Father’s Day Gizmos Say ‘thank you’ to Dad with any number of gifts sure to enthrall his senses

Moms have all the luck. On Mother’s Day, they’re showered with jewelry and chocolate, and the celebration usually includes some sort of champagne brunch.

What do dads get? Ties.

No jazz ensemble. No breakfast in bed. No corsage. OK, maybe it’s better that way. But still. Doesn’t dear old dad deserve more than that on Father’s Day? Having navigated the sometimes choppy Father’s Day waters for the better part of 30 years, I think I’ve got my dad all figured out. And I’ve come up with a handful of fail-safe gift suggestions that will make your dad happy, too, whether your budget is $15 or $1,500.

Of course, you could take Dad out to brunch. Followed by golf, camping or fishing – anything outdoorsy will do. Because even black flies beat plaid ties.

. Bocce on a budget, $15, Target. So it’s not the heaviest set in town, but this affordable version of the lawn classic will show Dad that it’s all fun and games when he’s around. Looking for something a little more substantial? Target also offers a weighty, elegantly packaged Eddie Bauer bocce set, deluxe horseshoes, badminton and croquet for $40 and up.

. Paradigm outdoor speakers, $250 and up, Summit Sound, Ohio Street, Bangor. This weatherproof outdoor speaker set from Paradigm will allow Dad to blast “Freebird” while grilling a steak. Does it get any better than this? Doubtful.

. Wood-fired smoker, $150, Parks Hardware, Orono. So he has mastered the art of grilling. Give Dad a new challenge with this smoker. Or, have the best of both worlds the combination smoker-grill for $299. It’ll keep him busy all summer long. On second thought, if you want the lawn mowed, just stick to the smoker.

. Leatherman Core, $69.95, and standard tool adapter, $29.95, Epic Sports, Bangor. Sometimes, dads love their Leatherman tools a little too much. If your father already has broken five or six of them, it may be time to get him the superstrong all-in-one Core model. If your dad makes MacGyver look like an amateur, he may need the Standard Tool Adapter, which includes six bits and a driver. The only caveat? It only fits the Supertool model.

. Barbecue tool set, $19.99, Kohl’s. Other kits offer more parts for the money, but I think this heavy stainless model, which includes a silicone baster, wire brush, spatula, tongs and fork, offers the best value (and does he really need corn picks?). Add a clip-on lamp and a temperature monitor and he’ll be good to grill.

. Richard Petty Driving Experience lesson, $349-$1,249, call Fred Neergard at (603) 783-4744, ext. 110. Looking for a fast gift? Get Dad a driving lesson at New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, N.H. He’ll be able to drive in a car in a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup-style stock car while wearing the official attire of a NASCAR driver, including a fire suit and helmet. The racing school offers packages ranging from two hours to two full days. Visit www.1800bepetty.com.

. Jetboil portable cooking system, $3.99 for fuel, $49.95 for saucepan, $79.95 for cooking mechanism and mug, Epic Sports, Bangor. Like a microwave for the camping set, the compact, powerful JetBoil system kicks campfire cooking up a notch. This is the ultimate accessory for the outdoor dad.

. Emergency crank radio, $39, LL Bean, www.llbean.com. This radio-flashlight combo can be used with or without batteries – just crank it for a little more than a minute and it will play for an hour. The radio, which includes AM, FM and 12 shortwave bands, comes with an emergency light, a carrying case and a rechargeable NiMH battery pack. It’s just the thing for dads who want to listen to the Red Sox while fishing, camping or working in the yard.