Handy gifts for a new boat owner

John takes his captain duties very seriously when he's boating - the safety of his passengers is paramount to anything else. He's actually taking a Captain's course in Feb 2011, and, together with the prerequisites of 360 days on the water (a minimum of four hours each day), documented within the last five years he can get his six-pack license. A six-pack license will allow him to carry 6 passengers up to 100 miles off shore. It will take a lot of education and studying for him to pass the rather stringent Captain's test. To read more about becoming a licensed boat captain, check out The National Maritime Center which provides credentials to Mariners.

Realizing that not every boat owner will become a certified Captain, I can't stress enough how important it is for them to be educated about how to handle a boat and ensure the safety of the passengers. I know at least 5 people who have suffered injuries due to the boat operator not taking his duties seriously. The below books are decent reads on the subject..

Here's some items which every boat should have aboard for emergency situations.

Every boat owner will be happy to receive a gift basket full of basic boating safety items.

Let's have a show of hands for anyone who's ever had to go diving for keys - pick me, pick me! These floating key rings may seem like a mundane gift for a boat owner, but trust me on this one, someday, you'll be well thanked.

I've been giving a lot of gifts to my new boat owner (it's ok - he's cute...), but, the below are perfect gifts when I want to walk onboard with just a little something. None of these is going to set you back a fortune but will be greatly appreciated by your new boat owner.