Canoe Gift Guide for Boaties

If you are like me, you haven’t done very much of your Christmas shopping yet.  While I think I have improved from my days of waiting till Christmas Eve to go shopping, I still frustrate myself with my procrastination.  Someday I hope to be done with my shopping even before the dreaded “black Friday.”  I’ll have to try again next year.

The majority of our family’s boating this year was done in our 17ft Grumman canoe.  If you are looking for gift ideas for the Boatie in your life, click the “read more” link below to see some of gear we used and why we liked it or what we’d like to upgrade to in the future.

A canoe is probably the most economical way to jump into boating.  Check with your state, but you probably aren’t required to register it (unless you put a motor on it), and you don’t need a trailer to get it to the water.  One way to cut cost is searching through your local Craigslist ads.  If you are looking for something new with a warranty you have even more choices to wade through; integrated seating, ultra-light kevlar construction, etc.; you have some exciting choices ahead of you.

The next most important item to have is a life jacket (check your local laws).  While adults aren’t always required to wear them, it’s always a good idea to be safe.  While the choices below are all coast guard certified, my experience is the more comfortable ones tend to cost the most. Also, go with the brighter colored jacket for better visibility.

The kids life jackets are extremely important (again check you local laws).  They don’t always like to wear them, so we’ve found that it is important to have something they are excited about (maybe let them pick the jacket).  The kids jackest are rated by weight, be sure to get one that fits your child. One other thing I always look for is a large handle loop on the neck support, that way I can pull them back to me should the worst case scenario happen.

Because part of boating is also being prepared for others emergencies (and it might be required by your state) you are going to need to have a throwable.  Some throwables can pull double duty as a seat cushion.

You are probably also required by your state to have a noise making device audible to one nautical mile.  We keep a whistle on our boat but you could also go with an air horn.  Just be sure the horn has enough charge left or keep a backup handy.

If you want your canoe to go anywhere you are going to need some paddles.  Believe it or not there is a large variety of paddles out there.  Shaft length, straight shaft, bent shaft, blade width and shape, wood, carbon fiber, metal, etc.  But don’t get overwhelmed, you can always use the first paddle as a backup if you decide you want something different.  Also, there is a good chance your local canoe dealer has a demo day to get your paddle selection dialed in.

Now that we have the basic gear out of the way, here is some optional gear to help make your trip more comfortable.

Padded seat with Backrest - this is the splurge purchase you'll never regret.

Dry bag - because nobody wants to use a wet towel.

Otter Box - keep your expensive smart phones and that key fob dry.

Cooler - nobody wants a warm “beverage” on a hot day.

A couple more notes; if you plan on canoeing at night, you’ll need an all-around light for the stern.  Also if you get lazy and want to add a trolling motor, you’ll probably need to register your vessel with the state.  Merry Christmas boaties!