What do you tip?
 

I read an article recently, I think it was in Chesapeake Bay Magazine, and they mentioned something about tipping dock hands and fuel dock attendants at the marina.

I am not new to boating and I'm ebarrassed to say that I have not tipped these people in the past. :o Should I have been? What do you tip, if anything?

Really, I'm not cheap!!!:D

In my case I tip very heavily if the dockhands are young, female and wearing thongs. Other than that.....:D

I usually throw the dockhands a few bucks for handling the lines at a gas dock or restaurant, more if they go above and beyond. Some of the gas docks and restaurants around Lake St. Clair seem to have an almost magical power to attract large numbers of folks with single digit IQ's. Sometimes all that is between your boat and one of the floating idiots is an a fast dock hand....

Now I'm starting to feel like a cheapskate...:( It never occurred to me and I've never seen anyone else tip. I'll have to make up for it at my marina this summer. :D

When we rack stored our boat, I also made sure to find out what kind of beer the lift operators preferred. A case at the beginning of the season and - especially - a case at the end (when they're going crazy pulling all the boats for winter) tends to "grease the wheels".

Seems like I never had to wait for my boat, never a problem if I wanted to pull into a slip to change the oil or do other maintenance, that sort of thing.

After the last run of the year, I'd buy one of those styroform coolers, fill it up, ice it, and leave it in their office. :)

Don't feel bad. You'll be more aware now and sometimes the dock hands really earn those tips.

We went many years boating before we started tipping, or even notice that others were tipping. I guess as the lake (LOTO) has grown and develped, the need for good dock boys and girls has really increased. I love the way they lasso the cleets on the dock with the rope. Gotta give em an extra buck or two when they do that! LOL! :D :D :D

Dock handling I can do myself. But if they want to hold the pump for 15 minutes while I go in the dock-shop for some beverages and snacks, I'll tip....:D

OK

I feel really cheap now, but then again most of our marinas are all serve yourself:p

i only tip if the service is good,usually ill give a gas guy $5.00 and
dock guy $10.00. i allway's find if you tip the dock guys good they
remember you and take good care of you and your boat

That's great information, Mike. We rack-store our boat too so when we arrive everything is pretty much said-and-done. No real opportunity to grease palms per-se. The beer-tip thing is a great idea and for the 16 year old dock hands I'll just resort to a couple of dead presidents.

I've never really tipped the guys at my marina. (Guess I probably should.) I did take one of the young dock hands for a spin in the Donzi once and I usually drop off a tub of popcorn for everybody around Christmas.

I tip 5.00 at the gas dock and 2 or 3 to the dock hands. It really does help I believe next time you stop there.

I found tipping to be very important in and around marinas. I also rack store my boat, and occasionally when just relaxing at the adjacent bar, I take notice of their work. You can definately tell which boat's belong to tipping owners and which don't. I give the two main lift guys an average of $20-$25 a month and a few bucks here and there for the dockhands. I'm in and out of the water as much 3-4 days a week.

And I'll tell ya what...I haven't accumulated not so much as a scratch on my boat. They save me their fenders they carry on the trucks, always put me right where I need to be(near fuel or on my favorite work rack) and it almost always gets me in the water at the precise time I request. It also helps when I request a slip for an evening or two. :cool: :cool:

I will tip if the service is good. The people that work the dock at Grand Haven Municipal do a great job. I have had dock hands stand there and do nothing.

I always tip the dock hands $5.00. Make sure you tip when you first come in, then they take good care of your boat. If you tip when leaving it's too late for them to take good care of your boat. When your leaving a boat that costs you many thousands of dollars in their hands $5.00 is cheap insurance! I trailer every weekend & launch at the same place. The first weekend of the season I always bring a case of Michelob iced up in a throw away cooler and a bottle of wine. Once again make sure you do this at the beginning of the season or its wasted!

Let's seeeeeeee....the last time I got a tip for doing my job that I get paid to do......Hummmmm....Hummmm ......Ohhhh..NEVER.
And I do tip very well....but unfortunately..not at the docks.

I usually tip about 10% cash to the gas dock hotties. And that's usually a 20 spot. Most of them are in college working there for the summer and can use the bucks. Plus, they never fail to make my wife just a little bit jealous by the time we leave and that's a bonus all in itself ;) ;)

For helping me tie up and keeping and eye on the boat at a dock bar, usually $5.

But I admit to holding a double standard. I don't tip the guys near as well. I will only tip the guys at the gas dock as much as the girls if they pop the hatch, top off the oil and trim tab bottle. They have to work harder for it.

I never get THAT level of service. The gas guy usually just hands me the nozzel and I have to stand there holding the lever until my tank is full. They've never checked the motor oil or the trim fluid. Perhaps because I've never tipped them? :confused: Who knows. My marina is a little more casual...

I keep my boat in dry stack and tip the dock hands a few bucks for helping me launch and dock. I also give the lift operators some money on ocasion. As stated above I feel that they are a little more motivated to help those that give a little. I also try and do the same when I'm transient docking. I usually ask them if they want a beverage now and also invite them back after they are off work to dip in the cooler or have a snack.
Cordell

I read that same article in the Mariner. It had me handing out 5s, 10s and 20s all over the Chesapeake. Other than weekend stays, which we often do, it didn't help a darn thing. I found myself giving 5 bucks to turds that stood there (like the dork they were) and watched me try to tie up alone in a stiff wind in a 30' boat. Didn't take me to long to figure out... you kiss my ass first, then I'll shower you with wealth. Not the other way around. My rule is... they don't get chit less they earn it!! It they earn it... they get it.... course lessin there a sweet little hottie...

BT :cool:

I also tip the dock hands in Grand Haven. Been staying there for many, many years. The kids there know me and some of my regular freinds. We have found that the well placed pizza and a couple of two liters goes a long ways with these kids also. It also gets us a slip when they tell everyone else they're full. As for the guys and gals at the gas docks.....if they do a good job (don't spill fuel all over, hit the mark with the pump price...etc...) I'll tip em. Especially the chick at the gas dock at Harbor Town in Muskegon!! Wow!!!

Tip the chicks at Shooters and you'll get a slip on holiday weekends. Same goes for Backwater Jacks.:cool:

Our tip is usually $5.00 to the dockhands. Then when I'm leaving and the Mrs. has to drive cause someone let me drink too much......I'll tip 'em again. The crew at the Nauti Goose take good care of ya and are always welcome to a few cold ones after the boss leaves. Andy and the crew from Chesapeake Inn have got it down, these guys will risk life and limb to get you knotted up without any damage. Tip 'em ...they do remember!:D

i trailer my boat and gas on shore 99%of the time but a good hearted dockhand always gets a 5 spot minimum. gotta say the guys at Red Eyes have to be amongst the best. they make it easy to dock even in some of the worse current around!! now the inner harbor is a way different case! they are just waiting to get docking fee could care less if boat sinks while tied up!

Well it's nice to see that some of you are tipping!! But tipping the Hottie's more than the other's? What's up with that?

I worked on a Gas Dock during the summer's while in college. I worked my buff off and loved my job, where I worked we couldn't just sit around and wait for customers, we had other things around the marina that we had to do. But when the bell rang or I saw a boat coming in I would always RUN to the dock and help as much as I could!! However the girl's that worked with me didn't care and took their sweet time walking down the dock and didn't have any idea how to mix gas or tie up a boat so it wouldn't get hurt!! Yet they got more tips that I did. I did get a couple of tips but I can count them on one hand.

Moral of the story: Don't for get the dock boy's when you pass out the tips!!

$5.00 for the dock hands and $20.00 at the gas docks. at LOTO, most of the dock hands at Shooter's, Topsider's etc. earn it pretty well. for those of you who have seen the wave wash at the docks on a friday or saturday early evening, you know what i'm talking about.

troutly- i remember one specific "bikini-clad" dock hand at BWJ's. she helped me untie my boat one evening. she threw me the lines and then jumped in with me...LOL!:p it was the best $5.00 i ever spent!!

chad

I normally tip 10% to the gas dockhands and more with a pump out. Also was in rack storage and would bring the Wiggins drivers beer on occasion snd tips. Always had great service... I'd be unloading my vehicle and see my boat heading towards the well (i'm sure it had nothing to so with being a female boat owner LOL) :D :cool:

I always tip 5 - 10 bucks to the dock hands at the marina or restaurant I pull up at. I dont normally need any help but I have seen them fend other boats away from mine while I am up eating lunch. :D :D

Hey, you want a tip???

DON`T STAND UP IN CANOE`S

:D :D :D

Don't kick skunks

Don't play with matches

Hey, you throw the kid a couple of bucks when he gets your car, why not do the same when they fuel, pump out, or tie up the boat?

If the dock hand is female I never give her a tip. , I give her the whole thing! But seirouslyI always give the dock hands $10.00. Fork lift guys I usualy give $20.00, but thats because I have found it gets me in the water quicker when there busy. $10.00 to the gas dock guys to.

Just like at the resturants it's service that counts. It dosen't matter if it's a male or female the rules are the same. Good service good tip(5-10 bucks), bad service well you know.

My Rules !

1. Dirty shoes, clean my boat !

2. Dirty gas or pump out hose, clean my boat !

3. Gas spill, clean my boat !

4. Be there to tie me up.

5. YOU PUMP the gas, not me.

Failing to do one or more of the above will impact the tip.

I have traveld all over the Great Lakes in my boat and I find that the girl dock hands are much better than the guys. They clean up, they smile, they don't jump and crawl all over everything.