As I read all the posts about tipping, I was amazed at some of the negative
attitudes. It has nothing to do with a persons boating skill such as TT has
just suggested. Sure, I can do it all myself but that really isn't the point.
I have been boating since a small child and am now 60. I can assure you that
I appreciate the services provided by a dockmaster. Rarely have I found one
that hasn't been pleasant, helpful in getting us settled and familiarized with
the marina facilities and surrounding area. I personally find it to be one of
the pleasantries in my cruising experiences. After a long run, it is nice to
have someone get the lines adjusted, the power and cable hooked-up, etc. so we
can get the dogs ashore and get switched from genset to shore power, etc. I
have said this before on this site and that is that tipping is part of the
american way. I tip based on the service provided, manner in which it's
provided and length of stay. For an overnight, I usually tip $10; for a 2-3
day stay it may be $20 and for a longer stay it will likely be more. Boating
is not a cheap hobby from dockage and maintenance to fuel and insurance so
what is a few dollars to someone who is helpful and may make your life a
little easier?
I joined this site to learn about experiences on the Loop which I hope to do
within the next couple of years. I did not expect some of the barbs fired
across the bow at one another. I found myself getting upset with this latest
barrage and hope that the group could return to discussions about experiences
and courteous responses to a question such as tipping. I am upset at myself
with the tone of my own response but gosh it was such a simple question that
deserved a simple answer; not caustic remarks. Thanks for listening!
Steve Lattmann
"Tranquility"
40' Mainship DC
Nokomis, FL
As I read all the posts about tipping, I was amazed at some of the negative
attitudes. It has nothing to do with a persons boating skill such as TT has
just suggested. Sure, I can do it all myself but that really isn't the point.
I have been boating since a small child and am now 60. I can assure you that
I appreciate the services provided by a dockmaster. Rarely have I found one
that hasn't been pleasant, helpful in getting us settled and familiarized with
the marina facilities and surrounding area. I personally find it to be one of
the pleasantries in my cruising experiences. After a long run, it is nice to
have someone get the lines adjusted, the power and cable hooked-up, etc. so we
can get the dogs ashore and get switched from genset to shore power, etc. I
have said this before on this site and that is that tipping is part of the
american way. I tip based on the service provided, manner in which it's
provided and length of stay. For an overnight, I usually tip $10; for a 2-3
day stay it may be $20 and for a longer stay it will likely be more. Boating
is not a cheap hobby from dockage and maintenance to fuel and insurance so
what is a few dollars to someone who is helpful and may make your life a
little easier?
I joined this site to learn about experiences on the Loop which I hope to do
within the next couple of years. I did not expect some of the barbs fired
across the bow at one another. I found myself getting upset with this latest
barrage and hope that the group could return to discussions about experiences
and courteous responses to a question such as tipping. I am upset at myself
with the tone of my own response but gosh it was such a simple question that
deserved a simple answer; not caustic remarks. Thanks for listening!
Steve Lattmann
"Tranquility"
40' Mainship DC
Nokomis, FL
