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Boats & boaters: On the water

Making a list, checking it twice

BETH HARRISON

Got a kayaker on your holiday gift-giving list? Not sure whether your efforts will sink or swim?

Here’s a guide for cool stuff that Santa will be proud to carry in his bow and stern compartments this year. Once the paddler on your list tears into that wrapping paper, he or she will be so happy, you may even be invited to go on a day trip or two.

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Frame-worthy

Having a hard time picturing what you’ll give someone? How about a picture frame with a kayak motif for proudly displaying shots from that recent day paddle in the Stono River or camping expedition to Caper’s Island. This is a thoughtful idea for Christmas party gift-swaps and other occasions where you don’t want to go overboard.

This kayak picture frame from Rivers Edge Products,

for example, depicts kayakers in playboats enjoying white-water rivers complete with trees, waterfalls, clouds and gnarly boulders.

Price: About $12.

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Safe is the only way

If you know a fledgling kayaker, you can provide him with some essential safety gear to get his feet wet in the sport and to help keep him from becoming front-page news.

The NRS Deluxe Touring Safety Kit includes a bilge pump for extracting water from the cockpit, a paddle float so you can rescue yourself from scary swells when you capsize in Bulls Bay, and a leash to keep your paddle from floating away. The leash comes with a really cool carrying case that includes a carabiner to attach to a kayak’s deck bungees. Also in the kit are a boat sponge for mopping up ‘nuisance water,’ and a signal mirror and whistle. All the above items are packed away neatly in a mesh bag that attaches to your deck with clips, and it sports a double-zipper top and reflective tape.

Price: About $110.

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For the gadgets

If your kayak buddy is a techno-junkie, he already knows what sort of gadgets and gizmos to buy. But you can follow through with a waterproof case for all his goodies. The GPS/Audio Map Case by Seattle Sports, for example, has two zippered waterproof compartments. There is a built-in waterproof headphone jack for an iPod, so he’ll never be without his tunes, or he can carry his GPS as he plies the waters of Shem Creek or the Folly River. The clear windows make everything easy to view, and clips and D-rings offer attachment points for your kayak. A Velcro closure makes it accessible from the deck of your boat.

Price: About $25.

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Immersion proof

If your paddling buddy has a tough time keeping his kayak right side up, make sure he’s dressed for immersion in cold water. NRS HydroSkin is a stretchy wet suit-type material made into shirts, pants, shorts and other items that can be worn alone or layered with other pieces. The 0.5 mm neoprene makes it thinner and easier to move in than some other wet suits. And it comes in designer colors! This HydroSkin is lavender, for example, for anyone who wants to make a fashion statement while executing a low brace. The ThermalPlush cropped fleece inner layer keeps the kayaker comfortable, but it doesn’t retain much water and dries quickly. The titanium coating reflects body heat back to you.

Price: About $70.

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Just in case

Tow, tow, tow your boat gently down the stream. When you give a friend a new tow belt, he might just be able to haul you out of trouble on your next kayak excursion in the Lowcountry. This Salamander Keel Hauler Pro is a tow belt and throw line all in one. It features a 43-foot tow or throw line and a shorter 15-foot tow line. It includes two anodized aluminum carabiners with stainless wire gates that can withstand a corrosive saltwater environment. The lines are housed in a urethane-coated Cordura nylon bag and the tow system features a webbing belt with a quick release cam-lock buckle.

Price: About $95.

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Going green

If you have an environmentalist on your list, she might appreciate a personal flotation device that gets back to nature while keeping her afloat. The ABBA by Astral is designed specifically for a woman’s body. The buoyancy is from Kapok, an organic fiber that aims to provide a more conforming fit that is more durable than foam. Kapok is sustainably harvested by hand from the upper-canopy rainforest and does not pollute the environment. The blue beauty shown here has Cordura nylon with reflective pinstripes, fleece hand warmers that also serve as storage pockets, a quick access pocket with a key loop and adjustable neoprene shoulder straps.

Price: About $125.

A rash is no fun

For one of the most versatile pieces of paddling attire money can buy, check out something in NRS HydroSilk. It’s basically surfer’s rash-guard material that provides SPF 50 sun protection. It’s stretchy, comfortable and lightweight, so it’s great for layering under other items, or it can be worn alone. The fabric is made of a moisture-wicking nylon-spandex. Colorful HydroSilk can be found in short- and long-sleeved tops, as well as pants.

Price: About $50.

Keep it ship-shape

Do you know a kayaker whose gear constantly goes overboard? In kayaker lingo, it’s called a “yard sale” when stuff spreads out all over the water after a paddler capsizes. To help replace that valuable gear, start with a good sponge. The Shammy Sponge from Watersports Warehouse comes with a soft, durable viscose cover and an elastic loop for hanging. Colors: orange, yellow, blue, sea green.

Price: About $8.

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Get a grip

If your paddling buddy just can’t seem to get a grip, get him some fingerless gloves. They provide traction on your paddle shaft without limiting fine-motor skills, such as PFD-zipping, fishing-lure tying or sugar-packet opening. Chota three-quarter finger gloves are a good example, featuring a rough-skin palm pad to help you keep your hands blister-free. They have a snug fit, with Velcro at the wrist.

Price: Around $25.

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Cover up

If your paddling partner is bugged when the great outdoors crawls, blows or flies into her kayak, try getting her a nice cockpit cover. These covers, such as the Harmony product shown here, come in nylon or neoprene and will help keep nature at bay when you store your vessel outside.

Price: Around $30.

Have a drink

You can help your favorite kayaker enjoy the softer side of sipping. MSR Dromedary water bladders come in various sizes to hold a lot of fresh drinking water. Because they’re soft, they don’t roll around in your compartments or take up too much space like hard-sided containers, and they help cushion other gear inside your kayak. But best of all, once you’ve drained them, they collapse flat, taking up very little space.

Price: About $30.

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Protect yourself

Make a splash with your buddy when you give him a comfortable paddle jacket to keep the spray off his upper body as he surfs the waves of Sullivan’s Island or the swells around Bird Key. This purple pullover NRS jacket has Velcro neck and wrist closures with neoprene at the wrists and neck to help seal out the cold, wet stuff so he can play longer.

Price: About $70.

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Keep your cool

Racking your brain trying to think of a stocking stuffer? Cooler heads can prevail with the Brain Breezer Bandana by Seattle Sports. When you soak this lightweight head wrap, the water slowly evaporates, helping to keep your noggin nice and comfy while you exert yourself crossing the Charleston Harbor against the wind AND the tide. Wonder if it works in August?

Price: About $10

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Sippy top

If your friends are thirsting for adventure, they may enjoy a new CamelBak spill-proof bottle with a sippy top and easy-carry handle. The handle also makes it easier to attach the bottle to your kayak deck’s rigging or bungees.

Price: About $12.

*All items provided by Time Out Sports in Mount Pleasant (843-388-2660), East of Maui Kayak & Hawaiian Store in James Island (843-795-8000) and Beth Harrison