I'm the friend with a Boat

How do you handle the "FRIENDS" that only seem to come around when its boating season?

  • Make Them Walk the Plank

    Votes: 5 7.5%

  • Take them boating and make comments about all the work you did over the winter prepping the boat

    Votes: 2 3.0%

  • Just enjoy being out on the water again (and make them pay for all the gas)

    Votes: 13 19.4%

  • Just enjoy being on the water

    Votes: 47 70.1%
  • Total voters
    67
  • Poll closed .
Part of the fun of having the boat is to go out with friends. Ours are good friends that we alternate going to each others house etc. We just happen to be the ones with the big boat. Our typical outing involves us providing the boat (with fuel) and they provide all the food and drinks. Always seems fair to us because even if they didn't come, we still would have gone out on the boat.
 
I would be careful of allowing passengers/guests to give you any money at all, for fuel or whatever. That could put you in the position of being a "for hire" skipper and could violate the provisions of your insurance company.
 
Most of our friends who we've taken out boating and particularly dinner by boat insist on picking up the tab as a way to say thank you. It's really not expected of them but it certainly is a classy way to get their point across that they appreciate us as their hosts for the day.
 
We have an open invitation out to all of our friends. If we are boating they are welcome. I never accept money. We have some friends who go to great lengths to pick up the tab for lunch and dinner over our protests. These are usually friends who have been with us when we've had to hit the gas dock. I have one friend who would kill to own a boat, but his admiral can't swim and refuses to let him. He always finds a way to leave a $100 bill somewhere in our condo when we aren't looking. But these are all year round friends. I don't have any that are just around because of the boat.
 
Moondoggie said:
Reminds me of a friend of mine who sold to Horse Farms in Ocala. He was invited out on one of the owners Sportfish yacht and being the guy he was, he offered to buy the fuel. He is use to buying maybe 10 or 15 gallons on the boats he usually would go on. He laughed and said he was glad the owner did not take him up on the offer when he hit 300 gallons and was still pumping.
Click to expand...

I had a friend offer to buy fuel one time. She took 110 gallons @ 4.599. His eyes got really big as the meter kept going and he was relieved when I asked him if he still wanted to pay... and let him off the hook. lol.
 
Steve S said:
I had a friend offer to buy fuel one time. She took 110 gallons @ 4.599. His eyes got really big as the meter kept going and he was relieved when I asked him if he still wanted to pay... and let him off the hook. lol.
Click to expand...
Similar story.... Took a friend out for a ride and told him I needed to hit the fuel dock first. "Hey, let me get that", he said. I had been planning to buy fuel anyway as we had returned from a long trip the week before. The boat held 600 gallons and I bought 425. He about crapped when he saw the bill at $2,125. I let him off the hook after I messed with him a bit.

As someone else said I usually tell them to bring their drinks. We've been fortunate in that we have never really had friends that didn't get it.
 
Most of the time they will ask if they can help with fuel, etc. I then usually say "no need, it's all good". If we stop somewhere for a drink or dinner, they usually pick up those tabs for the Wife and I. That works for us. Other times they show up with a favorite refreshment to share. It all works out, we don't expect anything, but if they offer the above we usually except. Never do we ask for fuel $$
 
We find that guests interfere with our boating. We've only so much time, when we go out we're going some where, see ya' in a few days. Short afternoon cruises waste the day. Once in awhile we do invite others along but they have to adjust and fit out plans, we don't change ours and often it ends up 'maybe next time'.

As far as $$$, I don't invite some one and then expect them to pay. Drop in visitors are always welcome but I don't change my plans for them. If we aren't already planning to take the boat out, some booze, food, and maybe a party is all they'll get.
 
I appreciate when people offer to bring something or offer to buy fuel compared to people who just show up empty handed.
Those who offer, I usually tell them to bring what they want to eat or drink.
 
We do the Christmas Lighted Boat Parade every year and always have a boat full of people. The first night of the parade (Friday) is for friends to join us, but we also donate a cruise for two to our local Junior Achievement to auction off at their fund raiser. It usually brings about $200 and the winning couple get to join us.

Saturday night is for relatives and we always have a boat load.

Both nights we ask people to bring their favorite finger food dish to share and whatever they want to drink. Most of the time we end up with about 20 people on board and a good time is had by all.
 
MikeBiggers said:
There will always be people who are friends for the sake of something other than friendship when you have something like https://2yachts.com/boat/1803-azimut--43-s It makes me sad, but its true
Click to expand...
There so many philosophers on this site unbelievable. All have a great day. And to all who helped me out the other 2 day's, once again thank you I finished today, all working well, tomorrow boating thanks again.
 
I have friends who come on the boat and offer to pay for gas. So I tell them how much gas we will go through for the day’s excursion, and I’m always amused to see their jaw hit the floor. That’s usually the point where I laugh and tell them not to worry about it. Most landlubbers have no clue and it’s always amusing to me. :)
 
The boat is our home away from home with limited time to use so we don't bring company along. Luckily, our best friends are the ones with their own boats at the marina.
 
I find I have to remember that non-boat owning friends need time to plan. No, you don't need a spare change of clothing, no a tux is not required... Not sure why but maybe when you own a boat the concept of just going to the water requires minimal planning or thought?
 
We are 3 hours from the boat, that makes it hard for even our close friends to get away, and after learning what a crapshoot Lake Michigan weather can be, some do not want to even try. That is why we have a dock full of boating friends. We had 45 people a few weeks ago for a winter get together dinner. So fun...

MM
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,120
Messages
1,426,604
Members
61,037
Latest member
wojozobl
Back
Top