Marina Etiquette Tips

I was cruising the site and saw this old thread and couldn’t help myself. I saw a few of my fellow LKN folks had posted. My marina has fuel and pump out the “kids” are always friendly and help a great deal getting in and out of the service slips. I give one of them $40 when we are all done, funny most are young ladies on the docks. I asked one time if they pool their tips and my girl said yes so I don’t feel bad about just giving it to one of them. With COVID they are not supposed to pump gas or poop but they always offer to do it. And BTW if your not tipping your wait staff at restaurants in cash you’re missing the …wait for it… boat. Having two sets of twin girls that have all been in the server industry I was schooled in this so it doesn’t show up on their checks. Cash is king, I always try to keep at least $100 in my wallet. Anyway my .02 on an old thread.
Jon
 
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Tipping is essential. I tip at the gas dock and for pumpout. I give every dockboy that touches a line when I’m docking $10. It ensures that they’re ready and waiting each time I return.

I also tip the golfcart dockboy who picks us up in the parking lot and drives us to our slip $10. (I notice that no one else seems to get that service ).

At haulout in the fall, I tip each member of the haul team $50 and the yard manager, who decides where the boat will be for the winter, $100. Finally, the 2 yard guys responsible for shrink wrapping get $100 each. I always have a good location near the power pole and am shrinkwrapped before the temps drop below freezing.

I give the one good marine mechanic in the area $500 each Christmas. He’s so busy that it can be weeks before he can address a problem in the summer, but when my generator refused to start last 4th of July, he made a “house call” and had it fixed in time for the ice maker to produce sufficient volume to support pre-fireworks martinis.

You get what you give, and the boating season is short.
 
We bought two new lines for our slip every year and replaced the oldest two. So we accumulated extra lines that I would coil and store in the locker. When cruising, it was not uncommon to see a neighbor with lines that were in poor condition. I would explain that I was running out room in my locker and would ask if they wanted a couple of my extra lines. Most appreciated the offer and excepted. Also gave away a line if weather was threatening and a neighbor was poorly prepared. We still seem to always have more than enough lines on board. So not exactly marina etiquette, but somewhat related.
 
Being helpfull goes a long way. I always stop whatever I'm doing and offer assistance to docking vessels. In the last 4 weeks I have:

Identified an open 230V 3Ph distribution box , notified the marina and sealed it properly, perfect height for kids hands.

Performed an electrical inspection/trip adjustment on the marina water lift, was tripping due to inrush at start.

Assisted my good dock neighbor Dan lower his radar mast for repairs on his 35 trawler.

Installed a new Terrova trolling motor on Jack's boat (our local inshore guide)

Assisted a transient with his 3cyl sailboat deisel, fuel pump.

Showed another transient sailor how to clear his "pee hole" on his small outboard. He had just about torn it all down when I showed him...

Goodwill begats goodwill...we are here to respect and help others when we can, for those that can be respected and helped.
 
This summer I noticed a sail boat seem to struggle getting to the guest dock. It was a slow morning so not many folks around so I meandered over to see if I could lend support. The boat was a 45 footer with to octogenarians on board. One was sitting on the gunnel waiting to fend off with his feet. He had just had a hip replacement so was no help to the skipper in moving about with lines. The skipper was a bit confused but with a little patience I was able to help him get his boat alongside and secured. They had cruised in from San Francisco, how, I had no idea. It was pretty hot so I fugured maybe they were just exhausted and hence to as sharp as when they left. That was the patient Rusty helping. Half way in to my helping them, along comes a run-about gong well over wake speed, The not so patient Rusty loses his shit when they don't slow down after I yelled politely "Watch your wake" Soon after I yelled Hey you stupid M FERS SLOW THE F DOWN WHAT THE F iS WRONG WITH YOU! They eventually got the message and wished me peace. You should have seen the look on the old guys faces.They thought I was going to kill someone. I did some reflection afterward because I do tend to get over excited about wake fouls. I figured the two deeds evened out though.
Funny, later that afternoon the two sail boaters wanderd down the dock to my boat, I said howdy and they said, can you help us find our boat? They failed to turn down the first finger to the guest dock. I assume they made it back home the next day.
Carpe Diem
 
You just can't beat the camaraderie and the good feelings you get when you help somebody dock their boat. That said I'm very respectful to not get in the way cuz most every boater has a system they follow. I simply offer to help, if they say no I stand by just in case they need help.

It could have been ironic or coincidence, or both, I noticed when we boated the upper Potomac for a couple seasons, which is closer to larger cities, we rarely got help at the dock when we went for overnight weekend trips. When I used to offer boaters help to dock they looked confused and like I was trying to rob them or something.
 
From the Dock Etiquette perspective: I have always taught my kids and grandkids not to run on the docks. Too many lines, ropes, hoses, and sharp objects to hurt them. Not to mention we are on lake time so chillout.

Helping out the wellbeing of other boaters: I typically spend a few hours on off days pounding nails or setting screws on the docks. NO one likes stepping or tripping on a nail or screw in bare feet or even flip-flops.
 
You got to be careful though, there's always one dock mate who will take advantage of you turning the wrenches for them. After I bought my nice oil pump to do oil changes, and did a few for some dock mates, it seemed all of my dock mates became my buddies :)

I remember seeing a cartoon image once where there are a bunch of heads mounted on the garage wall. The owner is saying to his neighbor, just a bunch of buddies who didn't return my wrenches.
 
Force Majeure said:
Tipping is essential. I tip at the gas dock and for pumpout. I give every dockboy that touches a line when I’m docking $10. It ensures that they’re ready and waiting each time I return.

I also tip the golfcart dockboy who picks us up in the parking lot and drives us to our slip $10. (I notice that no one else seems to get that service ).

At haulout in the fall, I tip each member of the haul team $50 and the yard manager, who decides where the boat will be for the winter, $100. Finally, the 2 yard guys responsible for shrink wrapping get $100 each. I always have a good location near the power pole and am shrinkwrapped before the temps drop below freezing.

I give the one good marine mechanic in the area $500 each Christmas. He’s so busy that it can be weeks before he can address a problem in the summer, but when my generator refused to start last 4th of July, he made a “house call” and had it fixed in time for the ice maker to produce sufficient volume to support pre-fireworks martinis.

You get what you give, and the boating season is short.
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I think tipping is essential when it's earned. Otherwise, no thanks. If I catch the dock, tie the boat and pump my own gas - I'm good keeping my $20 :) I'll tip for a pump out but man it's been a couple years since I visited a gas dock where they were notably helpful.

My experience is generally to see "not a soul on the dock" until I'm fully tied up, off the boat and waiting for the pump to be turned on...
 
Stee6043 said:
I think tipping is essential when it's earned. Otherwise, no thanks. If I catch the dock, tie the boat and pump my own gas - I'm good keeping my $20 :) I'll tip for a pump out but man it's been a couple years since I visited a gas dock where they were notably helpful.

Same as myexperience is generally to see "not a soul on the dock" until I'm fully tied up, off the boat and waiting for the pump to be turned on...
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Same as my experience. I tie up, wait 10 mins so they can hand me then hang up the hose, then want to tack on 20% to a $120 bill. Oh hell no.
 
Pirate Lady said:
Same as my experience. I tie up, wait 10 mins so they can hand me then hang up the hose, then want to tack on 20% to a $120 bill. Oh hell no.
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The Benicia fuel dock is self-serve like many these days but not card locked. Used to be when you approached the dock especially in a larger boat, the office boy would greet you, unlock the pump and at least get you started. These days after the marina got sued for a mis fuel issue, you have to go to the office to get the keys to unlock the pumps then fuel and return the keys and pay for the fuel. The fuel dock is perpendicular to the prevailing winds and many times we see skippers with less than skilled deck hands struggle to get to the dock and most of the time the guys in the office sit and watch the show through the window. On more than one occasion I've seen boats just simply cruise right out the breakwater and move on down river. Problem is the next fuel is 15 miles away through some of the nastiest water conditions in Nor-Cal.
 
Is it too much to ask the live aboards to clean their dogs shit off the pier?
We really don’t want to say anything because they keep eye on our boats at night. But a little courtesy wouldn’t hurt.
 
What is the norm to tip the guy that pumps gas in your boat? Is it based on the bill or just how helpful he is? Thanks.
 
Stee6043 said:
My experience is generally to see "not a soul on the dock" until I'm fully tied up, off the boat and waiting for the pump to be turned on...
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I don’t believe tips need to be earned; I view them as just a cost of boating. I’m quite willing to slip a few bucks to those that provide assistance, even when doing so is the sole function of their job.

Fuel docks in my area are all staffed. I have 3 boats: a large motor yacht, a midsize sailboat, and the “little” Sea Ray. But no matter which boat I pull up to a fuel dock, pumpout, or home dock, I’m warmly greeted (often by name) and cheerfully assisted. In ten year’s time, I’ve yet to experience “not a soul on the dock.”

Like I say, you get what you give.
 
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Gosh I really feel for ya’ll with bad experiences I’m from CA and still get the occasional “ you ain’t from around here are you?. So thought I would throw that in. Not exaggerating there are always at least two “kids” heading to the fuel dock when they see me coming, I don’t even need to really try to dock. Point the bow in, as soon as they can get to my bow cleats their lines are on and they pull me in and use their lines to dock me. Then the fuel and pump hoses are ready to go, I have not stepped off my boat at this point I show my marina card, get my .15 off a gallon, young lady asks me if I want to use my card on file and away we go. They even go so far as to purge the poop hose with lake water before handing it to me. The girls 99% of the time offer to fuel and pump the boat for me, the boys 100% of the time, I refuse because I don’t want to get them in trouble. I fuel then get off to pump, one particular young man won’t take no for an answer and pumps while I fuel. While I’m fueling they will be tending others as well but always calling out asking if I’m doing ok? When finished it’s no pressure to sit and let the blower run, start the engines and make a check of systems. They walk me out and always say thank you. So I have nothing but good things to say about my marina, my marina manager is very professional almost a bit gruff but knows what she’s doing so I’m guessing she is keeping the little ducks in line. I’m curious if other Safe Harbor folks have the same or different experiences? Safe Harbor has three marina’s here on Lake Norman and the sister marina by me is West Port, they do my major service and repairs all with great results. Safe Harbor bought up most of the Morning Star marinas. Putting two sets of twin girls and a son through college I feel for these young ones. I will caveat this with, if I didn’t receive this sort of service my tip would be “step it up folks”
Sorry for the long post, just feel bad for you guys. Jon
 
LApalle said:
What is the norm to tip the guy that pumps gas in your boat? Is it based on the bill or just how helpful he is? Thanks.
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If your just getting gas again it depends on what service your getting, is the person helping you dock, getting you squared away then pumping your fuel and helping you get back underway? For me that’s $20, if he/she is just standing there watching you try to get docked it goes down exponentially
 
Stee6043 said:
I think tipping is essential when it's earned. Otherwise, no thanks. If I catch the dock, tie the boat and pump my own gas - I'm good keeping my $20 :) I'll tip for a pump out but man it's been a couple years since I visited a gas dock where they were notably helpful.

My experience is generally to see "not a soul on the dock" until I'm fully tied up, off the boat and waiting for the pump to be turned on...
Click to expand...
Sounds like you may be using the big marina near the Grand Haven pier point or the one in Spring Lake. Both have poor service for fuel. The SL marina has poorly trained staff. The other one has good help but they are not near the gas dock and you need to hunt them down. I find this odd as the techs who work on boats are top drawer.
 
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