Hi Nipper,
Without knowing what he already has is tough. If he doesn't already have a good knife, that is a great idea.
When I got my sailing boat, I got a sailing log book (which we never used) and glasses.
If he already has a knife, perhaps you could get something like these glasses and a nice bottle of wine.
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...classNum=10719
They also have special sailing gloves and clothes, and a "leatherman tool" for sailers;
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...classNum=10490
I will think some more on it, but if he doesn't have a knife, that would be a great gift. It should be a knife that has one of those spikes which is good for untying knots and loosening shackles.
rkc