Tipping Delivery Crew

[steve77]

My boat is currently being delivered by a delivery captain and one crewmember. I believe I remember it is customary for the owner to treat the crew to a dinner ashore at the conclusion of the delivery. I think I also remember something about tipping the delivery captain, but am less sure about this part.

Anyone want to chime in on past experiences or comment on what is customary?

[S/V Alchemy]

I'm not sure how I would handle it, but I would suggest that a very big bottle of the skipper's favourite rum or even single malt would not be amiss for the safe delivery of a 49 foot pride and joy intact, safe and undamaged. Particularly if you've been following their journey and they either had boat system issues they had to puzzle out, fix or do without, and/or if they had a rough passage.

The dinner is where you get to hear what didn't happen!

[markpierce]

Do you tip your plumber, electrician, mechanic, public accountant, or attorney. No, they're professionals.

A nice dinner would be appropriate. Good time to discuss the adventures of the trip and how the boat handled the voyage.

[tallyhorob]

Originally Posted by markpierce

Do you tip your plumber, electrician, mechanic, public accountant, or attorney. No, they're professionals.

A nice dinner would be appropriate. Good time to discuss the adventures of the trip and how the boat handled the voyage.

Really? Never been out on a Charter Boat?

I have always tipped my Capts and crew and that included my instructors way back when. And over the years there have been very few charters that I did not get a tip on.

And btw I work as a handyman now of days to let me work when i want and I still get tips not and then, for plumbing. Thats on the top of the list when you come out covered in someone else filth least you could do is tip the guy

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by tallyhorob

And btw I work as a handyman now of days to let me work when i want and I still get tips not and then, for plumbing. Thats on the top of the list when you come out covered in someone else filth least you could do is tip the guy

You probably aren't charging enough. ... I hope you tip your grocery clerk, meter reader, dentist, and toll-taker too.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by tallyhorob

Really? Never been out on a Charter Boat? ...

Charter boat crew are in the “hospitality” industry, more akin to domestic servants and hotel staff than tradesmen & professionals.

I'd second the idea of a celebratory/debriefing dinner ashore, for captain & crew.

[edsailing]

I've never received more than a dinner - but I've had some nice ones!

[boatman61]

Never been tipped for a Delivery...
but then in the main they've been budget cruisers looking for 'Budget Deliveries' as opposed to the $3+/mile norm... often get a free ride to the airport...
Actually you could say I sometimes tip the owner... been known to lower my price to fit the owners wallet on occasion...
All have been happy with my work tho' and I've never had a bad payer..
Thats good enough for me.. he's got his boat where he wants it and I've got some cash for my bills....
The Sun shines on both of us...

[capngeo]

Ive done hundreds of deliveries, and as said above, dinner and perhaps a small trinket such as a bottle of spirits average...... BUT I was one of those $400/day plus expenses types who always ate well aboard during the trip. One trip, I got $500 from the owner to blow at a casino... but that was an unusual delivery from the get-go.

Now whenever I was captaining a boat while the owner was aboard, I always got tipped!

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by capngeo

Ive done hundreds of deliveries, and as said above, dinner and perhaps a small trinket such as a bottle of spirits average...... BUT I was one of those $400/day plus expenses types who always ate well aboard during the trip. One trip, I got $500 from the owner to blow at a casino... but that was an unusual delivery from the get-go.

Now whenever I was captaining a boat while the owner was aboard, I always got tipped!

LOL.... maybe I should hike my price to yours... might get more jobs..
Seems folks with money often value the 'Bill' more than the service.... like my parents..
When folks talk about restaurants etc... ever notice the 'Bill' is the first thing mentioned.... then the food and service...
Funny old world...

[CharlesFCook]

Dinner is a must.

Anyone getting paid tip with a nice bottle of sonething.

Anyone NOT getting paid tip them cash and a bottle.

[capngeo]

Originally Posted by boatman61

LOL.... maybe I should hike my price to yours... might get more jobs..
Seems folks with money often value the 'Bill' more than the service.... like my parents..
When folks talk about restaurants etc... ever notice the 'Bill' is the first thing mentioned.... then the food and service...
Funny old world...

(Apologies to the OP for the drift) A lot of the boats I delivered were complete with domestic staff! There was one where the Chef made more than the Captain! As I said, I ate well when aboard I got started in that size by subbing for a buddy who was a full time skipper when he had a family emergency. At the time I was driving tugs (at considerably less pay), on my days off from the fire department.

Dunno how much experience you have in the big guys, but you could probably get a similar deal through a crew broker service if you have the credentials. I don't do much of it anymore because I gave up my 500GT/Oceans and went back to a 100GT/Near Coastal.... maintaining all the endorsements required for the 500 ton when not a full-time skipper was too much of a ha$$le.

[psneeld]

It's appropriate to tip if you want to...not if you don't.

Lot's of "professionlsl" get tipped in various ways and what the heck...a bottle of something nice that the skiper drinks is just like cash as would be a lot of other items...especially consumables or gift cards.

Most of my deliveries the owners just threw in a couple extra dollars (rounded up so to speak)...but that's because they recieved more service than they expected...detailed plans, good updates, unexpected maintenance, etc..etc...these are things many captains do...but not others... so the owner probably felt a tip was appropriate or maybe more correctly...felt paying more for a superior job.

Your call...even a dinner isn't in the contract or the delivery captain handbook...

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by boatman61

The Sun shines on both of us...

A friend of mine just helped "deliver" a Columbia 8.7 from somewhere in North East Florida down to Marathon.

All daylight sailing, not much of a challenge. But the skipper in question had upgraded the boat (at a ridiculous price) and was essentially paying (airfare and time) for the sort of nautical version of a personal trainer. He could barely sail his new toy and needed hand-holding.

Fair enough. My friend didn't have work that week and got a nice dose of orange juice, rum and fresh air.

So sometimes the 'deal' serves both sides as Boatman has pointed out. Some people grab a trans-Atlantic crew job to fulfill the sea hours/distance requirement for RYA...it's not because they need the money at all.

[dana-tenacity]

Tipping is not common in our part of the world. Even in restaurants. Never been tipped for a delivery, but once had my favourite beanie taken.