Do your friends help ????

[ragboy]

I can't remember the last time anyone ever offered. I can remember a couple bringing food, but that is it. However, we usually invite people that would never go on a boat, unless we invited them, and would probably never afford one. So we just always expect to pay. I don't like freeloaders, but I don't think these people would qualify, maybe a couple.

[kana12]

ya well my guys even use all the gear.. i must have it bad ha ha. they bring them selves and a little bag of doritos to smash all over my carpet after they get all wet..

but i guess its all good. just was realy wondering if any one else ever experinced this and what they thought and how they handled it. so far ive got quite a few different views on this subject.. lol

[hoopykat]

Classic example of this is our annual trip to Bass Lake. We rent a cabin there for a week, and the wife's sister and her family also get themselves a house. We bring our boat, and they also rent themselves one of the Tigés at Miller's Landing because....well...I have no idea why. Anyway, when we are all out on my boat, we'll head to Miller's to fuel up, and as soon as we get there, they head up to the market to get themselves snacks and whatever...no offer for fuel money. If I cared, I'd be pissed, but that's just the type of people they are. And when they have their rental boat, I sure as hell ain't going out with them. They are more than welcome to drive my boat, take it out, whatever (just fuel it up when you're done)...but being the control freaks they are, if they want to spend a couple grand for a week's rental so they can drive their boat...let them. Oh, and these are the same people who sent us a bill for the food when we had dinner at their house, but we got to watch their kids while THEY went out to a nice dinner at Ducey's. Think we're gonna vacation with them next summer?

F$#K no.

-Mike

[Dan and Christy]

This is a very simple one Kana, just tell whomever you are taking out to bring beer and gas money, then stop on the way in and fill up. This way there won't be any akward moments, just be upfront with them.

[Matt Garcia]

Excellent points and suggestions on here.

To me It sounds like your friends are taking advantage of you. If they are your good friends and they are regulars on your boat then you should be comfortable enough to say something about helping out with gas, food, clean up, etc. At the same token any good friend should help you out with out having to ask.

One thing that really helps is someone who owns a boat that rides with you or wakeboards often. They usually understand what it takes from start to finish for day on the lake. I ride with a bunch of people, some have boats and some don't and we each offer gas money. Its not uncommon for me to receive 60-70 dollars for gas money in one day-without having to ask.

[illiniboarder88]

I think whoever said that they have a friend give them money in front of everyone is right on. I always do that when I go out on a friend's boat. The last couple summers I boarded a lot on a friend's boat, and almost always threw him some cash. A few times I forgot to stop at the ATM, but I always hit him extra the next time. I was the only one who was consistently doing that, and guess what, I always got a call when he was heading out. I really think people are oblivious to the cost of owning a boat. It's not an excuse, but I still think it's true.

[Jason B]

If I invite somebody out I do not expect them to pay. If they offer then I'll accept. It is not fair to invite someone and then ask them to pay you back. If one of my buddies call and ask to go, they are paying for some fuel. Regular riders pay--they know the routine.
I always split the beer (since I drink most of it ).


I always roll through the gas station on the way to the lake ensuring I make a comment about how fast this tank will be gone. That works.


People just have no idea how thirsty the boats are unless they own one also. I don't think they are cheap on purpuse, more like "uneducated." Let them know the costs and don't tell them when you're going out again if they are still refusing to help out.

[Domsz06]

I have had this problem before and I just choose not to invite them back. I'm going out no matter what when I go. I have a list of people I call and invite and if they come great. I always tell them that if they want something to drink/eat bring it as I supply the gas and the boat, and everyone else supplies the food/drinks

In OK I would gas up, my best friend would buy couple 18packs, gf would go buy some food and it all worked out. More would meet us at the beach/ramp and through their food/drinks in my coolers. There was always extra.

Sometimes one guy would forget beer/food so he would just throw down a 20 to me and say hey mind if I dig in. No worries I say. And then I also had another friend or two that would bring beer and give some money for the gas. I have never had to ask for gas money, nor drinks/food money as it's always taken care of.

The thing I require is that you stay and help clean/unload. The girls always do the inside and my guys and I do the outside. Sometimes someone has to bail early so they say next time. No worries as really it only takes 4 people to clean the boat.

I have had about 2 freeloaders and they always asked why they never got invited out and I told them, you didn't bring or help out, why should it. Never again did they ask.

Out in CA I really haven't used the boat much, but the few times I have people have tried to give money, I told them no, but they insisted so I took it.

The sticker I have really helped out a lot though I tell you. I get so many comments on it it's really funny. in case you haven't seen it it's this one and I have three on the boat now.

http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/show...48&postcount=7


its just one of those things and several people have said the same thing. I'm going out, so the boat goes, and I don't ask for gas money, and I always bring a few drinks for myself just incase no one else come, esp here in CA. In OK I never brought anything, cuz I knew it would be taken care of. Maybe it's the friends I have or who knows but honestly most times on sat in OK when I would go out I would drop a bill+ in gas, and come home with over a bill from friends, and a full belly. Sundays made up for that though, but it worked to my advantage. Last summer in OK I put over 4k in gas into my boat and truck and my friends chipped in over 2.5k so not a bad summer for 130hrs of boating. I just get pissed when they don't help clean, that's my biggest deal.

[G-MONEY]

We have gone through many of our friends to find our core group of river friends. These are the friends that help clean the boat respect the rules on my boat and are always willing to help with gas, food, drinks, house rent and will wake up in the early am to go boarding. We have a good group of friends that get invited every trip and like Dom's we have a good group friends that NEVER get invited because they took advantage of the situation.

[Domsz06]

another thing that I always say to new people that are on my boat is this, and this happens before I even pick them up at the dock or the ramp.

"4 rules on my boat. 1) No shoes 2) You wanna smoke, you smoke on the Teak 3) I pay for the gas, you want other stuff bring it 4) end of the day everyone that plays, cleans."

The people either get it or they don't, and the one's that don't, well they don't get invited back out. Just plain and simple. I agree with a lot of people on here and I NEVER ask for money if I invite them. The only time I EVER ask for money is if I'm planing a trip say for a week to camp and board and people are asking if they can come I say sure, it's x a night to camp and i'll keep food to x/person supply your own beer. Never had a problem yet. and if the food goes over a bit, then I cover that it or use some gas money if I get it.

Boating is expensive, yes but I know that and I realize this when I bought the boat. I bought the boat cuz I could afford it, extra money from friends is just a perk. You will realize who want's to help you and who wants to not. The one's that not, well like g said, they never get invited back. It's not that I can't afford it, it's respect. You don't respect my toys, why should I respect you?

[G-MONEY]

It's not that I can't afford it, it's respect. You don't respect my toys, why should I respect you?

[Jason B]

I don't allow food on the boat so that cleaning the interior is a minor issue.
Bring crackers or Dorritos and they'll be waiting for you fresh and unopened for the ride home--in your own vehicle.

If we're going out all day we pack for a picninc that is eaten off the boat and open packages are tossed or sealed tight and stowed securely.

I tell guests up front--don't bring food, you won't be eating it on the boat. If they want to they can sit on the teak that's a decent compromise.



Mess up the boat and I will not invite them back--that includes my wife and children

[dogbert]

ya well my guys even use all the gear.. i must have it bad ha ha. they bring them selves and a little bag of doritos to smash all over my carpet after they get all wet..

but i guess its all good. just was realy wondering if any one else ever experinced this and what they thought and how they handled it. so far ive got quite a few different views on this subject.. lol

Spilling chips inside the boat and grinding them into the carpet is a big no-no. I will ask them to eat on the swim platform or not at all. Same goes for smoking. No smoking on my boat, period. Same with wearing shoes while getting into the boat. I'm the captain and I get to make the rules. I'm usually a pretty reasonable guy, but there are a few items that are simply non-negotiable. You decide what works for you and then let everyone know. I've never had an issue with anyone pushing back, usually they tend to feel bad for not offering their help. Then, the next time it's usually not a problem.

Heck, it's even working on my kids now. I get lots of compliments when they're out on other boats because they know what to do and are a big help. They even get on their friends when their friends are being slugs on our boat. A couple of their friends have been uninvited permanently by them (including one who put a big gash in my upholstry and when I called him on it told me that he just wasn't used to worrying about it because his boat is trashed...go figure).

Just remember, you are the captain. You really do get to order people around for safety reasons. You can usually stretch this fact into some help

[Domsz06]

I don't allow food on the boat so that cleaning the interior is a minor issue.
Bring crackers or Dorritos and they'll be waiting for you fresh and unopened for the ride home--in your own vehicle.

If we're going out all day we pack for a picninc that is eaten off the boat and open packages are tossed or sealed tight and stowed securely.

I tell guests up front--don't bring food, you won't be eating it on the boat. If they want to they can sit on the teak that's a decent compromise.



Mess up the boat and I will not invite them back--that includes my wife and children

I gotta eat so I could never do that. when we go out in OK we would go out from sun up to sundown, so not eating was not an option, but each to his own. I would eat on the teak if you wanted.

Another HUGE point and also HUGE kudo's to the LEO's for staying off your back is I always have a trash bag tied to my tower, floating in the water. All trash and cans go in there. Not once have I been harassed while anchored for loud music, loud people or "Drunk" people. LEO's walk up, say hi, see the bag and just keep on walking. Works very nice

[anhaney]

It's sort of ettiquette in watersports to give the guy who owns the boat some gas money and bring drinks. If they don't, bring them to the gas station before you go and make them come in with you when you're buying stuff.

I agree with dogbert on this one. Except when I was in Texas and he took me out on his boat he provided all the drinks, the gas, the boat, & equipment. We then went to dinner afterward with his family I tried to pay for the dinner and his wife would not let me do that either. I appreciated it but man I felt guilty. By the way he has a great family and his boys crack me up. They are full of energy with out question.