Happy Thursday! Capt. Chris here!
Thanks to everyone for responding to my blog on boat names – we have over 40 really cool and funny entries. If you haven’t seen them yet, check them out on this page.
My wife and I often invite people on our boat and the first question people ask is “What can I bring or how can I help? “ Here are some helpful tips for guests and hosts.
- Bring some food: We always tell our guests to bring chips and dip, fresh fruit or their favorite picnic dish, just no glass. Finger food works the best. Desserts are always a great treat for kids. We have a friend who makes a dirt cake to die for. It’s refreshing and cures the need for chocolate
- Offer to chip in for gas: One question that I always get asked is “Should I offer to pay for gas”. In my opinion, if you are with the captain when he fuels up, offering to chip in is fine. If you're out for the first time, then you are captain's guest, but if you're out every weekend, you should be chipping in for the weekend adventures.
A few years ago, I had a friend on our old boat. When we were done fueling, he gave his credit card to the gas dock attendant. I insisted to pay but my guest pleaded to pay for the fill up. When the slip came back for him to sign, the impression on his face was priceless. I can assure you that now he offers to chip in, not buy a tank of fuel.
- Help clean up: Finally, offer to clean up. It kills me when I get back to the dock and some people all of a sudden remember that they have to be somewhere else. If you're a frequent cruiser on a boat, then you should schedule time after your cruise to help the captain and his crew.
What advice do you have for your guests or hosts? And do you think you should offer to pay for gas?
Post your comments here. Would love to hear from you!