A Day at the Lake, Do you Foot the Bill?

[V153]

Re: A Day at the Lake, Do you Foot the Bill?

I foot the bill but accept all tips ...

 

[oldjeep]

Re: A Day at the Lake, Do you Foot the Bill?

And this group fills the gas tank before we leave and after we return, brings their own food plus food for me, washes and waxes (including the bilge) the boat once it's on the trailer, does light maintenance and repair, tops off the tow vehicle and buys dinner on the way home.

Still wouldn't be worth it

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: A Day at the Lake, Do you Foot the Bill?

I pay for gas, they bring themselves and everything else

and yes, that's my bayliner

 

[jaycozer]

Re: A Day at the Lake, Do you Foot the Bill?

Someone said a page ago, the experience for others can be much more than a little jingle(especially when little ones get out and have a little spin). I didn't grow up around rec. boating and only went out to the river(Colorado) with a buddy a few times during college. I brought beer, threw down a twenty for gas a couple of times. Obviously different now as a boat owner but when we can get out with any of our friends for either skiing or a bit of fishing with the kids in the bay I hope to have a great time. An even greater time when we can get a little help with the cleanup but if I end up cleaning the boat solo...it is what it is.

Most friends, if the are out more than once, realize what's involved and ask if there's anyway they can help. If someone asks I will only ask for help cleaning the boat up and if they chip in for gas it's on them. Good friends=good times!

 

[RIDEPATE]

Re: A Day at the Lake, Do you Foot the Bill?

I usually have a 6 year old and a 8 year old with me (Nowdays), so other than "Don't get in the boat wet", "Leave the ladder alone", "Eat those Da## cookies on the platform" ect.. ect.......I wish I had someone to ask for money.....................

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: A Day at the Lake, Do you Foot the Bill?

I have never asked for money but my wife and I ask that friends bring what they like to eat and drink unless they have been with us before, but thats more due to not knowing what they prefer more then anything. There are always exceptions like loading the boat with 12 people to make a run from Bullfrog to Rainbow Arch on Lake Powell we split gas between 3 families but has 2 coolers of refreshments/food. Any first timers on my boat know the rules in advance, most important to me is the no colored drinks except clear and yellow, I have a tan interior so blue, red and green gatorade is a nono. I have PFD's for most but sometimes I have to ask friends to provide for themselves in extreme cases...

I completely agree with SeanMcl's post though too...

 

[TimBobCom]

Re: A Day at the Lake, Do you Foot the Bill?

I typically will ask people to provide their own drinks (no red wine and preferably in aluminum or plastic containers) since I don't necessarily know what they want to drink and don't want to be stuck with a bunch of stuff I won't drink. I will also ask them to bring along any snacks or food unless we are going somewhere where I plan on grilling or to a waterfront restaurant. I keep 10 PFDs on my boat, but they are all adult sized, so if children are coming they will need to provide a PFD for their kids. I also keep a couple extra towels and sunscreen on board in case someone forgets, I would rather have my friends use what I have than be wet and sunburned because they forgot one of these items.

When it comes to true operating costs, most of my friends offer to kick in gas money, but I have never asked for it. I'm going to go out and burn the gas anyway so this isn't a big deal, but it is always nice when they offer (and pretty much guarantees another trip out on the water for them.)

Most of my friends will show up to my boat in the morning with a 12 pack of my favorite beer iced up and ready for me, which is always a nice gesture and pretty much guarantees another trip out.

My favorite passengers though are the ones that race me to the gas pump and swipe their own credit card before I get a chance to swipe mine. They ALWAYS will get another invite. I'll admit, I learned this trick before I owned a boat, and the first person I did this to was shocked when I didn't even flinch about a $200 gas bill for a weekend. I told them I couldn't rent a boat for $200 for the weekend so I had absolutely no problem filling up their boat at the end of the weekend (even though I was only accounting for 1/4 of the total guests on their boat that weekend.)

 

[Red_BOFUS]

Re: A Day at the Lake, Do you Foot the Bill?

I have a sign inside the head of my boat that read, ?This boat does not operate on thank you?. I bought it aimed at my wives leech friend that would tag along on the Great Loop and never offer to throw a line.

If I invite someone to come 99.9% of the time the offer to bring something along for chow. I always provide soft drinks and water and all other needed items. Heck we even have extra swim suits aboard.

I always tell them that they need to bring their own adult drinks as well.

On times like this weekend when I have brought in fifty dozen oysters, forty pounds of 10/15 shrimp, crawfish and some snapper; I provide that and each guest brings something to go with it.

Even when a friend offers to kick in some cash for gas, I mostly refuse it. Unless it were my wives leach friend, but she?s never offered in two years.

 

[soggy_feet]

Re: A Day at the Lake, Do you Foot the Bill?

Ive only once had to pay for gas for someone elses boat.
I set up some friends with a 28ft Silverton. I got them an amazing deal on it, because it needed a rear main seal on the 454, and then replaced the seal myself.
First time out of the bay, they were planning on going what they figured was about 15 gallons in the tank.. I mean, hey, we're only going a few miles.
Explained to them that was not how it worked, suggested they fill up, and after they put $150 in it, none of their credit cards would scan even though the money was in the account. I put that one on my card, after putting $120 in my own tank. Beats having to tow them home...

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: A Day at the Lake, Do you Foot the Bill?

If I invited you to go boating with me everything is on my dime.

If you invited yourself then be prepared to pay !!!!!.
The 30 pack of beer that you bring just doesn't work anymore.

To fill my boat it cost me over $800 bucks vs your $19.78 beer.

 

[AZSenza]

Re: A Day at the Lake, Do you Foot the Bill?

We invite people to go out with us, when we invite you, we're paying the bill. We have PLENTY of vests from infant to Plus Sizes, plenty of towels etc! I supply food, drinks and beer, if you want something more, thats up to you! I agree if someone asks to go out, maybe they can pony up a few gallons of high octane!