Fuel Docks and Restaurant Docks Gratuity

[HangOutdoors]

Is it standard to tip the people working the fuel docks who help you tie up your boat and fill up your tank? Also what about the dock hands at some of the restaurants who help you tie up? Also what percentage or amount do you give if so or like a standard 5 bucks, etc. ?

 

[JimmyB]

I do. Generally in the neighborhood of $5. Maybe $10 if they grab ice or other misc items for me so I can stay on the boat and don’t have to run into the dock store to pay. As with most things, the area of the country might influence the size of tip. I boat in KY so $5 might be appreciated here but might get laughed at in CA or NY.

 

[Sonic Blue]

Geez.... I’m so new at this... I’d never have thought of it. Thanks all.

 

[swatski]

Yes, all of the above.
Having kids that age (doing those jobs) makes you realize how much those tips are appreciated. It really matters, says job well done.

--

 

[Elliott]

I do not at my home marina. It is part of my community, and tipping is discouraged unless some extra service (beyond their job) is performed; it is the same for the club dining, golf and fitness facilities. Everything is charged to your account. The marina only accepts cash or credit from visitors; the club facilities have no ability to accept payment (you must accompany your guest).

I do always tip at other docks, if they assist in any way (including just watching the boat).

 

[bigwaves]

Dock hands $10 to $15. Forklift operator $20. That might seem a bit high for the fork lift guy but he knows who I am and what a drive so when I pull into the parking lot I don’t even have to tell him to pull my boat. By the time I have my stuff and walk back to the high and dry my boat is sitting on a work rack waiting for me. Tip well: get good service.

 

[white2kstang]

I almost always tip anyone that assists with something. Minimum is usually $5. The amount varies based on what they do and how helpful they are. I've given $20 to a dock hands before. Most people will remember you if you are nice, respectful and tip well.

 

[212s]

I tip depending on service, just like in a restaurant, so the amount varies as needed. We trailer so no help is needed. But if we stop for ice cream at the marinas and staff assist, then I'll tip - I know they get minimum wage so tips usually get you better service.

 

[2kwik4u]

Same as the other thread for me. $5-$10 is not as big of a deal to me as it is to a min wage worker, so I tend to tip well. Probably more than I should.

 

[ShesCrafty]

$5-10

 

[HangOutdoors]

I was thinking around $5 - $10 when I am on the great lakes and I need to gas up at the docks or we dock for a meal. I did that last year the couple/few times we did that, just wanted to get a pulse of what is the norm. On our inland lakes there really is no place to dock for fuel, etc. I usually never have cash on me, so I will probably just get a stack of $5's and put them in a ziplock bag and store em in the boat.

 

[BigAbe75]

I was thinking around $5 - $10 when I am on the great lakes and I need to gas up at the docks or we dock for a meal. I did that last year the couple/few times we did that, just wanted to get a pulse of what is the norm. On our inland lakes there really is no place to dock for fuel, etc. I usually never have cash on me, so I will probably just get a stack of $5's and put them in a ziplock bag and store em in the boat.

That’s actually a good idea. I may do that too.

 

[Elliott]

I was thinking around $5 - $10 when I am on the great lakes and I need to gas up at the docks or we dock for a meal. I did that last year the couple/few times we did that, just wanted to get a pulse of what is the norm. On our inland lakes there really is no place to dock for fuel, etc. I usually never have cash on me, so I will probably just get a stack of $5's and put them in a ziplock bag and store em in the boat.

Carry rolls of Nickels = $2 and .44 lbs. each. You can use them for ballast for water sports, and no one will want to steal them.

 

[octavio3311]

I usually tip $5 on the gas dock, unless its the blonde college girl who wears daisy dukes and bikini top - she gets $10.
She so knows what’s she’s doing. She makes a killing.

 

[InmyElement]

Again..thats a great idea to have a bag of 5s &10s, cause gas usually goes on the card. Keep it in a hidden location..probably with my tools or with the fuel additive. I'm a big proponent of tipping..we all know what its like.. What about the owner of the marina, sometimes she/he grabs the pump and hands it to me? I feel kinda funny giving her a tip.
Or is it just dopey me? Although she is easy on the eyes...lol

 

[Canuckjetboater]

Is it standard to tip the people working the fuel docks who help you tie up your boat and fill up your tank? Also what about the dock hands at some of the restaurants who help you tie up? Also what percentage or amount do you give if so or like a standard 5 bucks, etc. ?

@HangOutdoors ..... this conversation often generates interesting comments. How about these: At most of the marinas I have boated, certainly the Municipal marinas and the big expensive ones the "kids" who staff the docks, pump-outs and stores are the children of the really wealthy boaters, parents who are on the club board or the children of city staff and who have connections. Kids of "blue collar" workers don't have an outside shot at those jobs. Most come from wealthy families and are in university. Many of them have more disposable income than the service techs. There are exceptions at smaller marinas but not most where I boat. Geez they wear $120.00 deck shoes and have $200.00 sunglasses and drive to work in their own cars. As for restaurants, a good friend owns two. He laughs his A$$ off when we meet for beers. He pays the lowest allowed minimum wage. He says people come in and buy meals and booze from me and then pay my staff to deliver it to them - how stupid are they and they think they're cheap if they don't give a big tip. He has a condo in the Caribbean, flash cars and a 50' Sea Ray and "ordinary Joes" are paying his staff wages. Another friend's daughter is in university but works as a bar server during the Summer. She out earns her brother who is a marine tech and she pays NO income tax. I believe her salary for 2020 was $95,000.00. Go ahead and tip but remember you are probably tipping someone who out earns you?

 

[HangOutdoors]

We are not big Marina or Yacht Club type people, nothing wrong with them just not our gig. The fuel docks I visit are just that, stand alone fuel docks or small party stores on the river and in anchor Bay and a couple of smaller restaurants.

 

[Elliott]

@HangOutdoors ..... He pays the lowest allowed minimum wage. He says people come in and buy meals and booze from me and then pay my staff to deliver it to them - how stupid are they and they think they're cheap if they don't give a big tip. He has a condo in the Caribbean, flash cars and a 50' Sea Ray and "ordinary Joes" are paying his staff wages. Another friend's daughter is in university but works as a bar server during the Summer. She out earns her brother who is a marine tech and she pays NO income tax. I believe her salary for 2020 was $95,000.00. Go ahead and tip but remember you are probably tipping someone who out earns you?

You never heard - Loose Lips Sink Ships.

 

[scokill]

I do not at my home marina. It is part of my community, and tipping is discouraged unless some extra service (beyond their job) is performed; it is the same for the club dining, golf and fitness facilities. Everything is charged to your account. The marina only accepts cash or credit from visitors; the club facilities have no ability to accept payment (you must accompany your guest).

I do always tip at other docks, if they assist in any way (including just watching the boat).

This is a good point. Many companies may have a policy against tipping and if someone accepts them they could be fired.

 

[Canuckjetboater]

You never heard - Loose Lips Sink Ships.

@Elliott ..... agreed but pretty much everyone where I live knows those getting significant amounts of income via tips declare little if anything and the IRS rarely goes after them.