Let me re-state my position. I am not against tipping, per se. What bothers me is not knowing how much to tip. As a person who has to budget for a trip, I need to know how much to set aside for tips.

I've been on quite a few charter boats where the mate's tip is 10 - 15% of the trip fare. The policy is stated up front, and it gives a range so better performance can be rewarded. So, if I want to go, I multiply the charter fare by 1.15, and I know how much money to bring. Why can't it always be that simple?