Was The World’s ‘Northern-Most Island’ Erased From Charts?
by Kevin Hamilton (University of Hawaii) In 2021, an expedition off the icy northern Greenland coast spotted what appeared to be a previously uncharted island. It was small and gravelly,...
Last week we brought you our official 2015 Holiday Gift Guide followed by our Working Sailor’s Edition Gift Guide and today my email has dozens of messages from gCaptain reader asking for more! So if you are looking for a small gift to slip inside the stocking of your favorite mariner this Christmas than this guide is for you!
P.S. Most of these items will ship for free if you sign up for Amazon Prime!
Historically the bosun’s whistle was used to pass commands to the crew when the voice could not be heard over the sounds of the sea. Because of its high pitch, it could be heard over the activities of the crew and bad weather. The pipe consists of a narrow tube (the gun) which directs air over a metal sphere (the buoy) with a hole in the top. The player opens and closes the hand over the hole to change the pitch. The rest of the pipe consists of a “keel”, a flat piece of metal beneath the gun that holds the call together. $12 Via Amazon
P.S. I don’t know how to use it either… might be a good new year’s resolution.
P.S. Also pick up a pair of LED Light Dividers if you’re feeling generous.
P.S. We like using these with eneloop rechargeable AAA batteries because the eneloops, unlike most rechargeables, maintain a charge while sitting on the shelve.
P.S. Here’s Brian Goulet with 12 Reasons Why You Should Write with a Fountain Pen
P.S.2. Don’t forget the Ink Well… you’ll need it!
Grids & Guides is a 144 page notebook of varied and unusual graph paper (including some new grid designs), interspersed with engaging charts and infographics—from knot tying to logic expressions— making it a great gift for right-brained deckies and left-brained engineers alike. $15 Via Amazon
With instant access to Netflix, HBO NOW, Hulu, Amazon Prime and 1Gb of storage Amazon’s Fire Stick TV plugs directly into the HDMI port on your TV but that’s not why I’m recommending it (I prefer the larger storage capacity of the New Apple TV) … I’m recommending it because of its low price and diminutive size which makes it perfect for traveling. Bring it to the hotel and avoid those overpriced movie selections or lend it to your watchmate aboard ship. $39 via Amazon
A solitary life at sea carries inherent risks. And the biggest one, the one sailors like to think the least about, is being lost at sea. It is truly the worst case scenario. This little unit, ACR’s ResQLink PLB, is a miniature EPIRB that clips to your lifejacket and transmits an emergency signal to the Coast Guard in an emergency. While a PLB doesn’t reduce the risk of falling overboard or prevent ships from sinking, it does greatly improve the chance you’ll be rescued if disaster strikes. $251 Via Amazon.
Want peace of mind but not $251 dollars worth? This air-tight and crushproof sardine can is packed with 25 survival items, including a fishhook, signal mirror, fire starter cube, and first aid supplies. Will this small kit help you survive the next zombie apocalypse? No but it’s pretty cheap and a lot of fun; every stocking needs at least one item that’s simply designed to delight and act as a conversation piece. This fits the bill nicely. $7 via Amazon
This is one sweet book. Tom Glover’s Pock Ref 3rd Edition is part encyclopedia, part trivia tome, part entertainment and part dispute-solver. Buried in the various tables and charts are tons of data and facts to aid the rider, roadside mechanic or budding MacGyver. This book has everything. Wind Chill tables, Heat Index data, an entire chapter that cross-references SAE, Metric and even Whitworth hardware (whatever that is). Oh sure, you can get this information off of the internet but what fun is that? $10 via Amazon
P.S. If your secret santa is an Engineer chances are he already has a copy. In that case why not upgrade him to the hardcover edition for a few bucks more?
If your guy is still using an overstuffed carabiner attached to his belt loop, it’s time to upgrade him to a smarter way to carry his keys. Gone are the days of Chief Mates and First Engineers jingling like janitors thanks to the KeySmart’s aircraft aluminum, stainless steel, laser engraved design. $19 Via Amazon
P.S. If your guy likes big bulky keyrings then we suggest Weems & Plath’s Brass Travel Thermometer which is unduly heavy but looks cool and is useful.
P.S. If you are a knitter, please consider donating your time and skills to The Knit Before Christmas campaign sponsored by The Seaman’s Church.
Looking for more gift ideas? Here is a link to all of gCaptain’s earlier Holiday Gift Guides including our official Official 2015 Holiday Gift Guide . Enjoy!
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