On Deck: Best toys for seagoing girls and boys

PHUKET: For some, size is everything. Perhaps you’ve already got the superyacht and your crew are waiting on you 24/7; the question is ‘what’s next?’ Toys are where it’s at.

The jetski is so 2000. The water Jetpacks and Flyboards are so yesterday. You need something better. Something newer.

Here are three toys that should be on every sea-lover’s gift list this year.

SEABOB

Not the newest piece of marine kit, but the Seabob has come on leaps and bounds and the latest models are becoming a popular choice for sea lovers the world over.

The seabob is a high-performance electric-drive (E-Jet) water-scooter which works on a jet engine principle whereby water is sucked in and forced out delivering huge power, yet they are environmentally-friendly and with low operation costs.

You don’t sit on the seabob, you lie horizontal in the water and hold onto handles as you are pulled through the water.

Light-weight at around 35kg, the seabob can go over water at up to 20km/h, and under water at up to 15km/h, and with a number of power levels they are a lot of fun for all with approximately 60 minutes ride time.

The seabob is approximately 1 meter in length, boxes up and is easy to store on board or on shore.

LAMPUGA

The Lampuga is an electric-powered surfboard and I was luckily enough to see one in action recently in Phuket. It’s now a ‘must-have’ on my gift list.

I’ve no idea how difficult they are to ride – ‘easy’, said the experienced rider – but they do look a whole lot of fun.

There are two models: The Lampuga Boost and Lampuga Air. The Air is a little smaller at just two meters long and a little lighter at 32kg. Much of the weight is in the electric engine and mechanics which all fit into a carbon box and as the board is inflatable, the whole thing is easy to pack away, store and transport.

The experienced rider can get the Lampuga Air up to speeds of 47km/h (54km/h for the Lampuga Boost). The thruster gives full control to the rider and a full charge will deliver 40 minutes of ride time.

REEF SURFER

Picture this: you’re in the water holding onto a horizontal board similar to that of a surfboard, but it’s only 133cm long and 18cm wide. The board is attached in the middle by a rope to a boat and you are being towed. This is the Reef Surfer.

You can dive down, explore underwater and the marine life, and then come back up to the surface for air, and dive again.

There are two models: The ‘Lung’ is for beginners, while the ‘Edge’ is for the more advanced. With some practice you will be doing barrel rolls and going really fast in no time.

Easy-to-setup (and pack away), the Reef Surfer weighs just 2.3kg.

Duncan Worthington is a long time Phuket resident and through Infinity Communications (www.infinity-comms.com) consults to leading consumer brands, hospitality and marine clients in Thailand. In his ‘spare time’ he runs the marine portal www.MarineScene.asia. #OnDeckPhuket