In what has become a favorite annual tradition, Intermarine Boats has a great list of gifts the boater in your life is sure to appreciate this year. And if you happen to be the boater in your life, here’s what to ask for when you’re writing to Santa!
1. Communicate with your deckhands discretely with Sena Expand Waterproof Bluetooth Headsets
Offering “communication for any adventure,” these Bluetooth headsets are comfortable, water and sweat-resistant, and offer four-way intercom at a range up to half a mile. You can use them for hands-free phone calls, listen to music from your Bluetooth devices, and communicate with your companions no matter what brand of intercom gear they use. $169 per unit, available on the Sena website.
2. Crank shoreside explorations up a notch with a Folding Electric Bike
We like the Quantum Broadway folding electric bike so much, we carry them in stock! This lightweight aluminum bike folds, unfolds, and adjusts in less than 10 seconds, requiring no tools whatsoever. It stows easily, and features an integrated handle in the frame for easy carrying. Designed and built in Canada, the Broadway comes standard equipped with a rear rack, fenders, and kickstand. The motor is powerful, energy-efficient, and allows for a range of up to 34 miles, and you can charge the battery using the outlet on the frame or removed for charging at home. Contact us for pricing and availability.
3. Stay in communication with a backup VHF or GPS
The safest boating relies on redundancy. If you encounter an emergency ashore, if your dinghy motor conks out and you’re caught away from the boat and drifting further out to sea, or if your onboard radio fails, one of the best pieces of communication equipment we’ve found is the ICOM IC-M93D Marine VHF Handheld Radio. It features integrated GPS and DSC, and is IPX7 waterproof, submersible up to 3 feet. It’s equipped with a standard lithium-ion battery and delivers up to 9 hours of operation while continuously monitoring Channel 70. Featuring an ultra-slim body and flat keypad, the radio fits comfortably in your hand or in your pocket. Find it easy on Amazon.
4. Replace bulky foam or kapok life vests with automatic, inflatable safety vests
We recommend the top-rated Absolute Outdoor Onyx A/M-24 Deluxe Inflatable Life Jacket. Its lightweight, low-profile design features soft neoprene around the neckline and padded air mesh panels that make it exceptionally comfortable for all-day wear out on the water, whether you’re fishing, working on deck, or running the dinghy ashore. What we like best is its dual function – you can pull the “T” handle and “jerk to inflate” the vest, or let it inflate automatically when immersed; and you can convert it from auto-inflate to manual only. This vest provides minimum buoyancy of 22.5 pounds when inflated, and is intended for people over age 16 (or 80 pounds). There are also convenient utility pockets for storing sunglasses or other personal items. Available from Amazon starting at $115 or via OnyxOutdoor.com
5. If your voyages take you far offshore, consider an EPIRB for your vessel.
If your boating adventures take you out of sight of land, you’ll want to have reliable safety equipment to get you home safely in case the unexpected happens. The GlobalFix V4 GP Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) from ACR relays your location to a vast network of search and rescue satellites, contacting the closest first responders via an internal 66-channel GPS to get help to you quickly. Engineered and tested for years of use in harsh environments, it features 10 years of life from a user-replaceable battery. Available at Amazon starting at $459.
Any of these gifts are sure to please that special boater in your life.
But you can always add the keys to a brand-new boat to your loved one’s Christmas stocking…(or yours!) as an extra special gift from Santa. The folks here at Intermarine would be delighted to help you choose just the right boat for all the right reasons and get your 2020 boating season started in style.
Call or drop by any of our South Florida locations to explore how we can help. We have four boat and yacht sale locations between West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami to suit your needs.
December 16, 2019
