Launch guy tip?

[bjoc2314]

Hello,

How much do you generally tip the launch operator? Do you tip every time or at the end of the season?

[HHJ]

At my club, where I use them regularly, it''s $1 per person on the homeward trip. Anywhere else, I generally tip $2 each way, more if I have a lot of baggage or am in some other way causing additional trouble.

Hans
s/v Hesper

[wmiii]

Maybe I just don''t get it. Aren''t these people paid to do this work? Aren''t the gas dock people paid as well? It seems like there is a expansion of tipping expections going on now. Do people not want to do their job well unless they get a tip? Am I missing something?

[PBzeer]

While there are jobs where tipping is part of the setting of the base pay, ie: waiters/waitress''s, I don''t know that dock help is one of those. That said, if someone goes beyond what is required, then a tip may be appropriate. Personally, I pay someone to do a job based on the price they give me, not a price plus tip. I wouldn''t pay extra, unless they did extra.

Fair winds,
John

[HHJ]

I wouldn''t tip the gas dock guy any more than I would the gas station attendant ashore (i.e., $0). However, like many waitresses, many launch drivers are college kids being paid a minimal amount in the esxpectation that tips will make it worth their while. Saves their Yacht Clubs money and spreads the expense to those who use it most.

[BoxedUp]

Originally Posted by HHJ

At my club, where I use them regularly, it''s $1 per person on the homeward trip. Anywhere else, I generally tip $2 each way, more if I have a lot of baggage or am in some other way causing additional trouble.

Hans
s/v Hesper

Rather than starting a new thread, I revived this old one.....

Here's my $.02:

Tipping on the homeward trip is OK as long as the launch operator is the same for the outbound trip or if all the operators pool the tips. Otherwise, the guy that takes you out is getting shortchanged.

I think it would be best to check with your club regarding customary tipping practices or with the dockmaster.

...and to the poster who is missing something and feels that tipping has become expected, I would rather invest a few dollars to gain an ally and have an extra set of eyes on my boat when I'm not around, than for someone to turn a blind eye and think "that cheap SOB, I hope his boat sinks"...

[sailingdog]

It also depends on whether you're at your home marina, where you might just tip the launch drivers once at the end of the season, or at another marina, where you're a transient and should tip for services rendered.

I'd point out that the launch drivers are often the first line of defense when something goes wrong with your boat as BoxedUp points out. They're also the first line of defense when it comes to thieves and such.

[bljones]

I don't tip gas dock staff, but I always tip pump-out staff.

[Minnewaska]

If you would like to be at the front of the line, the price is higher. If you are okay with waiting behind those that pay, no charge.

[Snboard976]

I was a launch operator for 6 years through high school and part of college. Without the tips the base salary would not have been enough to keep me at the job.

I wouldn't expect a tip every ride, but I did not look favorably at those who would use the launch the most often and never leave a tip. I was also happy to go out of my way bailing dinghy's, carrying batteries, delivering ice etc. to the members that would give us a tip. I don't really understand the tip at the end of the year. The should be an incentive for better service. It doesn't work if it all comes at the end.

Now as a yacht club member I usually tip $2 on the return ride, or $5 a week if I have made several trips back and forth and extra if I have made a special request. No tip if the launch operators are not monitoring the radio or leave me sitting on the boat for a long time.