Story last updated at 12/23/2009 - 12:19 pm
The U.S. Coast Guard, as a public service to holiday gift shoppers, announced Monday its recommended gift ideas for 12 nautical days of Christmas.
Among the Coast Guard's recommended nautical gifts are: a Marine GPS navigation system, a 406 MHz EPIRB (make sure you register it after purchase, or rescuers may be delayed in reaching you), a Coast Guard-approved life jacket (because they float, you don't...), a handheld VHF-FM radio, a boating safety course (boater education saves lives -- it's a fact) a Vessel Safety Check (VSC) from the Coast Guard Auxiliary (it's free), a Coast Guard approved fire extinguisher, a first aid kit in a watertight container, a seamanship book, Nautical charts for the areas your favorite mariner frequents, a signaling kit and a life raft with a survival kit.
Some of the most valuable gifts don't cost anything but time, such as scheduling a free vessel safety check with your local Coast Guard Auxiliary. For more information on scheduling a free vessel safety check visit www.safetyseal.net. To find a boating safety course in your area visit http://www.aboutboatingsafely.com/.
From the Coast Guard family to yours, Happy Holidays!
United States Coast Guard
