• The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary has some great ideas for Valentine's gifts for boaters. Although you might be compelled to buy the boater something funny or commercial for the boat, you might feel otherwise when you see what you give the avid boater that will mean more to him for years to come.
  
  

Boater Safety

• Although most people who take boats out on the open waters know how to drive the boat, they may not know what to do in the event that they become stranded, overturned or if the weather turns bad. Sign the boater up for a boater safety class and put the class schedule in a Valentine's Day card. She may feel she doesn't need it, but she'll probably thank you in the long run after all she learns in the course. It is like giving the gift of life if she ever finds herself in trouble out on the water.
  
  

For the Boat

• Items that he can use for the boat are always welcomed gifts. Tool kits, boat parts, a kill switch strap that turns off the engine if the person fell overboard or inflatable life jackets are all great ideas. The new jacket styles are more flexible and not as bulky as the old life jackets.
  
  

Gadgets

• The boater is always in need of the newest gadgets for the open waters. There are hand-held marine radios, hand-held GPS units and calculators, and navigational tools to use. These gadgets will keep the boater entertained as he sits on the water relaxing or fishing. Wrap the items in red foil paper and give them as gifts on February 14.
  
  

Gift Baskets

• Make your own gift basket for your boater. The basket can be any size and can include fishing lures, fishing reel or other fishing accessories. You can include chocolates, gummy worms and a picture frame with a picture of the boater with his or her boat. Other things to add to the basket could be a light beacon in case one gets lost in the fog or a storm, emergency kits that have signal mirrors and flares or a carbon monoxide detector.
  
  

Miscellaneous Gifts

• Other gifts could include deck shoes, a painted boat logo, oars, fishing gear or a good pair of sunglasses. Depending on the type of boat, you could give gifts to furnish the lower deck, new sails for sailboats, flags or a stereo system for entertainment.