Tipping Tips...

[Osprey69]

Se we moored or anchored predominantly through-out New England most of our boating lives. And when we docked our 40' sailboat it did not attract much attention of dockhands (and we did not need much assistance anyway).

"The Beast" (aka Rogue), on the other hand, almost always is greeted with smiling dockhand(s). Took me a few beats to realize that maybe I should be tipping.

As an ex-waiter/bartender I tend to over-tip in restaurants and all is good. But this is new territory for us and would appreciate some opinions.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Comodave]

We usually carry a bunch of $5 bills and give them to dock hands that help. If someone does an outstanding job then two of them.

 

[rslifkin]

We do often tip dockhands and fuel dock attendants (tip based on their helpfulness). But most of the time, we decline help from dockhands. I've had too many that just don't listen to instructions and end up making things harder rather than easier.

 

[jleonard]

We do often tip dockhands and fuel dock attendants (tip based on their helpfulness). But most of the time, we decline help from dockhands. I've had too many that just don't listen to instructions and end up making things harder rather than easier.

I agree, they don't know my boat or how I run the boat. They also have a tendency to push or pull on railings. And they pull the bow in too tight if they get a bow line.

 

[rslifkin]

I agree, they don't know my boat or how I run the boat. They also have a tendency to push or pull on railings. And they pull the bow in too tight if they get a bow line.

Yup. Generally for us they're handed an aft spring and told exactly which dock cleat to put it on. And we've had some still screw that up (or just take the line and not listen to instructions at all).

 

[Comodave]

Normally we don’t have too much trouble getting them to do what we want. I am very specific with how they are to handle the lines. Occasionally we get a really eager person but I just tell them to wait for instructions.

 

[BandB]

As an ex-waiter/bartender I tend to over-tip in restaurants and all is good. But this is new territory for us and would appreciate some opinions.

Thanks in advance.

And that's what we base ours own. You're a yacht owner. They're struggling on low wages. Tip generously and you'll feel better and they'll show their appreciation and remember. We tip on arrival and departure and sometimes for things in between. $5 was a standard, but now we're more inclined to $10 and $20 for exceptional. Generously for fueling. If we're in a 50-60' boat, we're likely to tip a total to various dockhands of $50-60 on our stay at a marina.

A reminder, you may talk about the 10%'ers, the wealthy, but when you have a boat and frequent marinas, you are one of them. Maybe not a 1%'er but to others you may appear so. You're certainly among the more fortunate. You leave with an impression left behind on those you have contact with. It may impact those working hard to serve you even more than you realize. Overtipping a bit might be the best gifting to a charity you can make, an earned gift.

 

[Bacchus]

When cruising we have found that tips go a long way in not only making a good impression but in getting great service and a friendly dock crew. We have even tipped lock staff that went out of their way to accommodate us. When we approached the lockmaster his first reaction was to decline the tips but when pushed he gladly accepted it and indicated it would go towards the season end bash for the crew. We got friendly and helpful service throughout our stay.
Win- win

 

[LN-RTP]

I tip as much as I can, (many a times their credit card system won't accept tips, like Port 32 Fort Lauderdale) I try to remember dollar bills for a quick fuel deal when we go there, if I forget, I take my car over later to hand $3-4 to the fuel guy. (I remember very well the days when I was driving taxi cabs to pay for school, I lived on tips as well)

We always bring extra cash to the Bahamas, a 5 or a 10 is very much appreciated over there,
and very much remembered.

Last time I fueled at Bahia Mar in Fort Lauderdale, the fuel guy, an older gentleman, was making jokes of us only taking on only 10 gallons of diesel while he pointed to the Feadship moored just behind us saying they take 100 times as much.
(We only took on 10 gallons to calibrate the Floscan fuel computer)

I took the high road and tipped the joker anyways.
Kind of surprised him.

 

[backinblue]

We always tip dockhands, fuel dock attendants, and especially the pumpout boat workers. They all seem appreciative and sometimes even a little surprised. I never get the feeling they are expecting to be tipped, unlike a waiter. The pumpout guys tell me that sailboat owners tend to be cheaper than the rest. I find it kind of funny that people don't think twice about giving someone a dollar or 2 for taking 30 seconds to fill a beer glass from a tap, but don't think about dockhands, etc that tend to be younger and are actually performing a service for us. We usually keep a bunch of $5 bills handy for tipping. Could be more or less than that depending on the situation and the person who is helping, but I can't imagine giving nothing. And don't get me started on housekeeping at hotels. That has to be one of the most thankless and least-tipped services I can think of.

 

[kthoennes]

We normally keep a roll of $5 bills on board for dock hands. We're in a marina with an adjacent launching ramp for trailered boats and lots of those boats don't tip at all, so $5 is more than they often get from the weekenders. (Around here they're still almost universally called "dock boys" even though they're not all males.) We do sometimes tip more though. If they pump out for us we'll give the pump-hose handler a $10, that's not a fun job, although most of the time I'll do it myself. I do remember coming into Captain's Cove Seaport near Bridgeport, CT one afternoon in a freakishly strong wind for that pretty sheltered facility, whipping around 30 knots, and very crowded with boats. White-knuckled arrival. There was a fascinating older guy on the gas dock, very smoothly acting like the captain of the much younger dock hands, gently giving me directions coming in, giving them directions. We weren't supposed to tie up at the gas dock for anything other than gas, but when he learned we were having lunch, he told us it might take his boys a while to gas us up because they were so busy -- wink, wink -- so we probably had time for lunch. That was a great relief because I wasn't sure if I'd be able to handle moving again in that tight marina just to grab a meal. He also offered some excellent advice getting away, off the dock in other words and back into the channel. He kept calling our boat "her" and patting the hull like he was patting a horse. I was so relieved and thankful I tipped him two $20's, one for him and one for him to split with his dock hands.

All depends.

 

[backinblue]

I think I know the guy at Capt Cove you are talking about. He's helped us out a couple times when we stopped there for lunch. Nice guy and a real pro.

 

[kthoennes]

His name is Tom Jacobson. We had a while to talk, kicked off by the fact that no one at the marina had ever seen a boat with a hailing port from South Dakota before. He had fallen in love with a 65' Chris Craft Constellation at some earlier point in his life and he wrote a little flip book of poetry about it and gave us a signed copy. Still have it. Meeting him and talking to him was one of the highlights of that month-long trip.

 

[phillippeterson]

It may impact those working hard to serve you even more than you realize. Overtipping a bit might be the best gifting to a charity you can make, an earned gift.

+1

 

[SteveK]

I tip. But the problem with those that over tip is that leads to the tip choices on the card machine being raised. I was just at a restaurant where the minimum was 12%, first time I saw that and this thread made me think. Over covid these past two years I have been tipping far higher than before appreciating those that provide a service. But dammit I contributed to a new expectation going forward. 20-25% is also on the card machine.
Sorry, but is it getting a little out of hand?

ETA: The other day had a meal delivered. Special $0 delivery charge, $10 service fee and of course tip the driver that drops it off 10-20%. Wonder what the regular delivery charge is. Home cooked meals are getting extremely more affordable.

 

[BandB]

I was just at a restaurant where the minimum was 12%, first time I saw that and this thread made me think. Over covid these past two years I have been tipping far higher than before appreciating those that provide a service. But dammit I contributed to a new expectation going forward. 20-25% is also on the card machine.
Sorry, but is it getting a little out of hand?

.

This isn't like restaurants though. Restaurants are out of hand and it's all due to them being allowed to pay employees as little as $2.13 an hour. I do believe tipping should supplement income, not be the only income. Raise them even to minimum wage, but preferably to a livable wage, then tips of 10% would be appreciated. Until then I'll tip 20% and more.

 

[SteveK]

The minimum wage in BC is $15,20, the average wage is double ~.
Is the average double of $2.13?
Your 20% even with exchange will be less than our 20% in that case.

 

[BandB]

The minimum wage in BC is $15,20, the average wage is double ~.
Is the average double of $2.13?
Your 20% even with exchange will be less than our 20% in that case.

20% of the ticket amount.

Minimum wage in the US is by state and varies from $7.25 to $15.90. However, tipped minimums are different and normally used for wait staff. They vary from $2.13 to $15.00. However, 23 states are under $3 and 38 are under $8. It's not only that our normal minimum wage is lower, but that it doesn't apply to wait staff.

As to why tipping percentages in restaurants have increased, while wages in other jobs have risen, wages for wait staff have not. So, the only way they keep pace is increasing the tip.

Now, back on topic as none of the applies to dock hands.

 

[Crux]

When cruising we have found that tips go a long way in not only making a good impression but in getting great service and a friendly dock crew. We have even tipped lock staff that went out of their way to accommodate us. When we approached the lockmaster his first reaction was to decline the tips but when pushed he gladly accepted it and indicated it would go towards the season end bash for the crew. We got friendly and helpful service throughout our stay.
Win- win

When I come across someone who declines the tip, I say 'Well, I appreciate the help, here....lemee buy your lunch'. Works well and we both leave with a smile!

 

[O C Diver]

I keep an envelope of 5s and 10s on the boat. Everyone who shows up to help from the line handler to the poop hose guy gets a tip.

Good story:

In 2017 I'm Looping and pull into East Tawas municipal marina off Lake Huron. Couple of high school girls catch the lines. The one is very appreciative, conveys the marina information and where the office is to pay once I'm settled. So I later head to the office where the dock hands and manager are. The marina was listed as having a loaner car. No such luck. So while filling out the forms, I explained that I had plan to go to the grocery store about a mile away but would need a taxi to haul everything back. The sharp enterprising young lady immediately figured out there was another nice tip to be had. "Mr. Green, here's my phone number. When you're ready, I'll drive down and pick you up." She helped me carry the groceries all the way to the boat. The young lady was heading off to college in the fall with an extra $20 in her pocket as a result of situational awareness and entrepreneurial initiative.

One of those times when the giving feels better than the receiving.

Ted

 

[Chuck34]

Ok, while on the subject of tips…
Often in a restaurant, the bill comes and at the bottom, is the amount for suggested tips…18% is X amount, 20% is X+ amount, etc.
Recently a buddy posted on Facebook, his bill from a restaurant. The suggested tip amounts were way higher than the % listed hoping people would not do their own math and simply go with the suggested amounts.
So, do your own math and if presented with a bogus bill, let the manager know you don’t appreciate the scam.

 

[backinblue]

Ok, while on the subject of tips…
Often in a restaurant, the bill comes and at the bottom, is the amount for suggested tips…18% is X amount, 20% is X+ amount, etc.
Recently a buddy posted on Facebook, his bill from a restaurant. The suggested tip amounts were way higher than the % listed hoping people would not do their own math and simply go with the suggested amounts.
So, do your own math and if presented with a bogus bill, let the manager know you don’t appreciate the scam.

There's a joke in there somewhere about a tax on dumb people. I've never heard of this scam but it's pretty low and probably illegal on some level. Not sure the manager would help because he's probably at least partially responsible. I doubt the waitstaff controls this. I'm guessing this is an isolated case at a single establishment but I will look out for it even though I always do my own math. 20% is easier to calculate in my head than 18%.

 

[Chuck34]

I dug up my buddy's FB posting....
On a $28.89 bill (tax included)
18% is 7.27. Should be 5.20
20% is 8.08. Should be 5.78
22% is 8.89. Should be 6.35

Yes, I agree the manager is probably in on this, but he needs to know he's been caught. Let him know you have numerous friends who dine there and you will let them know what is going on.

 

[PMF1984]

David,

You probably didn’t know that I ran the dock at Cuttyhunk for five years, many years ago. Now that I’m cruising I’m on the other side of the tip story.

So first, look at the fact that you are retired and life has been good enough for you to live on a boat. Then think about that guy/gal that is working on the weekend trying to keep up with the bills.

Then think about the fact that whatever altruistic motive you may have to tip, if you ever go back to a place, those that you tip will remember. Remember in a good way.

Don’t get me wrong, I still remember the customers that didn’t tip me 40 years ago, but were nice. And they those frugal folks got good service.

But the tippers got something extra.

I have four good tip/no tip stories, but that’s for later.

So tip because you can, tip because the dock crew could use the money, tip because nothing says “Thank you” like cash. Tip because it might come back at you in a good way.

And don’t forget the seasonal gift to the Dockmaster at the resident Marina. Them them it’s for the treats at the break room.

And while we are talking tips - I did buy donuts for the entire south yard at Fairhaven Shipyard each day while my boat was being worked on. I don’t know that it made a difference in the work, but at least they say hi to me now.

John

 

[backinblue]

I dug up my buddy's FB posting....
On a $28.89 bill (tax included)
18% is 7.27. Should be 5.20
20% is 8.08. Should be 5.78
22% is 8.89. Should be 6.35

Yes, I agree the manager is probably in on this, but he needs to know he's been caught. Let him know you have numerous friends who dine there and you will let them know what is going on.

There's a much easier way to get ripped off on tipping. I usually calculate 20% and round up (unless the service was really poor) so for a $28.89 bill in your example, I would add $6 to total 34.89. Assuming this is not an automated system where you punch in the tip, but you write $6.00 on the bill. If the waiter then enters $8 into the system instead of $6, would you notice a month later that you were charged $36.89? Unless you save all your receipts and reconcile your bill, probably not.

 

[Chuck34]

I usually calculate 20% and round up (unless the service was really poor) so for a $28.89 bill in your example, I would add $6 to total 34.89.

That's exactly what I do.
However, there are LOTS of people with poor math skills (or they are just lazy) and they use the "Suggested" tip amounts.
People just need to know this may be going on in many restaurants and they need to do their own math, and let managers know when they have been caught.

 

[O C Diver]

There's a much easier way to get ripped off on tipping. I usually calculate 20% and round up (unless the service was really poor) so for a $28.89 bill in your example, I would add $6 to total 34.89. Assuming this is not an automated system where you punch in the tip, but you write $6.00 on the bill. If the waiter then enters $8 into the system instead of $6, would you notice a month later that you were charged $36.89? Unless you save all your receipts and reconcile your bill, probably not.

I tip 20% and do the math in my head to stay sharp. Double the bill and move the decimal one place to the left.

Ted

 

[Chuck34]

I tip 20% and do the math in my head to stay sharp. Double the bill and move the decimal one place to the left.

Ted

Yep...easy peasy and no calculators needed.

 

[backinblue]

Yep...easy peasy and no calculators needed.

That's exactly what I do, then usually round up or down to the nearest dollar. But that doesn't prevent the ripoff in the example I posted above if you read it completely.

 

[SteveK]

I dug up my buddy's FB posting....
On a $28.89 bill (tax included)
18% is 7.27. Should be 5.20
20% is 8.08. Should be 5.78
22% is 8.89. Should be 6.35

Yes, I agree the manager is probably in on this, but he needs to know he's been caught. Let him know you have numerous friends who dine there and you will let them know what is going on.

It appears as though the tip % has 40% added to it. I see no reason other than fraud. unless you get to pay the personal tax rate.