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Watching the boat parade this past weekend, I couldn't help realizing that that Christmas is just around the corner. If there's a sailor on your list, here are a few ideas that may help keep your sailing gifts from going back to the North Pole or even worse, the storage closet. Whether your sailor is a boat owner, or crews on a boat, I'm sure there is something on their wish list that they would love to see under the tree this year.

Let's start with crew. There are a few essentials that anyone who crews on a sailing vessel should have. Foul weather gear is near the top of the list. It can range in price from about $75 to over $500 a set. A couple of things to think about: where they will be using them and how often. Here around Marco, light and breathable is best because of the warm climate. If they are going to use them up north as well, you may want to get something a little heavier and warmer.

Every person on board should also own a pair of sailing gloves. Mine are usually in the navigation station drawer below instead of on my hands. They come in a variety of styles and sizes and are usually less than $30. These need to fit well and be comfortable so don't be offended if you need to exchange them for another pair later.

If they are going to do any offshore racing, a harness and tether is essential for safety. I would recommend the ones with the self-inflating PFD built in. They're a little more expensive, but could save a person's life if they're knocked overboard unconscious. I would also outfit it with a personal strobe light so they can be found easily at night. Finding a person overboard at night can be like finding a needle in a haystack without a light and is a skipper's worst nightmare.

A good folding deck knife can also save the day, if you need to cut something away quickly. It can even save a life. By the time you find one below it may be too late. One with a marlinspike is best to get knotted up lines out quickly. A good knife is under $100.

Another important piece of attire that is often overlooked is footwear. It should be comfortable, have good traction, and be skid free. Any skipper hates to look at their boat after a sail and see scuff marks from people's feet all over the deck. It doesn't have to be footwear made especially for sailing, but should be something that dries out quickly when wet and something that doesn't leave scuff marks.

Rounding out the crew's attire would be clothing suitable for a day on the water, a good hat to keep them out of the sun, (I prefer a Tilley) and a decent pair of sunglasses that aren't too expensive in case they go overboard.

For a crewmember that has all of these bases covered, there are other things that you can surprise them with. A nice bag to stow their gear, a pair of binoculars or a monocular is nice to spot marks and other objects while at sea. Other things, like a hand-bearing compass or wind speed indicator can increase their performance and contribution to the effort. Overall, a crewmember should be a self-sustaining part of the overall team.

As for skipper or boat owners, the range of things needed could be quite vast so I think it is a good idea to let them inform you of what they need without knowing it. For example; if you notice that every time you dock with them no boat pole appears on deck, they probably need one. If the crew is passing around one winch handle during a race, another one, or two, is probably needed. If the docking lines are frayed, some new ones would be a good idea. If the boat is scraping on a piling or seawall, I'm sure a bumper would be greatly appreciated. I think that every skipper has a wish list and you can usually find out what it is by simply sailing with them.

When it comes to larger items like electronics and special gear, I would listen hard to what they say because these items usually have been thought through by the skipper and they may want a certain model for specific reasons. If you are going this route, I would recommend finding out the exact one they are looking for because these items can be personal. Make sure it winds up at the navigation station or in the cockpit, not in storage.

If all else fails, I'm sure that lines, shackles, fittings, bumpers, and other items that wear out would be greatly appreciated as the cost of keeping them up can play a heavy toll on a boat owner. You could also just ask the skipper point blank what they need or a gift certificate to a supplier like West Marine is a safe bet. If all else fails, there is always a bad tie.

Have a great week.