Nautical Gifts

You could use a dictionary definition such as "Decor relating to, or characteristic of ships, shipping, sailors, or navigation on a body of water." To tell you the truth though, nautical decor is any decorative item that makes me think of anything remotely related to the sea or to activities connected with the sea.

There are different kinds of decorative nautical items that make great gifts. Before deciding exactly what to get you'll need to consider your budget. Nautical gifts are similar to other gift themes when it comes to cost - there is a range of costs from a lighthouse soap holder (several dollar item) to a handcrafted museum quality model ship (several thousand dollars). After you have decided on a spending amount, review the different types of nautical items available and be sure to spend some time considering the dreams and desires of the person you are getting the gift for.

Browse several websites on the internet to look at a large variety of nautical decor items. If you decide to buy something online be sure to check the company's Better Business Bureau record!

Model ships make great nautical gifts but be aware that their size, quality, detail, and accuracy can vary greatly. These variances can cause huge differences between the prices of models of the same ships. If you want a decent size model ship (say 30" long and wide) of passable quality, expect to pay at least several hundred dollars. The same ship handcrafted by a skilled model builder, accurate and detailed, will likely cost you several thousand dollars.

There are alternatives to expensive full model ships. You can also get half models, hull models, and even half hull models. A half model may be a typical model ship that appears to be split lengthwise down the middle. This half model is often displayed on the wall - in a frame. A hull model is just that - rather than a model of the entire ship, it is only the hull. A half hull model is half of a hull model that may be displayed on a plaque on the wall. These make great corporate gifts or regatta prizes.

While everyone enjoys model ships, they are particularly popular among history buffs. After reading about the Civil War, what could be more enjoyable than examining a detailed model of the USS Monitor on your desktop or bookcase? After reading a particularly inspiring book by Hemingway, what could be more fun than to examine a detailed model of the 1934 El Pilar motorboat - one that Hemingway was quite familiar with?

All in all, model ships may be the most popular with literary aficionados (bookworms) particularly those that enjoy history.

Everybody loves lighthouses. Like taxes, it's just a fact of life. But there are different lighthouses to choose from and there are different types of lighthouse-themed items to choose from.

The lighthouse bathroom is becoming popular in many homes. You can find lighthouse bath towels, soap dispensers, toilet covers, shower curtains, and pretty much any other bathroom item in a lighthouse theme.

Another popular lighthouse item is the solar powered lawn or garden lighthouse. You can get these in many sizes ranging from a foot high to 12 feet high. These lighthouses are placed in your lawn or garden and when darkness rolls around, the more advanced lighthouses will automatically turn on their low powered (accent light) rotating light for a realistic lighthouse appearance right in your front yard.

If you really, really like lighthouses then you probably have a specific one in mind. In the U.S. alone there are probably a thousand lighthouses, light towers, range lights, pier lights, and so on. A popular new niche is the lighthouse replica industry. Now you can get a 6 foot lighthouse (that actually works like a lighthouse) and it is modeled after a lighthouse in the real world.

There is a hidden nautical gem that many people have never heard of. It is called the "knot board". Basically, the knot board is like a picture frame except it will often have a nautical themed background rather than just a picture. On top of the background are attached a variety of rope knots and other nautical items. Above that, a knot board will often have have glass to protect the artifacts from dust.

The knot board is of interest to more than just Boy Scouts learning knots. When you first see one of these unique knot boards, it seems you can't take your eyes off of it until you have examined every artifact in detail. Nautical prints and paintings are great but nothing beats the diversity of a knot board.