The editorial staff at Chesapeake Bay Media share their ideas on what gifts to get for the beloved boaters and Bay enthusiasts on your list.
For Nancy, Art Director
I love looking at our beautiful Chesapeake Bay map, engraved in wood, from Fire & Pine. This unique map adds beauty to any room and is available in six colors, all artwork designed and 100% made in the small town of Ridgeland, South Carolina from their pine trees. These maps come in eight sizes (some more narrowly proportioned), and I found one that fits perfectly in my kitchen dining area. They make amazing gifts and there are maps of many U.S. states, cities, and bodies of water also available (even custom orders of your own logo or drawing). We get so many compliments on our Chesapeake Bay engraved map. Available from Fire & Pine for $53 to $999 (depending on size). fireandpine.com
For Meg, Editorial Director
My go-to gift for a Chesapeake Bay enthusiast (or newcomer) is a set of classic Carvel Hall-style crab knives. Originating in Crisfield, Maryland, the “crab capital of the world,” these weighty stainless steel knives are small and pointy enough to dig out every morsel of crabmeat when you’re sitting around a table with family and friends.
Carvel Hall operated in Crisfield from 1920 until 1995. Their original molds were saved and are still produced today, with beautiful detail on the handle. Just take care not to clear away your messy newspaper post-crab feast with these iconic knives still inside. Carvel Hall crab knives are available everywhere from crabbing supply stores to fine jewelers.
A set of four knives with a gift box are available for $56 at store.jospice.com.
For Kate, Lifestyle Editor
All my loved ones with boats get the Orion Electronic SOS Beacon Locator Kit, and it shows how much I care that I want them to be found. This electronic flare also eliminates the waste of buying flares that expire every few years, while providing some peace of mind that this extremely easy to use piece of emergency equipment can be deployed quickly and save someone I want to join me during the holidays. This Coast Guard approved beacon offers a reliable alternative to traditional, pyrotechnic flares. In an emergency, it emits a bright SOS distress signal in Morse Code, exceeding Coast Guard requirements for duration and intensity. It’s also waterproof, and extremely user-friendly. Give the gift of peace of mind this year! lrse.com
For Jefferson, Editor
Lightweight and versatile enough to wear on and off the boat, the Sharkbyte deck shoes made in Alaska with the same slip-resistant Chevron outsole found on XTRATUF’s commercial-grade Legacy boots. My new Sharkbytes are easy to slip on, comfortable to wear without dreaded socks, and provide a sure-footed grip in the slickest conditions. All XTRATUF footwear is slip tested using International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards for Personal Protective Equipment. Testing is performed on both the heel and forepart of the shoes’ outsole, an established slip testing protocol, used and accepted in the footwear industry worldwide. And they look great whether you’re wearing long pants or shorts. A sure winner of a gift for any boater—and not a stocking stuffer! xtratuf.com
For Eileen, Circulation
Buldano’s “Peshtemal” Turkish towels are designed in Maryland and hand-loomed by local artisans in Anatolia, Turkey. The tradition for creating these unique, multi-function towels goes back more than 600 years. They have been a tradition in Turkish baths for centuries. Peshtemal towels are super absorbent, dry quickly, light in weight, easy to carry and take up little space. They’re the perfect choice if you prefer to pack lightly when traveling. They can be used at the beach, bath, spa, pool, sauna and sports—the choice is yours! These towels come in different styles and colors. Traditional Peshtemal towels are made of 100% cotton, and Buldano Peshtemals still produced in the same way as they have been for centuries. buldano.com
For Oliver, Contributing Writer
Salt n Rays stylish sun protective hoodie that can be worn in the elements or out and about for the day. UPF 50 Hoodie is lightweight, breathable and salt water/chlorine resistant, it’s the go to for guys while they’re out fishing or boating. And since it’s made of a moisture-wicking blend of polyester and spandex, it makes the idea base layer under winter garments for skiing and other cold-weather sports. Salt n Rays was launched in 2017 with a line of decorative UPF 50 sun-protective towels that double as wraps, and these have become so well-received that Salt n Rays is now branching into sports apparel by popular demand. saltnrays.com
Give the gift that will keep on giving all year long—a gift subscription to Chesapeake Bay Magazine. Your loved ones will receive four quarterly issues plus two special editions, each one packed with engaging articles on how to best appreciate all that the Bay has to offer, created by the Bay’s finest writers and photographers and curated by a dedicated and experienced editorial staff. Subscribers also receive weekly email updates, including the Wednesday Bay Bulletin covering newsworthy issues impacting the Chesapeake region as well as the Friday Weekend edition featuring boating lifestyle stories. A gift subscription to Chesapeake Bay Magazine makes the perfect stocking stuffer. checkout.subscriptiongenius.com/chesapeakeboating.net/
