Great holiday gift ideas for the boater on your list

The holidays will soon be upon us, and trying to decide what gifts to give friends and loved ones can feel overwhelming at times. It can be especially difficult if you're trying to find something special and unique for the boater or outdoor adventurer on your list. Each year, West Marine searches high and low for gifts for hard-to-please boaters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts. The 2004 West Marine Holiday Catalog features some of the most unique and exciting gifts you'll find anywhere--and whether it's big game fishing, diving or ice sailing that strikes the fancy of the intrepid adventurer on your list, we have something special that's bound to leave them dazzled.

Gifts Under $20

Even if you are on a tight budget you can still find great gifts for boaters, like our exclusive Explorer Document Organizer or our Explorer Travel Kit, holiday sale priced at $19.99 each. Both are constructed of tough UV- and water-resistant fabric and have plenty of pockets for gear storage. For young aspiring anglers, Shakespeare's Kids' Complete Spinning Fishing Kit, at a holiday sale price of $19.99, offers a rod and reel combo with all the essentials including a 102-piece tackle box. For the boater who loves "doing it himself" our Runabout Tool Set, also priced at just $19.99, includes just about every essential onboard or trailer repair tool you need--all together in a compact and stowable case. Includes 51 high-quality, drop-forged, heat-treated carbon steel tools, all plated with chrome for long life.

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Gifts Under $45

Boaters and outdoorsmen always need a good flashlight--so how about giving them one that will never run out of power. Nightstar's Magnetic Force Flashlight ($39.99) doesn't include batteries because it doesn't need them! Just gently shake the light for 30 seconds and a high-strength magnet generates enough electrical energy to provide 20 minutes of continuous light. For those cold, winter nights or days aboard, our exclusive Explorer Performance Fleece Jacket, priced at $44.99 for the holidays, is perfect for layering. It wicks away moisture for cozy warmth under foulies or wear it alone.

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Binoculars always make great gifts for boaters, and our exclusive Bora Bora 8 X 26 Waterproof Binoculars ($59.99, holiday sale price) and Huahine 7 X 50 Center-Focus Binoculars offer high-quality optics at value prices. The compact Bora Bora provides features normally found only on larger binoculars, like coated optics and BAK-4 prisms. The Huahine Binoculars have the same outstanding optical system found on our higher-priced models, with minimal field curvature and distortion. BK-7 prisms provide a sharp image with increased light transmission.

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Gifts Under $100

Most anglers are as proud of their rods and reels as they are about their most prized catch. Our new Premium Fishing Rod Rack ($95.99, holiday price) gives anglers a way to display all their favorite gear in style. Crafted from fine wood with a glossy finish and a spooled design and showcases up to 24 rods, nets, gaffs or other gear. It's easy to assemble (all parts and tools included) and it rolls! For the angler who needs that extra advantage, the Norcross DF2120PX Portable Depthfinder ($99.99, holiday sale price) delivers the power to scan underwater for hiding fish. The unit, which looks like a flashlight, fits in the palm of your hand and gives you instant depth readings from 3 to 120 feet in 1/10th precision. At the flip of a switch, the display shows real-time temperature (water or air) and fish readings. You can even scan an area for drop-offs, ledges or hiding fish at depths of 120 feet.

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Gifts Under $200

Every boater wants the latest and greatest electronics gadgets. We've tested dozens of VHF radios and our VHF 50 Compact Waterproof Handheld VHF ($129.99, holiday sale price) combines exactly what we look for in a handheld radio: compact size, excellent battery technology, waterproof construction and a bright, clear display. Using the latest circuitry and a compact Li-ion battery pack, we've managed to squeeze tons of features into a package that's not much bigger than a cell phone--it's the ultimate stocking stuffer! Or help your favorite boater make boating even better next season--add music! Our exclusive MXCCP50 AM/FM/CD Marine Receiver and Speaker Stereo ($199.99, holiday sale price) is a complete marine-grade stereo package that brings top-quality sound to your boat. Built to withstand salt, spray, sun and humidity and has a CD player with an anti-shock mechanism and eight times oversampling so you don't have to worry about your music skipping in rough water.

The holidays are just around the comer, so make sure you're ready with all the best gifts designed especially for boaters. All these great gift ideas are available exclusively at West Marine stores, online at westmarine.com or by calling 1-800-BOATING. Some items are not stocked in all stores.

By Chuck Hawley, Vice President of Product Development, West Marine

COPYRIGHT 2004 Boat Owners Assn.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group