Recommended Contributions

Many people that want to attend these sexy little parties but don't own a boat, email me all the time to ask what is the customary amount to offer the captain of a boat that offers them a ride, or a boat to host them and let them hang out on all day, or even a boat to sleep on at night. Much the same as cruise ships have their recommended tipping guides outlining the amounts that everyone should tip all of those on the ship, this chart is to be used as a the suggested minimum contributions that you should make to the captain of your host boat. Please remember that these contributions are made directly to the boat captain of your host boat, and are in addition to any donations or contributions that you make to the Bella Vita Boat Club. When looking at these suggested contributions, please keep in mind that most boat owners pay over $50,000 for a day boat, and hundreds of thousands of dollars for boats over 30 feet, so they have huge expenses. Most boats also burn about 15 gallons per hour per engine when cruising.  Fuel at the marinas is about $3.50 - $4.00 per gallon so the boat costs about $60 per hour for a single engine, and $120 per hour for twin engines when the boat is cruising about 20-25 mph. If you're on a boat with air-conditioning, then the generator burns about 1/2 - 1 gallon per hour so costs about $50 - $100 per day to operate, or $100 - $200 for the entire weekend if it's run 24 hours a day. So please keep all of this in mind when calculating your contributions to your hosting boat captain and give cheerfully, because whatever you're paying him, his actual costs are several times that amount.

Ride To The Party: (Option A)  $5 per person A ride from Haulover Boat ramps to the party at Temptation Island.  This is the standard contribution for someone that is meeting you at the boat ramps at the time they are departing, and they are NOT making a special trip to get you.  This is the appropriate contribution amount if you arrive on time for your ride.  If you're late and you make the boat captain wait for you, then the "On Demand" contribution amount shown below applies.

Ride To The Party, Special Trip, (On Demand) $25 for up to 2 people. If you make arrangements for someone to make a special trip to pick you up and take you to the party, or return you to the boat ramp from the party, then $25 for the first two people, plus $10 for each additional person is the minimum appropriate amount.

A Boat To Hang Out On: (Option B) $20 per person, or $40 for single guys. When someone invites you to use their boat as your "home base" and hang out on their boat all day, then this contribution amounts to the donation they had to pay to Bella Vita Boat Club to attend the party.  So your contribution amount is basically reimbursing them for their party contribution expense. The contribution outlined above is for a "day-boat" or if you are just hanging outside of a cabin cruiser or luxury yacht.  If you are staying on a boat where the host opens his entire boat for you with the ability to cool off in an air-conditioned salon and have access to a bathroom and possibly a shower, then an additional $10-$15 more per person is appropriate.

Spending The Night On A Boat: (Option C) $25 per person, or $50 for single guys. This is the appropriate contribution to someone that invites you to stay overnight on their boat and they provide a basic air-conditioned space for you.  It might be a couch or an air-mattress, but it is in air-conditioned comfort. If you are offered your own private cabin, then an additional $20 per person with a $40 minimum is appropriate if you bring your own linens, and an additional $20 more if you don't.

Food, Drinks & Meals: $20 per person per day. Is the appropriate amount for food only.  Most captains will ask you to bring your own favorite drinks in a small cooler since they don't know what your favorite drink is.  So just consider the party BYOB. Please keep in mind that this doesn't mean the captain is providing you with waiter/butler/maid services or that you can order off a menu.  They are cooking whatever meals it is they are cooking for themselves and they are just making extra and are including you in their party activities.

Also... You might be getting a ride from one boat captain and then hanging out on the boat of another captain.  If that's the case, just make sure that you make the appropriate contributions to the appropriate captains.

To give you an example of some mathematics, if you are a couple coming to the party on Saturday and staying overnight and leaving Sunday morning, then you'd pay $5 each for a ride, $20 each to hang out on a boat, $25 each to sleep on an air mattress in an air-conditioned salon, $20 each for all your meals for a total of: $140 If that sounds like a lot, then just compare it with the price of a hotel that would cost you $100 and a night at a swing club costing $75 and at least 3 meals in restaurants for 2 people costing over $100, for a total cost of over $275.  And keep in mind that the swing club party would only last a few hours... NOT all weekend long like our parties do.  So this really is the greater value for your money. Or if you're just coming out for the day, then all you need is $5 each for a ride and $20 each to have a boat as your home base to keep your towels and small cooler with drinks and food, so your entire day is only $50.

Please make all arrangements directly with your hosting boat captain.  These are suggested minimum amounts.  The captain has the full right to request any amount he desires.  You can also make him an offer of any amount you'd like using these suggestions as a guideline.

If you see someone that registered to attend the party and they are not offering to host anyone on their boat, you can still contact them directly and offer to contribute to their expenses, and tell them the amount you'd like to pay.  The worst thing that can happen is they say "no thank you". You can also include in your postings that you're looking for a host boat, and whatever you're looking for and that you'd like to pay the Bella Vita suggested amount, or the total amount you are willing to pay.  This will always get you lots of offers to stay on a boat.