Just curious if you guys tip your tow boats?

We took a tow across Burntside Lake this past June, and of course, when we got to the Crab Lake portage we had NO cash on us, so I felt like a giant d-hole for not tipping our driver...

and of course on the way back when we decided to take out a few days early, in a deluge no less... the drivers/tow was at the Crab Lake EP within 40 minutes!!!!

Also didn't have cash... so we went to the ATM and drove out of our way back into town to the outfitters to tip our 3 drivers. It only seemed right.

I gave each driver/helper $20.

I was curious what you guys do, or what is customary?

How much are you supposed to tip, or what is fair?

I tip 15%.

While I haven't taken a tow in probably five years, I use to on Moose to PP. $20 for the tow - for 2 to 4 people.

Going back to tip was a class act all the way! I always tip, and I start at $10. I only go up from there, and that depends on the service. Last July, for example, the driver (at PP), after taking all of our gear out of the boat, lugged our canoe up on his shoulders and carried it across the portage to the put in. I have never had this experience before, so I gave him a $20.

Yep, i always tip. At least $10.

Yes, based on how much I make them do, though I feel pretty awkward having them carry my stuff in/out like I'm a tourist. Last trip I was quite disorganized when trying to get into the boat initially. My tow guy was pretty patient and carried some of my stuff to the boat as I packed the last couple loose items into my bags. I went $20 or $30 for that guy.

Had a younger guy that was baked out of his mind a different time. I appreciated that bro laughing his toasted butt off at every bad joke I had, but he was pretty worthless aside from that. No tip that round.

20 each way per boat..........

We usually have 2 towboats for 6 guys. Tips end up being about 80 bucks. I always pay it, and since I do all the trip planning, it gets rolled into the costs of everything else.

The guys know about it..........but they always bitch about it :) .

For me..........the drivers don't make much, and I'm getting old and the loading/unloading is always appreciated.

It is all good.

Later,

Geo

I can understand how this happened because we could never get 8 guys to bring extra cash for the drivers. We know the price of the tow, so we assign one guy to be the tip guy. It is his responsibility to give the tips out. Then he turns it in at the end of the trip as his expense that will get split between the group. We found it works better this way because everyone would have $1s or $20s in their pocket and never the right amount. This way there is no problems.

Geez! I feel like a doofus!
It never even occurred to me to tip.

quote GreyOwl: "Geez! I feel like a doofus!
It never even occurred to me to tip."

Feeling like a doofus, the one and only time we went to Crab/Cummings, we paddled across Burntside in and out. Not realizing tows were the way to go.

Tipping for a tow is something I have never thought about before. The one and only time we used a tow was 30+ years ago when we were young and going into Crab. And recently graduated and on our honeymoon so we didn't have any money anyhow even if we had thought about it. It appears most people on this thread do tip, which I will remember if I ever take a tow again.

quote GreyOwl: "Geez! I feel like a doofus!
It never even occurred to me to tip."

Gosh, me neither, and I'm typically a very generous tipper? Haven't had a tow since the '90's or early 2000's, myself.

I don't tip just 'cause society says I have to...
But, seriously $10

quote GreyOwl: "Geez! I feel like a doofus!
It never even occurred to me to tip."

same - but I really should

I have only used a tow a couple times and I tipped the kid $10 or $20 when we got to the drop off. If it's a nasty day especially, I have no problem handing over $20 to a college kid that will be driving back and forth all day to haul other people's stuff.

quote Savage Voyageur: "I can understand how this happened because we could never get 8 guys to bring extra cash for the drivers. We know the price of the tow, so we assign one guy to be the tip guy. It is his responsibility to give the tips out. Then he turns it in at the end of the trip as his expense that will get split between the group. We found it works better this way because everyone would have $1s or $20s in their pocket and never the right amount. This way there is no problems. "

Correct.....It works out easy that way too.

quote GeoFisher: "20 each way per boat..........


We usually have 2 towboats for 6 guys. Tips end up being about 80 bucks. I always pay it, and since I do all the trip planning, it gets rolled into the costs of everything else.


The guys know about it..........but they always bitch about it :) .


For me..........the drivers don't make much, and I'm getting old and the loading/unloading is always appreciated.


It is all good.


Later,


Geo"

I should say, buddies gripe about total costs, not tips.

Seems my trips have been going up more than normal, as we add better food, and growlers of beer, and better bourbon :) :) .

This is a worthwhile thread and good reminder. It would be very easy for it not to dawn on you to give a tow driver a tip. Same for shuttles to/from EP's -- my first time, must have been back in '95-96 or so, I got a ride to/from Mudro via VNO. Wasn't until maybe 5 yrs ago that I realized a tip had been in order.... and now I still feel bad about it!! Was a young, I think Native American kid, friendly & helpful, and I stiffed him just because I didn't have a clue.

I'd recommend a little "Tips are Appreciated" sign or sticker in the vans/boats.

I know some guys that are older and they need lots of help with Bottle Portage after the LLC tow and the kids out of Anderson's always haul all of their heavy stuff for them. They tip in the range of $50-75 and the driver usually brings them cold beers for the tow back to Crane. Sounds like one hell of a deal to me, ice cold suds for the 2 hour tow back after a week in the bush= heaven.

I'm an old school kind of guy. I do 90% of my transactions with cash or checks. I don't even have a credit card. My wife has one so if I need one for holding a hotel or to reserve a permit I use her's. Always bring cash. It's very light and packs small.

We tipped our tow boat driver $30 for the two of us for a Crane to LLC tow. $30 felt about right.

quote bfurlow: "I have only used a tow a couple times and I tipped the kid $10 or $20 when we got to the drop off. If it's a nasty day especially, I have no problem handing over $20 to a college kid that will be driving back and forth all day to haul other people's stuff. "

Same here. Especially when they help unload, weather, tow length/time spent etc. ...

For the round trip from Moose to Ensign I've always tipped $50 but the outfitter also didn't charge for the 2 boys when they were 2-6 years old and only 40 lbs or so.

I have 10 toes? Can I get a tip?

Seriously, I have not had any tows but have had outfitters drive and drop us off at the entry point. Always tip. About $20 each way.

Well Dang. We didn't tip. It occurred to us halfway home that maybe we should have tipped.

Although I feel somewhat less bad, the owner towed us across. We did rent canoes, stay over, etc.

Pretty sure that none of us had cash on our persons.

i would always tip the tow driver. the amount determined by the "trip". obviously there won't be much conversation due to noise but there is the load/unloading, safety issues and then some time while loading and loading to ask questions. you can always get their name and then send them a tip via mail. summer staff might also like a gift card to the local grocery store or things like that. recognition with their employer is also a great idea. employers love hearing their staff did an amazing job.

I once tipped a tow driver $20 and a half a stick of Schmidt's summer sausage.
That particular tow driver was from the area where Schmidt's meat market is located. So it was a taste of home for him.

Yup.....I tip the tow drivers and vehicle shuttle drivers. I also try to leave $5 on the bunk bed for the cleaning people.

Only tow I ever took was Gunflint over to the Granite. I tipped him 20. Then he carried my big pack so I thought, hey... This money isn't worth much to me out there. (I was in for another month) so I gave him another 20. I told him though, I didn't have enough for too many more portage's so I better take it from there. Haha.

Lots of nice considerate folks on the board. I also applaud those who admitted it had not occurred to them to tip. Not always so easy to admit stuff like that.

I used to work as a waiter at Paradise Inn. What a great place. When I was learning the job I shadowed a very experienced older waiter. When one table left what I considered a small tip I mentioned it in a disapproving fashion to him. I never forgot what he said......" never, ever, complain about a tip"

To that end, tip what you can. If your young guys struggling a bit then give $5, if your established and doing well then give $20. My motto for tipping is "if everyone gives a little then you do well"

Nice informative thread. We tip usually $5.00 PP and more if extra service like carrying canoe and more if distance is longer like up Moose and then beyond.

Yes. $20 per boat. Usually we have 3-4 guys and one driver.
I make sure to have a $20 on me for once we're unloaded.

We used Jordan's this year for our extra canoe, bunkhouse, before breakfast, parking our car, and the ride to and from EP. We were early getting back. I called and he came early. It was all worth a 15% tip for the whole bill. Him coming early got us going home early. Worth every penny. I want the good ones to stay in business.