Here Are Some Last-Minute Gifts for Those Who Love Boats, Fishing

Looking for some last-minute holiday gift ideas?

You can find a variety of nautical gifts ranging from a $10 tide calendar to $465 sailing lessons. Or how about a $28 round-trip ticket to Catalina? Or for the fisherman, a new 1990 California fishing license for $21?

For the person who prefers to read about the ocean, you might try “The Norton Book of the Sea,” an anthology of sea stories for $22.50. And for the non-sailor, non-fisherman, non-reader, there is always Sunday brunch at a waterfront restaurant.

The following 10 nautical gift suggestions are designed to appeal to everyone from the sea gazer who has never stepped foot on a boat to the sea lover who is an ardent yachtsman.

Books and calendars: One of the county’s most complete collection of nautical books and calendars is available at the Lido Book Shoppe, 3424 Via Oporto in Newport Beach. There you can find between 30 and 35 different boating magazines from around the world, as well as dozens of boating books.

Popular holiday gifts this year, according to clerk Irma Wolfson, include “The Norton Book of the Sea” ($22.50), “Harbors of Enchantment” ($45), “The World’s Most Extraordinary Yachts” ($50) and “Splendour Under Sail” ($39.95).

Another popular gift is the “Orange Coast Tide Calendar” ($9.95), which gives complete tide schedules for the Orange County area for the entire year. The calendar is popular with both surfers and boaters, according to Wolfson.

The Lido Book Shoppe is open today from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. and on Christmas Eve until 6:30 p.m. Phone (714) 675-9595.

Trip to Catalina: For $28, you can purchase a round-trip ticket aboard the 500-passenger Catalina Flyer, which makes the crossing from Newport Beach to Catalina in just 75 minutes.

According to Betsy Sturgeon, director of sales, the tickets “don’t ever expire,” so the recipient can use them any time he wants. Tickets can be purchased at the Balboa Pavilion, 400 Main St., Balboa. Open today from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Closed Christmas Eve. Phone (714) 673-5245.

Sailing Lessons: If there is someone on your list who wants to become an expert sailor, the Newport Sailing Club and Academy of Sail has gift certificates for a comprehensive, 42-hour sailing program. “We turn out some awfully good sailors,” says academy owner Ian Bruce.

On-the-water lessons are given in boats ranging from 27 to 55 feet. The cost is $465, and Bruce promises that upon completion of the course, students will be expert sailors ready for a Catalina crossing. The academy is located at 3432 Via Oporto in Newport Beach and is open today from 9 to 5 p.m. Closed Christmas Eve. Phone (714) 675-7100.

Fishing License: The new 1990 angling licenses went on sale the first part of December and are available at most bait and tackle shops and some sporting goods stores. Fee for the 1990 license is $21 (up from $19.25 for the 1989 license). Cost for a one-day sport-fishing license is $6.75.

If you buy a license for someone else, you need to know the correct name, address, birth date, height, weight and hair color of the person who will hold the license, according to a spokesman for the California Department of Fish and Game.

Fishing Trips: A popular present for the fisherman is a deep-sea sportfishing excursion, according to Gary Bellinger at Dana Wharf Sportfishing. “We had one woman who just came in here and bought five,” he said.

Tickets for a three-quarter-day excursion cost $28 for adults and $19 for juniors. A half-day excursion costs $19 for adults and $14 for juniors. Dana Wharf Sportfishing is located at 34675 Street of the Golden Lantern, Dana Point. Phone (714) 496-5794. Hours are 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

In Newport Beach, you can buy sportfishing gift certificates at Davey’s Locker, 400 Main St., Balboa. Phone (714) 673-1434. The cost is $30 for adults and $19 for juniors for a three-quarter-day excursion, and $19 for adults and $12 for juniors for a half-day. Hours are 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and Christmas Eve.

Waterfront Brunch: For $18.95 per person, you can purchase a gift certificate for Sunday brunch at John Dominis Restaurant, which offers a superb view of Newport Harbor. For $21.95, you even get champagne. The restaurant is at 2901 W. Coast Highway in Newport Beach. Gift certificates may be purchased today from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Phone (714) 650-5112.

Sailing Lecture Series: For $27, you can purchase tickets to the four-part sailing-adventure series offered by Orange Coast College. This year’s speakers include legendary circumnavigator Peter Tangvald. You can pick up brochures and ticket-order forms at Kettenburg Marine, 2700-B W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach. Phone (714) 722-2700.

For gift-giving, you can stuff the brochure in an envelope, informing the recipient that he can pick up tickets at the door. Mail the order form to Orange Coast College. You can give the recipient the card and order the tickets by phone after Christmas at (714) 432-5880. You can use your MasterCard or Visa. The series begins Jan. 12.

Nautical Knickknacks: You can find everything from crystal-look-alike unbreakable glasses priced at $6.50 to a $75 teak cabinet for your compact discs at Charlie’s Locker, a store that claims to specialize in “all things marine.” You’ll also find nautical clothing, pillows, cards, Christmas ornaments and tableware. Charlie’s Locker is located at 3410 Via Lido in Newport Beach. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Phone (714) 675-6230.

Kayak Lessons: For $50, you can purchase a gift certificate for a four-hour kayak lesson from Southwind Sports Resource. The price includes all equipment; lessons are aimed at beginners, according to Joanne Turner, who runs the kayak business. Turner will be accepting telephone orders from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today. Call (714) 730-4820.

Personal Compass: For the serious boater who has everything, how about a pocket-size, electronic compass that gives a digital read-out showing your exact bearing? The Autohelm Personal Compass costs $129.94 and is available at local marine electronic stores.

Shearlean Duke is a regular contributor to Orange County Life. On the Waterfront appears each Saturday, covering boating life styles as well as ocean-related activities along the county’s 42-mile coastline.