It’s that time of year when the world falls in love and every song you hear seems to say “Merry Christmas”… it’s also time for gCaptain to publish our annual Holiday Gift Guide.
For the first time ever gCaptain has its own shop which is selling a lot of cool nautical tools and toys (in addition to our very popular nautical t-shirts) that would normally be posted here… so be sure to head over there first to check out some cool items.
But before we do, gCaptain would like to wish you a Happy Holiday and remind you there are lots of great “Oldies But Goodies” in our earlier guides:
An excellent tool for any naval architect, marine engineer or navigator, The Tool Pen features a machined aluminum 6-sided barrel houses a smooth-writing ballpoint at one end and a touch screen stylus at the other.
Under the stylus top are Phillips and slotted screw drivers, while on the barrel are a built-in spirit level, and centimeter and inch scale ruler. ($22.50 Via gCaptain)
Pendulux Navy Master Clock is the exact scale reproduction of a 1939 US Navy mastership clock. It is authentic in every detail, including an operating sub dial with “seconds” hand. This clock is modeled after the clocks mounted in the operations room of large vessels, that control all other clocks on the ship. The heavy polished aluminum case is made to withstand the heavy abuse of the seven seas. ($399 via Amazon)
While the Navy Wall Clock is perfect for Deckies, here’s a clock Marine Engineers would love. It’s called the Triple Gear clock. Measuring 18.9 inches by 16.9 inches this clock features precision Gears interlock to turn the bold minute and hour hands. ($99 via Amazon)
This item is certainly not like the high quality watches we sell in the gCaptain store but it’s certainly a lot more fun. This Engine Order Telegraph watch features a 33mm diameter face, genuine leather band, and accurate Japanese quartz movement. The watch is truly a delight. ($40 via Amazon)
If you’re looking for a good looking watch that’s decidedly NOT a toy consider Luminox Men’s Carbon GMT Watch. Luminox has the brightest dials around for seeing the time in the darkest of conditions like the double bottom of a ship. They are also very durable and this model has a special feature all deck officers will love… a GMT hour hand in addition to the Local Time hour hand. ($199 via gCaptain)
Here’s the perfect gift for the deck crew… a high grade stainless steel bracelet that’s a replica of the type of links in the chain used aboard most ships. gCaptain’s Anchor Chain Bracelet also features 8mm wide solid removable links and a lobster style clasp. ($59 via gCaptain)
Show the world all the places you’ve travelled to aboard ship with this high quality frameable Scratch Off World Map. The set comes with extra stickers to show your homeports over the years plus a guitar pick and specialized scratch off tool to help you stay within the lines. ($33 via Amazon)
We have received a few emails asking what single gift idea is our favorite. The answer: BelowTheBoat 3D WoodCharts ! The brainchild of artist Robbie & Kara Johnson, wood charts are nautical works of art suitable for hanging on any wall from the an executive boardroom of a shipping conglomerate to the galley of a small schooner. In fact we have the Channel Islands wood chart hanging at gCaptain Headquarters! ($89 – $864 Via Amazon)
A fun gift for adults and children alike this 3D Wood Puzzle of the HMS Titanic is made of premium plywood that looks great painted or left unfinished making it the perfect educational gift for future sailors. ($30 via Amazon)
Everyone needs a solid weekly planner and Hobonichi’s Techo Weeks Planner is the best (A quick search for “Hobinichi” will show you that thousands of people agree)! What we love most about this weekly planner is its size and form factor which matches well will our favorite notebook, gCaptain’s own Offshore Tally Book, and it’s high quality Tomoe River Paper is both durable and a joy to write on. ($27 Via Amazon)
We hate to beat a dead horse but we really do love the durability and form factor of gCaptain’s own Offshore Tally Book, that said some people might want a thinner, more upscale (yet still highly durable!) and more customizable notebook. For this reason our favorite notebook is the Traveler’s Notebook in Brown Leather. What’s great about this notebook are the dozens of custom inserts available that all fit neatly the notebook’s simple leather cover using Midori’s innovative system. We also like the fact you can have one set of inserts for home and another for the ship or office. ($32 Via Amazon)
Judith Schalansky – author of Pocket Atlas of Remote Islands: Fifty Islands I Have Not Visited and Never Will – may never visit any of these remote island but I’m willing to bet that many gCaptain readers will! Gorgeously illustrated and with new, vibrant colors for the Pocket edition, the atlas shows all fifty islands on the same scale, in order of the oceans they are found. This book lures us to fifty remote destinations and fills our heads with interesting facts and stories about each. ($25 via Amazon)
While not as nautically oriented as our previous book this ones is a must have book for world travelers. Created by Joshua Foer, Dylan Thuras and Ella Morton, ATLAS OBSCURA revels in the weird, the unexpected, the overlooked, the hidden and the mysterious. Every page expands our sense of how strange and marvelous the world really is. And with its compelling descriptions, hundreds of photographs, surprising charts, maps for every region of the world, it is a book to enter anywhere, and will be as appealing to the armchair traveler as the die-hard adventurer. ($20 via Amazon)
Minuscule Monoculars
Based of the popular but expensive Docter 8×21 monocular design, these minuscule yet powerful Steiner Miniscope Monoculars have slightly more magnification than a pair of quality bridge binoculars but otherwise they are totally inferior. They let in a lot less light, are not intrinsically waterproof and they don’t allow for stereo vision. ($38.50 via gCaptain)
Tough, reliable, and easy to handle, the Gerber Suspension Multi-Plier is engineered to tackle jobs in just about every situation. Featuring a sleek butterfly design, durable stainless steel construction, and Gerber’s patented Saf.T.Plus component locking system, this affordable multitool packs 12 convenient tools that will quickly prove indispensable.($20 Via Amazon)
This item makes a great tool for both Engineers and Deckies because it can be used to hold a set of mechanical tools or dividers/pencils/triangles and other navigational tools. Office types will love it to because it can store a wide range of charges and stuff to help organize your briefcase or backpack. And the wax coating helps protect your items from the elements. ($15 Via Amazon)
Marine Engineers who have spent time in workshops have known for eons that aprons aren’t just for 1950’s housewives or celebrity chefs and you don’t have to be a professional craftsman to invest in a good shop apron. If you don’t want to ruin your clothes when you’re getting down and dirty on a project, a solid work apron is a must-have. The waxed canvas coating will help repel satins and might feel a bit stiff upon first use, but it will loosen as the apron is used and gets better looking with age. ($30 Via Amazon)
According to our sister site Unofficial Networks the Kinco’s Pig Skin Ski Gloves are hands down the most durable winter glove you can buy for under $20. They require a bit of breaking in, but once you have them dialed they will give you years of warmth and comfort on deck. ($23 via Amazon) OR get a smaller size version with a nice leather strap! ($24 Via Amazon)
If you have ever been aboard a commercial boat in really rough weather chances are that you either wore Grundens foul weather gear or wish you had. Now the name already famous in Alaskan waters is selling a boot with a rather serious name… The Deck Boss Boot! These boots are injected molded, making these boots better than traditional vulcanized boots as no glue/taping is used in the design. They are made to be able to roll down for more flexibility while you are wearing them. ($118 via Amazon)
Every sailor needs a few extra shirts for his wardrobe so don’t forget that gCaptain has the best collection of nautical shirts in the world. Quality cotton shirts printed with vibrant weather fast colors, gCaptain’s shirts like our popular A Ship Dead Ahead At Night T-Shirt and our Ultimate Ship Shirt make the perfect gift this holiday season. ($22 and higher via gCaptain)
For Lots More Gift Ideas visit Shop gCaptain’s Tools And Toys section today!
-John
P.S. Still don’t know what to get that one person on your holiday list? Well you can never go wrong with a gCaptain.com Gift Card!
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