Do your friends help ????

[eks]

My theory is I'm taking the boat out anyways so I pay for gas, but drinks and food are everyone else's responsibility. I also have a friend with a boat so we alternate taking the boats out to even out gas/maintenance. As far as cleaning up goes, I'm kinda anal about the boat so I pretty much do that myself. Plus some of the people that board regularly go out just cruising with us and they always bring lots of good food for the grill and plenty of drinks, and since I'm a total beer snob that doesn't stay cheap. I've never had anyone straight up ask me to go out, but I think if it did happen then I would have no qualms about asking for some gas money first.

I am the same way about cleaning. Most people want to help, I'll let them but still after them to make sure they didn't miss any spot.

[Domsz06]

I am the same way about cleaning. Most people want to help, I'll let them but still after them to make sure they didn't miss any spot.

i let them dry the boat then I come back and hit it with the cleanin stuff, works great just an idea

[laserfish]

Most of the families we take out do not have a boat and want to know what to do. Most offer to pay, but we don't accept because it is our invite. I do toss them a towel when we pull up from the ramp though. However, my kids friends (all 21 or over) that go out all the time with them and not us, all are expected to pay for gas. My son has no problem asking the buds for $ when the time comes to fill up. The ones who always seem to forget their wallet usually are not called when the plans are made the next time. It only takes one or two times for them to realize how expensive the evening sessions can become. Makes them appreciate it more too.

[Big Wave]

This is a great topic.

I guess we have it good. When we have freinds up to our lake house, my wife, boys and I lead by example. Women and girls help wife clean the inside and I toss out wipe down rags to the guys and start wiping. Everyone seems happy to chip in. We stop by the gas station to fill up and if gas money offered I may take it or may not depending on my mood. Once we get back to the house I mix a cocktail and finish the cleaning to my standards.

I have never felt the least bit bad about things. Good freinds will help if they know what to do.

[hoppas]

I used to be a lot more strict about what comes on the boat, but after having my 5 kids and some older relatives out I have been forced to relax some. A few pringles ground into the carpet is the least of my problems! Anymore, we pull the boat out and clean it, but I usually bring it home from the lake storage a few times a year for a good cleaning. I like doing that myself anyway - it's oddly relaxing. No one else enjoys waxing the tower as much as I do!

As for gas, for the past couple of years I've felt lucky just to find people to go out as often as I want to, so for regular trips after work I never ask for gas money. If we take a road trip with friends, everyone chips in equally for tow gas and boat gas. The past few summers me and one buddy have gone out a lot, and he always offers money but I could never decide what was fair. Instead, he came over this fall and helped me with a major landscape project that I would still be working on without his help. He won't be paying for any gas for a long time.

I love taking newbies out and never take any money. Some of them that understand the costs will ask if we can stop for dinner on the way home and get the check. I'm cool with that.

[sparky216]

this gets me thinking.

Has anyone ever done a cost analysis of what your boating season costs? gas, maintenance, new equipment, registration, boat depriciation, truck gas, food, drink, insurance, etc.

Then devide it by the number of times you went out. I bet we'd all cry!

Thank God for the priceless memories and fun!

is 2much a number?

[scoot18]

PS. one of my friends that goes out with us everytime doese help me clean and wife down the boat. he pulls me because i dont realy trust my wife to do

I wanna see that!

[scoot18]

Kanna,

Just poking fun with the previous post..

Here in the south most people have been raised to ask and offer, "what can we do?" "what do you need us to do or provide?" what do you need us to bring?" That really helps as it opens the door for you to offer suggestions of what they can do to help. It makes it a lot easier if your guest offer on their own. It is tough to ask people whom you invited to pitch in for the expenses. But if they are friends worth having they should be doing that without your beating around the bush.

I like Domz sticker idea. I actually saved that and am going to have a few of those made up for my boat. "If thats ok Dom?"

Another suggestion is to buy a bunch of 5 gal gas cans and hand them out to your regulars. When they get invited or want to come, make sure they bring the can filled with fuel, that way when they arrive their admission is already taken care of.