your boater can also take advantage of BoatUS’ advocacy efforts, safe boating and clean water programs.

All of these gifts can be found at BoatUS.com/gifts or by calling 800-395-2628. For every gift Membership purchased before December 25th, 2017, the gift giver will be entered to win a $200 West Marine gift card.

If you have gift guide suggestions please let us know by emailing to [email protected].