Doodads for Dads

All your dad has ever wanted was for you to be happy.

Oh, and to get straight A’s in school, be financially successful and become just a little more accomplished than the kids of anyone else he’s ever met.

But he’s probably kept most of that from you--all he’s ever admitted to is wanting you to be happy. And what would make you happier than to give your dear old dad the best Father’s Day gift ever?

Seeing a smile on his face and a tear in his eye when he opens your gift might not make up for all the times you whined when he enforced those stupid rules that turned out to be smart rules once you grew up and thought about it.

But it is one way to say thanks for all the times he carried you on his shoulders, patched your bike tires, handed over the car keys, sent checks to college or helped you with the down payment on your first house.

To get the perfect gift, you must think about the things your father most likes to do. A gift that enhances his hobby is always welcome.

Especially if it is something he’d love to have but wouldn’t splurge and buy for himself.

“Golfers are intrigued by the latest technology and always want to keep up with what is new,” said Bob Roades, owner of Roger Dunn Golf Shops in Thousand Oaks.

Roades suggests getting the golfing dad a White Hot putter.

Instead of metal, the face of the putter is made with the same material as a golf ball, which makes for gentler contact, added control and better putting, Roades said.

The White Hot putter costs about $100.

At J & T Tackle in Simi Valley, store manager Kenny Moore has a great idea for a dad who loves to go freshwater fishing for bass.

The G. Loomis MBR843 graphite fishing rod is 7 feet long, lightweight and versatile, he said. It’s been on the market for just a few months, so chances are your dad doesn’t have one yet.

“It is popular because of its lightness and extreme sensitivity,” Moore said. “A serious fisherman can do a lot with it because he can feel everything.”

The pole costs about $340.

Maybe your dad likes fishing but doesn’t have the time because he’s fixing up the house. If his toolbox weighs more than you do, though, you can be fairly sure he doesn’t need a new hammer, an electric screwdriver or even a nail gun.

But there is a new item on the market: The Rotozip Tool kit, which sells for about $120 at Home Depot in Oxnard.

No question it has a cool name. But what does it do?

“The Rotozip was originally designed for cutting drywall, but it is now used to cut all kinds of material like tile, masonry, metal and wood,” said sales associate Bob Inman.

The kit includes the Zipmate, which grinds, sands, polishes and cuts straight and in a circle. It even has a bit that will help take grout out of tile.

Crafters also find lots of uses for the popular tool, he said.

But if your dad hasn’t moved much out of that recliner you got him for Father’s Day last year, it might be time to provide him with something that doesn’t require him to get up.

“Every dad dreams of a digital-projection TV,” said Alan Lovejoy of Best Buy in Oxnard. “Especially if they’re big sports fans.”

He sells a 65-inch Toshiba for about $6,000.

But don’t go out and buy the biggest TV around without knowing if your dad’s going to use it with a DVD player, a satellite dish or cable. Also, a big screen without a home theater sound system would be like wearing designer clothes with bare feet.

A good sound system can cost almost as much as a big screen and should have Dolby Digital and DTS capability, Lovejoy said.

If you have to decide between buying a great sound system for a regular-size TV or a big screen without a home theater sound system, he suggests you go for the sound system and work toward adding the TV.

“Sound is 99% of a movie,” he said.

A final idea for dads who have everything--including bragging rights on the best kid on the planet--is a singing fish, on sale at specialty shops for about $30 or Rite-Aid for about $20. The rubber fish is mounted on a plaque like a fishing trophy. But push a button and the fish moves its mouth and sings “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” or “Take Me to the River.”

As long as it’s from you, your dad will like it.

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Nancy Needham writes a weekly consumer column and can be reached at nancy.needham@reporters.net.