Tipping Marina Staff: When & How Much?

This article is more of an editorial. After spending considerable time visiting marinas and boat yards and interacting with dock staff, travel lift operators, yard staff, and mechanics, I have developed some strong opinions on tipping.

In conversations with other boaters, I’ve discovered many differing opinions regarding tipping, and my style is probably in the minority. I encourage you to use the comments section below to share your opinions. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject!

As the sun glistens on the water and we prepare for a day of adventure on our boats, we often overlook a group of individuals who work tirelessly behind the scenes: the dockhands and boatyard staff. These dedicated workers are the unsung heroes of our cruising experience, providing essential services and assistance that make our journeys on and off the water smoother and safer. Just like waitstaff in restaurants, these hardworking individuals deserve our recognition—and, yes, our tips.

Navigating a boat into a slip can be a test of patience and skill, particularly on windy days. Dockhands are (almost) always on standby, ready to assist boaters during their more chaotic moments. These unsung heroes of the marina often run several miles each day, frequently in the rain or burning sun, sprinting to greet arriving boats, catching poorly thrown lines, tugging boats 1000 times their weight into slips by shear will, and overall ensuring that every docking goes smoothly. They encounter a range of skills among boaters, from experienced sailors to anxious beginners. Dockhands embody a blend of patience and expertise—often developed through hands-on experience—along with a good sense of humor to help ease the tension that can arise during maritime maneuvers.

The nature of their work is not just physically demanding; it can also be quite hazardous. Fuel dock workers breathe in fuel fumes daily, manage the risks of handling hazardous materials, and grapple with dirty, smelly pump-out hoses. Their commitment to keeping our vessels fueled and functional is commendable, even when the circumstances are far from glamorous.

Now, consider another group of service providers we routinely tip without a second thought: restaurant staff. A decent tip for a waiter or waitress acknowledges their efforts in delivering excellent service while often living on minimum wage and tips alone. Toast, the restaurant management software company, reports that in 2024, the average tip in restaurants was 18.8% to 19.8%. So why do we sometimes overlook the dedicated individuals working at our marinas and boatyards? Many of them, too, rely heavily on gratuities to supplement their pay, which may sometimes barely hover around minimum wage.

Dockhands

While tipping dockhands isn’t necessarily an expectation, it’s a kind gesture that can yield both gratitude and perks. A well-timed tip can elevate your experience, opening the door to exceptional service and small favors that may not always be forthcoming to those who don’t tip. A decent tip when docking will frequently lead to an extra eye on your boat, especially if you are away from it. When we left our boat in Kingston, Ontario, for a week, I tipped the regular dock hands and asked them to keep an eye on the boat. On our return, our lines had been adjusted during some heavy weather, and the plants on our back deck had been watered.

One of the trends I’ve seen recently is that many boaters see themselves as entitled. Just look at how many times you are cruising along and meet another boat coming in the other direction. You slow down to reduce your wake, and they just blast on past, rocking and rolling your boat. In chatting with dock hands, this attitude translates into arrogance at the fuel dock or when docking. A thank you and a tip goes a long way to keeping these necessary workers willing to help us with our boats.

Boat Yard Staff

The staff in the boatyard is another under-appreciated group. While you may be paying $150 an hour for a mechanic, most see just a small fraction of that hourly rate. Mechanics work in our hot, dirty, cramped engine rooms. Walking long distances down docks with heavy tools and parts. Crawling into holes, no self-respecting gopher would attempt. All to ensure that our fun day out on the water is trouble-free. For that, they listen to us moan about the cost of boat ownership while we hover over them, sipping a beer without offering them a bottle of water. A tip to your mechanic will frequently result in a bit of extra care and attention that doesn’t end up on the final bill. Things like cleaning up someone else’s mess. A few extra minutes looking over things they didn’t necessarily work on. Like adding a tie wrap or two to clean up some dangling wiring, noticing a random drip, and tightening up a hose clamp. Letting you know that your belts might need replacing soon. That little bit extra that showing them you respect and appreciate the job they do brings.

The labor staff in the boatyard, the guys who block your boat when it gets hauled out, power wash it, and sand the hull, frequently work for just slightly more than minimum wage. They are the unsung heroes, frequently working long hours in the hot, dusty boatyard, doing all the grunt work of boat maintenance.

Travel Lift Operators are the guys who pull your boat out of the water, making sure that it doesn’t go crashing back into the drink halfway to the sky. A small thank-you in the form of a gratuity before a haul-out could result in extra care when handling your boat, securing you a better spot in the yard where it won’t accumulate as much dust and dirt, or even assistance hooking up your power—little things that make a big difference.

So, remember to carry a few extra bucks the next time you’re at the marina. By tipping your dockhands and boatyard staff, you show your appreciation for their hard work and help create a culture of support and respect in the boating community. After all, we’re all part of this beautiful aquatic experience—why not make it a little brighter for everyone involved? The next time the wind is howling and the lines are slippery, you’ll be glad you did.

What Do Boat Yard and Marina Staff Expect

When doing some research for this article, I chatted with the staff at a few local marinas and boatyards. I asked them what they expected from customers, and the first thing they mentioned was courtesy and respect. They all tell stories about boaters who blame them when a boat hits the dock. Dress them down for the price of fuel or repairs. That’s like blaming the person stocking the grocery shelves for the price of eggs! They also said that they truly appreciate it when a boater recognizes that they have done a good job getting them into a slip on a busy day and taking the time to dress their lines or hook up power and water. As I mentioned, most dockhands are working for minimum wage. We’ve chatted with dockhands who are only paid from the tips boaters give.

We’ve Become A Tipping Society

I’ll be a bit hypocritical when I say that I’m annoyed by the proliferation of tip requests that have seemed to mushroom since the pandemic. It seems that everyone everywhere has added a “Tip” request to their checkout screens. I’ve even seen a tip request on the checkout screen at a normal retail store. I tend to push back on these overt “demands” for tips in areas where no “exemplary service” has been provided. I choose to use tips to acknowledge good service, especially when the individual providing the service is not expecting a tip and has done a little something extra.

For example, recently, we had a refrigerator delivered. The delivery drivers took the time to wrap the new refrigerator in blankets so that it wouldn’t get scratched or scratch up our walls. While they measured the door, and it looked like it would fit through, they took the time to pop the door off of its hinges to be sure. They hooked up the refrigerator, made sure it was level, and wiped their fingerprints off the doors. SHOULD that be the normal level of service? Yes. Is it the normal level of service? Well, if you’ve had anything delivered lately, you’ll probably agree that it’s not. I gave the two delivery drivers $20 each for their care. They seemed genuinely surprised and appreciative.

Marina staff are no different.

How Much To Tip

Like all walks of life, boaters come from all of the economic spectrum. Some folks scrimp and save, sacrificing to enjoy their time on the water. Others throw millions of dollars at a boat to say they “own a boat” and rarely, if ever, use it. As with restaurants and other service providers, tip what you can afford. I’ll share my “philosophy” on tipping and how much I typically tip. Some will tip more, and many will tip less. Remember that for 99.9% of us, the cost of boating is discretionary spending. We don’t NEED to boat, we choose to boat.

No Tips For Management

As a general rule, I don’t tip management unless it’s a very small marina and it’s the marina owner who’s running up and down the docks. Dockmasters are a special case as, for most, it’s an honorary title. If they are sitting in their air-conditioned office directing dock hands by radio, no tip. If they are running up and down the dock, tying up boats, then they are just another dockhand, and I’ll tip them. Similarly, with boat yards, I typically don’t tip service writers and service managers unless they have gone out of their way to help smooth my service experience by bumping me ahead of the line or running to get parts themselves.

No Service, No Tip

My second rule is no service, no tip. There seem to be more marinas that don’t have dock hands to help you tie up these days. Perhaps it’s because they can’t hire enough minimum-wage people to do the job. Regardless, if they don’t show up at the dock to grab lines and help us in, I don’t tip. One marina we stopped at had no dock staff to help (they didn’t even answer the radio or phone) and added an automatic gratuity to the slip fee. I explained that I had not gotten any service and asked them to remove it (we were only staying one night). Then, I watched to make sure no one stole my drain plug in the middle of the night.

Dockhands

As long as a dockhand meets us at the dock, catches lines, and helps us get into the slip, I’ll typically tip $10. If it was a particularly ugly docking, either because of weather or I confused my port and starboard when backing in with Brenda shouting at me in the headset, $20.

We’ve come into a marina in the rain with the wind near gale force. Three dockhands are waiting to grab our lines and quite literally manhandle the boat into the slip. It was worth the $50 tip because if it weren’t for the dockhands, I would have spent much more fixing the scratches and dents in my hull!

Fuel Dock & Pump Out

I treat the fuel dock separately from docking, even if I’m going to the slip after fueling up, and it’s the same person tying us up (unless they stick us on the fuel dock). Catching lines, handing over the fuel nozzle. $10 if it was an easy in. $20 if it took some effort, or it’s raining or cold and windy. I’ll also bump up the tip if they provide good information or are generally friendly and attentive. If we pump out and they hand me the hose, it’s an extra $5. If they come aboard and do it for me, it’s an extra $20. So, a friendly fuel-up with them doing the pump out is $30-$40.

If I have a pump out at the slip, and they come aboard and do it, I’ll tip $20. It’s a dirty job, and I’d rather have someone else do it!

One anomaly is that some municipal marinas do not allow staff to accept tips. I’m hoping that they compensate with higher pay. For these folk, I make sure to say some extra kind words to them. If they truly go above and beyond, I’ll “accidentally” drop a $20 on the desk or drop off a box of donuts or pizza gift card as a thank you.

Boatyard Staff

I’ll start by saying that, doing my own maintenance, I greatly appreciate what the mechanics and boatyard staff do, so I will probably overtip here. I will say that in 8 years of ownership, I’ve only once had one bad overall experience in a boatyard, so I feel strongly that my system works.

Haulout & Splash Staff

Travel Lift (haulout staff) usually consists of 2-3 people. I tip each person $50 as soon as I can get to them, either as they help me step off the boat or as soon as the boat is out of the water. If there are more than three people, I max out at $150. Usually, the travel lift operator is the person in charge. I prefer to thank each person individually, but if I have to bundle it up because I don’t have the change, I’ll give it to whoever seems to be in charge but make sure the other staff see it (to make sure they get their share). When the boat goes back into the water, it’s the same.

Mechanics

With mechanics, it depends on how much work is being done. If I know approximately what is being done, I’ll tip in advance—that makes a big difference! Usually, I’ll do $20 per hour or $150 per day if they will be on the boat for most of the day. If it’s a multi-day job, then it’s $100 up front and the balance at the end of the job. I’ll also buy them lunch if I can. While they are working, I make sure that they have an ample supply of water/soda during the day. I’ve learned to determine if a mechanic prefers to work alone or doesn’t mind me looking on. I also try not to ask too many long-winded questions so I don’t run up the bill listening to nautical yarns!

Yard Staff & Helpers

Yard staff, those guys do the grunt work, sanding, bottom painting, changing oil if the mechanic doesn’t, and washing the boat. With them, it depends on how friendly they are and if they do anything special. My rule of thumb is about $10-$15 per hour they work the boat. Extra if they do an excellent job or go above and beyond.

In a recent visit for bottom paint, someone kept unplugging the shore power cord to my boat to plug in their sander. I dropped a $50 bill to one of the yard staff, and he made sure my boat was kept plugged in for the rest of the time I was there, including when they moved it from the yard to the paint booth and back. He even got an extra-long power cord to get it plugged in. (Probably from some other boat that didn’t tip him.🤣🤣🤣)

In another example, I needed to have my propellers swapped. The boatyard wanted to haul me out, block the boat, and then, the next day, do the prop swap and re-splash. I would have been charged $400 for the haul-out, $200 for blocking, one day of yard space ($150), and then $400 for the splash, plus the labor for swapping the props ($300 for 2 hours work). $1,550. I chatted with the travel lift operator and gave him $200. He convinced the yard manager to let him do it as a “short haul” (pull the boat, leave it in the slings, swap the props, and put it back in the water). That saved me $650 in blocking, yard, splash fees, a day of waiting, and a hotel bill since we couldn’t stay on the boat overnight out of the water. The yard staff who swapped the props stayed an extra hour after quitting time to get me back in the water and appreciated the extra $50 each when it was all done.

Take Care Of Those Who Take Care of You

While talking to the dockhands and boat yard staff for this article, dockhands said that about 60% of boaters at fuel docks and slips will tip, usually $5-$10. In boatyards, the number is about 40%. These hardworking staff can frequently make or break your day. Show your appreciation with patience, respect, a kind word, and throwing a little green their way.

What is your tipping policy?

Let us know in the comments below!

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