In many parts of the country, December isn’t the best month for spending days on the water, but it’s a great time to show our appreciation for those boaters who are close to our hearts.
With the holidays just off the bow, many of us are in search of the perfect gift for the mariner in our circle who is always looking for cool gear to bring aboard. To make the hunt easier, the Soundings edit team put together a holiday gift guide on page 48. The options range in price from $20 to $4,000, so there’s something for every budget, and for most needs. There are gadgets for the angler in your clan, electronics for the navigator in the family, audio systems for that person with the best cruising play list, safety items for the skipper who is focused on the well-being of passengers, and more. The story provides a good summary of the benefits of each accessory, but if you want more information, including where to source items, go to our website.
Gear is one way to show your appreciation for those boaters in your life. Another is to book a trip for the whole crew. If your squad is crazy about cruising, then consider a bareboat charter, which is one of the best ways to bond on the water. If you’re looking for new places to travel, see the story on top charter locations for seasoned skippers on page 11.
I still reminisce about the Bahamas charter my family did years ago, when my two kids were school-age. We rented a 42-foot cat out of Marsh Harbour and spent a week in the Abacos, where we’d never been before. The pictures from that trip made our holiday card the following December, and they hang on my wall today. I always smile when I remember my son and daughter sitting on the swim platform, staring at the barracuda that hovered off our transom for what seemed like hours. They wondered why the fish was always alone and without any friends. “Maybe because he’s ugly,” said my son. That made my daughter cry, but she gathered herself and landed a good punch on his arm. “Don’t be mean,” she said. Good girl.
Of course, the holidays aren’t all about gifts. It’s the people we choose them for that mean everything. With another year almost in our wake, I’m even more grateful for my hard-working colleagues at Soundings. Executive Editor Pim Van Hemmen, Art Director Briana Smith and Assistant Editor Lidia Goldberg are professionals who devote long hours to making each issue a great experience for readers. And when they’re not at their desks, they devote their time and hearts to their families, friends, neighbors, homes and, yes, boats. They are diligent, smart, opinionated, resourceful, compassionate, funny and the best crew I could hope for.
Jeanne Craig, [email protected]
This article was originally published in the December 2023 issue.
