How to Create a Gift Basket for a Sailor

Here's a treasure of gift ideas for sailors - and a treasure chest to put them in.

Things You'll Need

• Sailing Gloves
• Sailing Books
• Handheld GPS Navigation System
• Sailing Magazines
• Seaman's Knives

Instructions

Choosing the Gifts and Basket

1. Stick with a nautical theme for the whole basket. You may want to substitute a small sailor's duffel bag or a novelty treasure chest for a basket.

2. Buy items such as a rigging knife, books, a hand-bearing compass, sailing gloves, a sailing hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, a safety harness and tether, navigation tools or a handheld GPS.

3. Stuff your basket with clean, dried seaweed (or a reasonable facsimile), if it's available. Short of that, get a yard or two of nautical cloth - something decorated with anchors, for instance - at a sewing shop.

4. Buy a handful of nautical novelty items such as ship's wheels, anchors and seashells.

Packing the Basket

1. Find a nautical chart to use for wrapping paper, or wrap the gifts in nautical-theme gift wrap.

2. Spread the seaweed or other stuffing throughout the duffel bag, treasure chest or basket.

3. Place the gifts so they are only partially visible, if at all. Make it look like sunken treasure washed up on the beach.

4. Scatter the novelty items randomly throughout the basket.

Tips & Warnings

• Check out five-and-ten stores (if you can find one) and secondhand stores for a supply of pseudo-nautical-theme junk. You'll find great opportunities to personalize your gift basket at these places.