Two Essential Timekeepers for Boaters: Calendars and Weekly Planners

For boaters who want to keep track of tides, trips and nautical trivia while organizing their year, two compact, well-designed publications stand out. Both combine practical planning space with maritime charm, making them useful tools for powerboaters and sailors alike.

The Nauti-Benders Page-A-Day Boater’s Calendar (Penchant Publishing, 2009) is an ideal way to start the new year. Priced at $13.99, this page-a-day desk calendar delivers a daily dose of maritime trivia, puzzles and illustrations in full color. Answers to the puzzles are printed on the following day, a thoughtful feature that discourages cheating while keeping the reading experience playful and rewarding.

Now in its 15th year of publication, the calendar packs approachable information tailored to boaters of any experience level. Each page blends a short item of trivia with a related photograph or illustration—ranging from historical maps and navigational aids to images that illustrate Coast Guard stories and common seamanship scenarios. The format is both decorative and educational, making it a smart desktop companion for anyone who loves nautical themes and regular, bite-sized learning.

For ordering and publisher information, see the publisher’s site: www.penchantpublishing.com.

The Mariner’s Book of Days: Weekly Planner with Nautical Soul

For those who prefer a planner format that combines scheduling with maritime culture, The Mariner’s Book of Days 2010 by Peter H. Spectre (Sheridan House, Inc., 2009) offers a rich weekly layout. Priced at $14.95, this spiral-bound softcover volume is designed to be both a practical organizer and a keepsake.

Now in its 19th year, The Mariner’s Book of Days dedicates each week to nautical folklore, historical notes, short poems and even recipes—material intended to evoke the traditions and rhythms of life at sea. The planner’s layout places the week and space for notes on the right-hand pages, while the left-hand pages overflow with illustrations, engravings and watercolors that accompany the week’s miscellany. This setup gives users a clear area to record voyages, maintenance tasks, provisioning lists or personal reflections, while offering inspiring maritime content to read between entries.

Peter H. Spectre, the book’s editor, has deep ties to the boating publishing world. He has served as editor of Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors magazine since 1999 and was previously editor of WoodenBoat magazine. He lives and writes in Spruce Head, Maine. For information about this book, contact the editor Jeannine Simon at [email protected].

Why These Books Work for Boaters

Both titles bring practical benefits that appeal to different needs:

Daily inspiration and learning: A page-a-day calendar like The Nauti-Benders provides short, engaging content that keeps seamanship facts and maritime culture top of mind without requiring a big time commitment.
Weekly organization and record-keeping: A planner such as The Mariner’s Book of Days gives boaters space to log passage plans, maintenance schedules, weather observations, provisioning lists and personal notes—useful for tracking the boating season and preserving memories.
Visual appeal and collectible value: Both publications use images and artwork to celebrate nautical heritage. According to the publisher, previous editions of The Mariner’s Book of Days have become collector’s items, adding an element of lasting value for enthusiasts.

How to Use Them on Board or at Home

Use the page-a-day calendar on a desk, galley counter or navigation table for daily facts that spark conversation or serve as quick refreshers of nautical knowledge. The daily answers printed on the following page make it easy to verify a quiz or share a fact with crew and guests.

The weekly planner works well as a voyage journal and operational log. Record departure and arrival times, fuel usage, maintenance tasks, and weather conditions in the note fields. Keep recipes, poems and historical snippets as morale-boosting reads during layovers or as inspiration for themed meals and crew activities.

Final Notes

Both publications blend practical organization with maritime character, making them thoughtful gifts for boat owners, captains, and anyone who appreciates nautical lore. This piece originally appeared in the December 2009 issue and highlights two compact resources that help boaters track time, retain memories and celebrate life on the water.