Before heading out on the water for any length of time, boaters should always
check the marine weather forecast, ensure all their safety equipment is on
board and meets state and Federal requirements, AND file a Float Plan.
A Float Plan is nothing more than a trip itinerary a boater leaves with
a reliable relative or friend who can contact the appropriate authorities
in the event the boater does not return when expected. The Float Plan outlines
a description of the vessel, the expected route, ports of call, safety equipment
on board and an estimated date and time of return. If the operator or passengers
have a medical condition or are taking medication, that information should
be included as well.
One of the U.S. Coast Guard's primary missions is search and rescue. However,
boaters can help limit search time if they leave behind a Float Plan. Too
often in the past, valuable time was lost because there was very little information
available when initiating the search. Another thing boaters seem to overlook
is notifying those back home when schedules change or unexpected delays occur.
There have been cases in the past where boaters were reported overdue and
then later found safe and sound at some distant marina or at some shoreside
establishment. Boaters should always notify those back home when they will
be delayed or if they decide to change their itinerary.
The PDF float plan at our site is designed to print out on one page.
We've also included a DOC version so that you may pre-print information about
your boat and other known information about your crew.