How to Say 'Thank You'

[mintyspilot]

WHat about a gift (wine/chocs/food) on arrival and a simple "thanks - we had a great day" with a pat on the shoulder or a handshake as you leave? There's nothing like looking someone in the eye and saying "Thanks".

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

I like dinner................with beer.

I don't really get the above that offen and have to take my wife and myself out instead.

But, really all I want is for them to say thank you and that they had a good time. If they of course say that I'm GREAT it helps.

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

But, really all I want is for them to say thank you and that they had a good time.

That works for me. If I didn't want to take them out on the boat, I wouldn't have invited them. If they invite me out to dinner later, I won't turn them down, but it's not expected. As far as cleaning the boat, if they are not boaters, it might be more trouble than it's worth.

As for wine, beer, etc., as someone who was told by his doctor to quit drinking if he wanted to stick around and enjoy life, find out about these things before you give alcohol as a gift.

[pjop]

If invited as a crew member, simply performing the assigned tasks with a good attitude is thanks enough. Crews that jump off the boat as soon as she's docked without ensuring everything is put away don't get invited back. If invited as a guest, a simple contribution of food or drink is nice, but not necessarily expected. However, a sincere "thank you" is expected.

[BubbleHeadMd]

I supply wine or rum, and an offer of labor. Food on longer voyages, and gratitude on all voyages.

When I have guests, all I expect is a good attitude, a little labor and some courtesy.

[dacust]

I keep waiting for someone to say "Thanks, that was a lot of fun. Let me buy you a new generator."

For some reason, no one has said that, yet...

-dan

[sailingaway221]

Actually I really like taking people ( most people ) sailing and a sincere thanks a lot afterwards is plenty for me. I always invite the people that do the dishes / clean up a little after themselves and I must say ... once I had broken my magic beer bottle opener on some pirate somewhere......one of the guests sent me a shinny fancy new one .... Very nice gesture... I guess if you go sailing be a little observant and you could probably find the perfect little thank you on most boats!

[captainKJ]

Originally Posted by dacust

I keep waiting for someone to say "Thanks, that was a lot of fun. Let me buy you a new generator."

For some reason, no one has said that, yet...

-dan

You must keep asking the wrong people to go sailing,,,I asked the person who took me out sailing last week what I could do for him for a thank you,,, he mentioned that he would love a new sailboat,,,, so I purchased one for him,,,,,, delivered it last night,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,his fault for not specifying the size,,,,,hope he did not mind the matchbox size one,,, all I could afford

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by pjop

If invited as a crew member, simply performing the assigned tasks with a good attitude is thanks enough. Crews that jump off the boat as soon as she's docked without ensuring everything is put away don't get invited back. If invited as a guest, a simple contribution of food or drink is nice, but not necessarily expected. However, a sincere "thank you" is expected.

Yep. If you're invited because of your sailing skill, that's where the most value comes in. Sit there, do what your told, offer suggestions rarely and do so only in a polite and respectful way. Don't ever start a sentence with "well what I do is..." unless specifically asked what you do.

Even if someone is doing something "wrong", I'll basically help them do it that way unless it's seriously going to put the vessel or lives in real danger. When I'm in charge, I have enough on my plate past hearing someone lecture me on mid versus stern springline tension when I'm docking.

[SaucySailoress]

I like to make life easy for any new crew by pointing out that the Skipper's wife just lurves Galaxy chocolate. Any type (except Bounty), so long as it's made by Galaxy!!

[Dockhead]

I was a guest on a 10-day cruise last year on someone's fabulous superyacht size Swan. I bought a couple of carloads of provisions and booze, and bought the owner a nice box of Cuban cigars (we were not in the US). I also worked like hell, cleaned, cooked, washed dishes, straightened lines, helped the professional crew repair a broken fuel injection line, helmed (10 hours once with no autopilot bashing into a 25 knot wind), took the 04:00 watch, etc., taking great pleasure in all of it. I don't think he expected anything in particular but I know how much it costs him to keep that boat and I thought it was the least I could do.

I frequently bring guests, both business guests and personal guests out sailing for long weekends. Typically guests will never let me buy a meal when we eat shoreside, sometimes pay marina fees for me, and always bring bottles. I never expect anything in particular, and honestly having guests is a great excuse to go out, so I am grateful to them probably as much as they are to me. But in any case I am always happy when people have enjoyed being on board and show it in whatever way they feel appropriate.

So I think there are no particular rules.

[nigel1]

Heres not what to do, happened to me a couple of monthsd ago. This was someone with a RYA Coastal Skippers ticket
Arrivwe at boat, dump gear onboard, and then say you need to go back home, but your close by, be back in 30 mins max. Two hours later, arrive back at boat.
Arrive at a dock, tie on fenders with special slippery knot so they all dropped off when boat came alongside, (and this was coming alongside a small tug with tyre fenders, keeping my fenders in place was quite important)
When making cups of tea, leave discarded tea bags on white counter top in order to create a nice tannin colour.
Furler goes tight, fix by winching as hard as you can, break halyard, open up top of forestay wire
Last day of cruise, state you need to go home, pick up car and return for your gear, but I'll be back in 30 mins. max (heard that one before). Arrive back 3 hrs later, what a shame, missed the cleaning and tidy up.
Tell owner you had a great time, cant wait to do it again

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by nigel1

Heres not what to do, happened to me a couple of monthsd ago. This was someone with a RYA Coastal Skippers ticket
Arrivwe at boat, dump gear onboard, and then say you need to go back home, but your close by, be back in 30 mins max. Two hours later, arrive back at boat.
Arrive at a dock, tie on fenders with special slippery knot so they all dropped off when boat came alongside, (and this was coming alongside a small tug with tyre fenders, keeping my fenders in place was quite important)
When making cups of tea, leave discarded tea bags on white counter top in order to create a nice tannin colour.
Furler goes tight, fix by winching as hard as you can, break halyard, open up top of forestay wire
Last day of cruise, state you need to go home, pick up car and return for your gear, but I'll be back in 30 mins. max (heard that one before). Arrive back 3 hrs later, what a shame, missed the cleaning and tidy up.
Tell owner you had a great time, cant wait to do it again

I've never been a guest on some else's boat. But if I ever am I hope it's on yours as it sounds like being a guest is really great.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

I've never been a guest on some else's boat. But if I ever am I hope it's on yours as it sounds like being a guest is really great.

LOL! Let's descend on Nigel's boat sometime. I've got some teabags . . . and a bottle of rum . . .

[David_Old_Jersey]

I was wondering why I hadn't been invited back yet