All I want for Xmas... A helping hand for our loved ones!

[CalmSkipper]

Usually, I'm notoriously difficult to buy presents for at Xmas, largely because I don't really harbour many possessions. A wok, a guitar, good food and good friends and hey, thats me sorted. So, every year my family and friends ask me for ideas for Xmas, and every year I shrug and reply, 'don't know reallly. Get me something to do with cooking or music'.

But, this year is different. Being totally committed to passing day skipper and sailing my own yacht out in the solent by spring of next year theres suddenly a whole new world of Xmas ideas. So when my 15 year old son asked, with all of the enthusiasm of a child being herded in to school assembly, 'any idea what you would like for Xmas Dad', I hadn't quite finished saying, 'Don't know really, get me something to do with....' when the light went on. 'Ah, I tell you what, I'll do a list of things that I would like for sailing'. Of course that meant I spent the next hour with my head buried in sailing magazines, but they're getting used to that now.

So, I thought it might be a good idea to start a Xmas gift idea thread. The 'what do I get for a boat mad partner/loved one/friend' list. It would help if the list also had useful information (where possible) such as approximate cost and where to source the present and it would help if there were some very low cost items for those with children buying gift from pocket/paper round money etc. So here goes with a couple of starters for 10...


A Grundig 'Yacht boy 80' SW radio (PBO Dec) c£60

A channel island cruising guide c£5

I've promised to provide a list of options by next week, so all ideas gratefully received /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Shanty]

If you are currently doing your Day Skipper theory, have you acquired dividers / Breton plotter / copy of 5011 yet?

On the same theme, some of those sets of flip cards for lights, shapes etc might be useful.

Going up in price, and since your profile doesn't mention a boat - do you have a lifejacket / oilies / boots?

How about a DS practical course as a present?

 

[Evadne]

A good knife (e.g. Opinel) or a Leatherman
A sowester hat (Nuttycalia do them this year, I see)
A zillion candlepower torch (lots of mail order places, and chandleries)
Floating sunglasses
A fish smoker (foody and boaty, but about £50)


And for me, the product that sums up the joys of yachting, waterproof suncream, that doesn't wash off in the rain.
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[phatcat1]

Leatherman Wave, fab bit of kit
Sailing gloves (for winter!)
Hand held GPS
Hand held VHF
Any Tommy Cunliffe book!
Dubarry deck Shoes
Halberg Rassy 37 /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[phatcat1]

sailing mag subscription!!

 

[Athene V30]

An hour scrubbing off the old antifouling.

 

[Vara]

The Grundig yacht boy is a good bit of kit,I bought one from a forumite earlier this year.Only problem is that it wont take rechargeable batteries,they trigger the Low Batt alarm and it shuts down.

 

[Sans Bateau]

Any Des Sleigholm book
led torch
book on weather at sea (theres loads)

 

[boggybrn]

I was in this position last year, and did rather well out of it...

How about:
- a hand held bearing compass
- some 7x50 binocculars
- Reeds Almanac
- hand held GPS
- (as stated before) a knife (Wichard ones are about £15 with a shackle key)
- an anchor ball & motor cone

The list is endless...

 

[jonic]

Christmas ideas for sailors here
I need a new leatherman wave SWMBO won't buy me a new one as the one she got my for my birthday went overboard the following day.........whilst having a pee over the side /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[bilbobaggins]

For your 'Santa List'....

A headtorch
A 'skiing'-type headband
An advance ticket for the Beaulieu Boat Jumble

Enjoi!

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[phatcat1]

Jonic, do you know anyone coming over/going to the USA in the nearish future?

If so, get them to by you a new Wave out there.

We went out two weeks ago to visits outlaws.

New Wave is 69 dollars (£40ish), their £89 here!
All hunting stores sell them (Dicks, Bass etc etc)

We brought a few as Xmas pressies!

Talk about rip-off Britain! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[phatcat1]

Mail order


Here

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/search...CatId=&pg=2

 

[Lakesailor]

The Problem with going across the pond is....

 

[AlJones]

A packet of fisherman's friends! £0.85p /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[jonic]

In fact I was in the States at the time anchored off Puerto Rico. SWMBO has never forgiven me. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I bought it from West Marine They ship to the UK at a reasonable cost, but does anyone know what rate of duty is applied to chandlery when it gets here? Pound to Dollar rate is very good for us at the moment and I would like to be able to compare costs.

 

[AlJones]

Kindred_Spirit on here is offering 'Voucher's' to go toward RYA sailing courses, out of Haslar.

Short trips or just days out.

PM her and ask for details.

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Al

 

[jonic]

I found this on the DHL website.

What is the rate of Duty?
The rate of Duty for any given product should be the same no matter into which EU country they are imported, but may differ depending upon the country of origin. Set annually by the EU, rates run from 1st January to 31st December and are published in a Customs Tariff issued by each EU country. Duty is usually percentage based, and averages between 5-9% with extremes of nil and 85%.

What is the value for Duty?
Customs assess the amount of Duty to be paid based on the declared value of the goods plus the transport costs to the country of destination

What is the value for VAT?
The value for VAT is the declared value of the goods plus the transport costs to the country of destination plus the customs duty.

Example of Duty calculation
Goods 2 special edition "Hits of the 80's" CD sets
Value of goods £80 +
Transport to the UK £35

Total value for Duty £115 x 3.5% Duty = Total Duty payable £4.02

Example of VAT calculation
Value of goods £80 +
Transport to the UK £35 +
Duty charges £4.02

Total value for VAT £119.02 x 17.5% = Total VAT payable £20.83

Therefore the total import Duty and VAT charges payable on import of these goods would be £24.85


Does anyone know the %figures for Marine equipment and chandlery?

 

[BlackJacksGaff]

A bottle of Appletons !

 

[jonic]

Ok from what I can find on the Taric (Customs tarrif) instructions here

A hand tool such as pliers or similar attracts duty of 1.7% then Vat at 17.5% when imported from the USA.

So if that is correct I make it £79 including shipping, duty and vat for a leatherman wave from west marine . A saving of 11% /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Can anyone varify this?