Is it common courtesy to pay for half the gas or the drinks when you are on someone else's boat all day?

Question

And ride the jet ski's and eat the food and make you stop at all the islands way out in the keys for like three days in a row?

Answer 1

Yes it is.  Remeber you have gas for the boat gas for the truck for starters.  Then if they provide food and drinks they are probably spening close to 75 bucks to take you out for the day if it is a ski boat or anything under 25 feet.  For the most part these boats have one engine and use about 15 to 30 gallons of gas for a day.  That can be less or more depending on the boat and what you are doing.  Give the person a 40 and you will bring a huge smile to their face.  Or say pull into the gas station on the way back and split the bill.  Do this or you might not get invited again.

Answer 2

you have to communicate... and no one "makes" you stop...you just need more backbone. if you invite someone, it usually means it's your treat...

Answer 3

I would at least make the offer.

Whether they accept or not is up to them, but at least you did the decent thing.

Answer 4

My   policy  has   always   been..............

I'll  bring  the   boat........   YOU   bring the  Beer.........   always  worked    pretty   fine............  always  had  a full   boat

Answer 5

I disagree with the above answers. I would never offer to pay 'half' for the gas. Boating is a little different from most other things, perhaps because of its origins (and existence) as a 'rich mans sport' It is customary in boating to oblige and be as good about these things to just about anyone you can. I have personally gone on many a fishing trip, sailing race etc. Where I come from, (and in the US where I have sailed in many locations) it would be an insult to offer somebody money in return for them sharing their hobby or sport with you, it would completely ruin the good nature of the gesture.

On the other hand, I would always return the favour, they would now have a contact, and if they really went out of their way I would certainly think about a very nice bottle of port. Oh and I would never show up on the boat empty handed, even if I knew my host was well stocked.

Basically the rule is money should never change hands between friends, especially friends wealthy enough to own boats. But if I were buying them a bottle of port/wine I would probably make it roughly the same price as my share of gas and food eaten.

If these guests have been on your boat a lot and shown no appreciation for it stop taking them rather than demanding money.

EDIT

Fair enough, reviewing answers below it is apparent that the customs I have experienced cannot be generalised. The kinds of sailing I have done have been in extremely affluent places (not to say that I am..) So I will rephrase my answer to say that it completely depends on context.  You really have to be the judge. Do you think they are trying to 'freeload' or are just awkward about your goodwill and don't want to bring it up? It also depends on the context of the invite..

'we are going for a sail on Sunday if you'd like to come along-offer of cash wouldn't be expected

would you like to take the boat out on Sunday - offer may be expected

basically if you were going out already, then they're not putting you out, if the trip is dedicated to all of you going out it may be a different story.

Answer 6

I grew up poor, the son of teachers, and was raised to always pay my way. That being said, my mentor and best friend, is a very successful real estate lawyer. During the summers, on weekends I don't have my daughter, I meet him and friends at his lake house.

I always try to pay for boat gas, and he always refuses. So I always try to help buy food, beer, and help cook and clean. He knows some people try to take advantage of him. But he also says I'm the only one he considers a true friend because I'm not a free loader.

Answer 7

There is a fine line between being a guest and being a paying passenger and it can put you in a legal situation if someone gets hurt.

As the captain and owner, you are responsible for the safety of all aboard maybe even if they get injured while off the boat on one of the stops you make for them.

It can be the same if you give a ride to someone in your car and they give you gas money and you have an accident.

You could be providing a charter service without a license and adequate insurance without knowing it.

You know how crooked the courts and judges are.  If they can get some money out of you, they will, all in the name of justice.

We all know that courts are just a revenue generator for the towns they are in.

Don't get me started.

Be carefull what you accept from your quests so that you don't end up being liable beyond reason.

Best Wishes

*

Answer 8

If someone offers me help with expenses i consider the reason they are there. Special guest I would never except money from but regular guest I sure would. If I was invited I would ask to help with expenses. If no is the answer then help other ways with lunch, drinks, ice , ect. When I go fishing for day with my friends and we take their boat I try to pay for fuel or lunch and other needs. The more you help the more you will be invited back.

Answer 9

It really depends on the situation. A one time thing, no one would expect you to pay for the gas, but if you meet every weekend, then for sure the offer should be made.

Answer 10

If you offer the first time rider to go then then don't expect it unless the guest is another boater.  Non boaters don't really thing if it. At least I didn't the first time.

Once they have been with you then I wouldn't wait for the offer,make it clear from the beginning. If your gonna be with me then better have a j-o-b and pay for half.

Answer 11

They should have offered, but then again, if you invited them without saying something about them chipping in, you kinda brought it on yourself!  You should be specefic when asking someone to join you on the boat, so they don't think you are just being nice and paying for everything!  Something like....How about we all pitch in for gas and food and go out on the boat together this weekend?

Answer 12

As you can see there are many different opinions on this issue.  It really depends on the situation.  If I have invited guests for a one time day of boating, I would not expect them to pay for half the gas, etc.  If I needed help with refreshments I would have made that clear in the invitation, such as indicating that people should bring what they wanted to drink.

Not all boat owners are rich.  Many are not even moderately well to do.   My husband and I were living on a modest pension.  Often friends accompanied my husband and I on our sailboat for a day of cruising.  They often brought food or helped out in other ways.   We did not expect them to do so if we invited them, and we would not have accepted money from them.  But the help they did give was very welcome.  

In the cruising, live aboard community, people always pay their own way.  If you are invited aboard someone's boat for a day or an evening, you always contribute.

Answer 13

My wife won't let me accept gas money when we have guests over. However, boats use a lot of gas and the price of gas, well, sucks. It certainly can't hurt to offer to pay for some gas or bring something along.

Answer 14

Yes, unless your out with a guy that like you.

Answer 15

It depends on the relationship you have with the people and what they have said.

Most friends won't accept money (although some will), but it would be great to bring alcohol (or cokes), food, etc.

We have a boat that stays at the marina.  Of course, people love to go out on it, but never offer to help out with the costs associated with it, so we've pretty much stopped inviting people or letting them invite themselves.

It's easy to run a tank of gas in a cabin cruiser in 1/2 a day - that's about $200 and could be close to $400 if you stay out  ALL day.  Jet skis cost about $30 - $40 to fill up and need to be filled up at least twice.  Then you add booze and food to that and it adds up quickly.

They may have a bunch of money and not care about the costs, but I would definately try to bring stuff to help out.

Answer 16

Its definately common coutesy in any situation where someone is providing you with food or access to a boat or 4 wheeler or their house or anything for you to offer to pay for your part.

Answer 17

It seems like the only sensible thing to do, you could at least offer.  I know that I have gone places with people and I always ask what my share of the cost is.  I would feel more comfortable being there, and if they say no it don't cost you anything, I'll always leave some money tucked away somewhere. But I could not imagine doing something like what your talking about and Not offer to help with the expenses. Sounds like mooches.

Answer 18

not if you invited them. If you wanted halfsies you should have said "Hey. let's go in halves on a trip".