Give Unique and Unexpected Holiday Gifts

Published: Saturday, December 3, 2011 7:00 am
By: Van W. Snider, Jr., CAE

Years ago holiday decorations and promotions wouldn’t get underway until Thanksgiving. Nowadays holiday promotions start earlier. Not only have I seen store decorations and holiday displays in early November, I’ve seen cities and towns decorating their main streets with lights and erecting Christmas trees to create a holiday atmosphere to encourage more business in those communities. I understand the motive, especially in a challenging retail market. Maybe I’m “old school,” but I don’t like pushing the holiday season earlier each year.

The holiday shopping process can challenge my patience. I hate to shop. I buy clothing only by force. My wife, with me in tow, drives to a retailer and pushes me to make a selection and to pull out my credit card. It’s hard for me to select a gift as well, even though I like giving them.

The fast approaching holiday season and my struggle to make gift decisions got me thinking about some fun and nontraditional gifts which would be great for boaters and fishers who are on your holiday gift list. Here are some for your consideration:

Buy one or several slip rental nights at a marina destination you know will be appreciated by boaters who like to cruise. Michigan offers diverse locations of transient harbors throughout the Great Lakes, Lake St. Clair and connecting waterways. Go to www.midnrreservations.com, click on the Harbor Reservations box and select your location. The Michigan DNR offers an App to find boating and camping locations; the App is worth downloading on an iPhone or iPad. Another great site is www.marinalife.com which also offers an App.

There isn’t a boater who wouldn’t appreciate a prepaid gas credit card or MC or Visa card that he or she could use to buy fuel for their vessel. Another option is a gift card to use at their favorite marine store.

The winter boat show season starts after the first of the new year. Boaters love to attend shows and see new and different boats, accessories, and special exhibits. You can buy boat show tickets as gifts in advance through show websites, print the tickets at home or at the office. Several marine trade associations produce consumer shows. The Michigan Boating Industries Association, the Lake Erie Marine Trades Association (Ohio), and the National Marine Manufacturers Association produce a number of shows which may be of interest to the boaters on your list. To see shows produced by each of these trade associations, visit www.boatmichigan.org, www.lemta.com, and www.nmma.org. Each site provides an opportunity to buy show tickets, sometimes at a discounted rate.

For fishers on your list, a charter fishing trip is a great gift. Depending on the type of fishing, one charter trip can be a gift for several family members or business associates. The Michigan Charter Boat Association’s website has plenty of information to help you make your selection. Their members offer not only lake and river fishing trips, but also sailing charters and SCUBA dive trips. Visit www.michigancharterboats.com to arrange a charter experience of a lifetime.

We’re fortunate to have the Great Lakes touching our shores as well as an abundance of freshwater inland lakes and rivers. Why not consider a gift certificate to a waterfront restaurant that offers transient dockage. Your gift creates a boating destination. Regional Convention and Visitors Bureaus can provide restaurant information if you need assistance in selecting one.

If nothing I have suggested seems a good fit your holiday gift list, one idea that has wide appeal is a hand-held marine GPS. Visit your local marine store, which offers electronics, to see their selection of GPS units. A hand-held GPS is a great backup for permanently mounted units.

Whatever you decision, being creative and customizing your gift selections to the needs of the boaters on the list will be greatly appreciated. Happy Holidays!