So many people are clueless. This is all just my opinion but if you're invited aboard a boat show up with a 6-pack of beer at least. If a yacht maybe a bottle of local wine. Always remove your shoes even if they say you don't need too (unless it's a nasty fishing boat). If stopping for lunch or a dinner then maybe pick up the tab or at least chip in. I never ask for, want, or accept gas money. I'd love to hear other opinions on this.

ThirdChildhood,

My dad almost never had to buy food, drinks or gas any time he'd invited people to go boating. It wasn't a rule. Just the company he kept, I guess. Whenever we invite people to go out with us, when they ask, we just tell them to bring whatever they want for themselves, be it drinks, snacks, food, whatever. They almost aways pay for gas if we need to fill up.

But, you are right. Most people are clueless.

Thanks. Brad.

Well that's how you get reinvited! lol. I have one friend who's clueless on this. Drinks my beverages, asks if there is anything to eat and expects me to pay for everything since I invited him. Like I said, the gas is on me, I enjoy driving my boat and I enjoy the company but not the company of a disrespectful leach!

Back in the day before I had a boat we would go with my best freind and his wife. Every single trip he would figuire out boat/truck gas and split the cost. We brought all of our own drinks and food. Now that we have our own boat I dont ask for gas money, just bring your own drinks and food. To me I have a boat to hang out with my freinds and enjoy our time together. I would be going boating and having the expense with or without them, they just add to enjoyment. I'm just not gonna have to provide while on the boat

Boating Invitation Etiquette?
Best etiquette = Don't invite anyone.

Help me dock the boat and I’ll be happy.

I prefer the old lady I only. If she wants to bring her younger sisters that's okay too.

I guess i am a litlle more lucky in life than many around me...not everyone I invite have the means to pay for gas money...
i don't invite them to split cost anyways, i would go boating even if they would not come! It is just fun to have them on board
being great company...
but as other have said, i don't expect to pay for them for lunch, drinks and so on... already do it with my daughters and daughter's boyfriends...
it is enough to me !

If you’re a guest, don’t ever, EVER, ask what time we can get dropped back off at the launch or marina because we have some dumbass party they have to go to.

thirdchildhood, you are 100% correct, all guests should contribute something to the day. It’s not about the money, it’s about saying thank you by adding something to everybody’s enjoyment. It is pretty rare that invitees turn up empty handed and in the odd case when they do, my sub-conscious makes a mental note of it.

I have always provided a fueled up boat and would never take gas money. Gas money is the tip of the iceberg and I’d never attempt to explain to my guests, the true cost of a day on the water.

Cheers to all good hosts who own boats!

RR