question: tipping the dock master

seattleboatguy · 06-24-2018, 07:37 AM

When you are out on a cruise and pull into a marina for the night and the dock master meets you at your assigned slip and helps you tie up, are you supposed to tip the dock master, or do you consider that service part of the overnight marina fee? I confess that, up to now, I have always considered it as part of the overnight fee.

menzies · 06-24-2018, 07:49 AM

Transient slip and fuel dock help, we tip. When we go on a cruise, for example to the Bahamas, we take our cash in 20s, with a hundred in fives for tips.

Donna · 06-24-2018, 07:53 AM

Yup, always tip!

Tom.B · 06-24-2018, 08:07 AM

Oh no, here we go again. ;-) Not trying to retain good information from you or dismiss your question, but I'd recommend you do a quick forum search as there are several LONG threads from the past about tipping. There are very passionate feelings around here regarding tipping for services like you mentioned. I won't state my position on it as it is well-documented (like everyone else's), but needless to say, tipping threads tend to get kinda heated and I'd hate to go back and recover that ground.

Tipping is a personal decision and you should do what you feel is comfortable.

rclarke246 · 06-24-2018, 08:20 AM

I always tip service folks. I have great respect for the working people that are the life-blood of capitalism.

Usually a $20. May be a bit much but I figure it helps make up for those who don't tip at all.

Steve91T · 06-24-2018, 08:24 AM

Last year I asked this question and it turned in to pages of the value of peoples lives or something.

psneeld · 06-24-2018, 08:41 AM

I tip non management types always....

Not so much dockmasters unless it was truly a greater effort than walking down and catching a line or two.

Then again, I try to dock so there is no effort on anyones part and I do my own electric and water.

90 percent of the time I have to redo docklines after even dockmasters.

Yep tipping is personal and often based upon personal experience on both sides of tipping and or in the industry in question.

Donna · 06-24-2018, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve91T

Last year I asked this question and it turned in to pages of the value of peoples lives or something.

Pages? Huh. I just do what I feel I need to do. Honestly? Don’t care what others do.

Pgitug · 06-24-2018, 08:50 AM

We give a $5 tip when the dock help comes out with a good attitude and is pleasant. Which is 99% of the time.

kchace · 06-24-2018, 09:37 AM

Same here. Usually tip $5.

hollywood8118 · 06-24-2018, 09:54 AM

Must be a east coast thing?
I have never seen it done on the West Coast

Although it is rare that a marina has dock help to tie you up on arrival here.

On my recent trip to Mexico the dock help ran a long way to help tie up the boat on arrival.. at least a couple hundred yards.. I did tip them as they really showed effort

HOLLYWOOD

Floating · 06-24-2018, 10:20 AM

A couple of years ago I was chatting with the captain (not the owner) of a super yacht about berthing fees. He told me when they arrived in Italy the probable berthing fee for one night would be $3000 and he would be expected to tip the marinaros the same in cash for finding him the berth. Wish I had been a marinaros in Italy !!!

stanfromhell · 06-24-2018, 10:20 AM

Whats the difference between a Canadian and a canoe?
Canoes tip.

Tipping is an American custom that fortunately the rest of the world does not embrace.

Woodland Hills · 06-24-2018, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stanfromhell

Whats the difference between a Canadian and a canoe?
Canoes tip.

Tipping is an American custom that fortunately the rest of the world does not embrace.

The American custom is to not pay employees a living wage forcing customers to make up the difference.

**Shrew** · 06-24-2018, 10:36 AM

I tip anyone who helps me with anything. The title might be 'Dockmaster', but if he/she is down on the dock tossing/grabbing lines, their role is now "Dockhand". Some places are so small it is one person who wears many hats. It is their right to refuse tip.

You have the right to NOT tip as well. You can tell the difference. Two boats come into a gas dock at the same time. Everyone runs to one boat until someone is told to go help the other boat. Guess who tips and who doesn't.

I tip the pumpout boat heavily. I rarely wait. I've watched them pass other boats hailing them to take care of us first. I talk to other people who don't have the same experience. I wonder why.

KenM · 06-24-2018, 10:46 AM

If someone really goes out of their way to help, when I could use it, I will tip them gladly, but for routine stuff, like grabbing dock lines at the fuel dock, that is routine and part of their job, why is tipping necessary?

psneeld · 06-24-2018, 10:54 AM

It depends....

Some places employ seasonal dock help and they work for barely minimum wage.

Other places are family owned and pay well, as municipal marinas that pay a given level pay commensurate with experience and job demands.

Hard to always guess what might be fair or a decent thing (here in the US)....all you can do is take the time to guess...or strike up a conversation and learn a bit about whose who.

Having a hard and fast rule or amount to meflies in the face of the concept of tipping, unless a known industry based on tipping.... which the marine industry really isnt.

jleonard · 06-24-2018, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KenM

If someone really goes out of their way to help, when I could use it, I will tip them gladly, but for routine stuff, like grabbing dock lines at the fuel dock, that is routine and part of their job, why is tipping necessary?

I agree.

AusCan · 06-24-2018, 11:03 AM

There is no right or wrong amount to tip. It is a personal choice.

Bigsfish · 06-24-2018, 11:08 AM

I agree with Ken too. If I get really good service I hand over a $20.00 tip if not just a thanks. Last year at Ft. Pierce for the get together, we had two deckhands help us, really didn’t need it because Larry was there but we gave each dude a $20.00. We got beautiful greetings from then on.