How Much Does One Tip the Launch Driver?

[heron237]

My wife asked me if it were customary or typical to tip the kids who run the launch at the boatyard where we keep our sailboat. We pay them around four grand a year for a mooring in the summer, and on the hard in the winter, nothing extra as I do all my own maintenance, etc.

[markpierce]

Since you own a boat, you're rich (lots of disposable income, for sure). That means you should pay your moorage fees as well as pay the helps' wages too. Surely, the boatyard wants you to.

[ShaunJ]

Those kids don't make much money, I would give them $2 for a ride.
You may pay the marina a bunch of money but those kids don't get any of it.

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by ShaunJ

Those kids don't make much money, I would give them $2 for a ride.
You may pay the marina a bunch of money but those kids don't get any of it.

As I said, the boatyard may want you to directly compensate its employees to add to its profit. Two dollars? Seems cheap for not screwing up.

[markpierce]

Come to think of it, when I worked for the minimum wage, I never received nor expected tips, even when I served customers at a lunch counter.

[ShaunJ]

Make it $5 then. I guess I was being cheap.

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by ShaunJ

Make it $5 then. I guess I was being cheap.

[VirtualVagabond]

Originally Posted by ShaunJ

Make it $5 then. I guess I was being cheap.

That sounds a bit ridiculous to me. It's easy enough to strike up a conversation with a kid and ask what his job pays and how many drop off and pick up trips he does a day.
If he does 20 and gets $2 from each, he's picked up 40 bucks plus wage. Sounds like a good day.
If you over tip they soon expect the higher amount and the risk is they get resentful with a normal tip.
Of course it makes a difference if he is 20 and trying to support a pregnant girlfriend, or just 11 as my son was when he did it.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by ShaunJ

Make it $5 then. I guess I was being cheap.

If I did this it would cost me more in tips each year that the cost of the mooring.

I tip each of the drivers $20 at the beginning of the year. I may tip again if I call them out in real crappy weather.

[jmackay]

These are interesting times, everybody has a tip cup out. I live on my boat as part of and austerity program, I bought it while I was working and now that I am retired I an living on about $3500 / month. I can afford to live on my boat, I just can't look like I can afford it and be handing out $5 bills every time someone takes a line or helps with a pump out. I have worked for over 60 years and although I did receive tips at times they were never expected nor asked for ( tip cup ). There are times when exceptional service warrants a reward but they are very rare these days. As far as the launch service is concerned, it has been years since I have used one but when I did I would tip them at the end of the season or the end of my stay based upon the service received. These guys that are tipping for each ride are changing the rules and will live to regret it.

[tomfl]

I am not sure there is a "one size fits all" answer. When you go to Mickey Ds you do not, or are you expected, to tip; on the other hand some places add in a mandatory tip, and a tip is definitely expected at high end places.

When in Rome do as the Romanians do.

[Cotemar]

Our marina launch gets a $1 tip.
The Block Island, RI launch gets a $1 tip.
Seems to be $1 everywhere in Long Island Sound.

[Tony B]

Lets break this down to basics. The biggest tipper gets the best service. This has always been a fact of life just not always obvious. Except when I was in the Caymans. Go into any bar as a stranger and see how long you wait to be served. Every time a local walks in the door, the bar tender gives a loud "Hey, how are you" kind of thing and runs over to their table and serves them immediately - while you are waiting. This happened more than once in more than one place in the Caymans.
I have never used a launch, but if I had, I dont think the idea of a tip would even occur to me. It would be like tipping a city bus driver.

[bruce smith]

The only time I ever had a launch service was in Balboa,Panama. I gave the chap a (warm) beer every time. Good Service!

[DSDman]

So do you tip the guys that grab a line at the fuel dock? If so how much? Or the guy that helps you get into the slip? I worked as a lineman at the local airport and never got tipped for pumping fuel. Just happy to sell the gas. So educate me here, I don't want to come off being cheap. Even though I am. I mean I do tip the baggers at the grocery if they carry out the stuff to the car.