Why You Need a Float Plan, & other Safety Measures

*This Article was published on 08/12/2019 and was updated 4/20/2021*

Safety should be everyone’s priority when onboard a vessel on the water. Tragedy can strike quickly, and without a plan in place, you’re left at the mercy of the elements. Having a float plan not only gives you peace of mind but can also save lives. So, just what is a float plan? A float plan is a document detailing the boating plans for the duration of the planned trip. It includes important aspects of the trip such as departure time, expected time of return, the number of passengers, safety equipment on board, and much more. The whole point is to make it easier to find your vessel if something happens to go wrong. It also lets rescuers know how many people to look for in case your group is separated.

I cannot stress the importance of a float plan enough. If no one knows where you are, they will have no idea where to look for you, or that you are even missing. Just imagine going ten or fifteen miles offshore, out into the ocean with your family, and having your vessel capsize. What do you do once you realize your radio and safety equipment are now sinking into the ocean and no one has any idea that you and your family are on the water? Sadly, this situation has happened before and the outcome is rarely positive. If you have a float plan in place, then people will look for you, and they will know where to look. Having a float plan is not just a smart choice, it is absolutely essential. Without a float plan in place, you are putting yourself, and any passengers you carry, at risk.

Filling Out a Float Plan – *USCG Approved*

1. The first thing to do is to use a premade float plan similar to the one seen here. This is the United States Coast Guard’s official float plan that they recommend for everyday use. This float plan covers everything that someone who may be looking for you will need to know. Make sure to fill out this float plan with as much detail as possible. The more information that you enter, the better. Even things that may seem to be unimportant to you may be beneficial to a rescuer.

Click HERE or on the image to be taken to a downloadable version.

2. One aspect many people tend to overlook is filling out the passenger information accurately and completely. Each passenger or crew member needs to be thoroughly documented. This way each person is accounted for and in the case of an emergency, rescuers know exactly who they're looking for. You should list each person's name, age, gender, contact number, and any note of interest about the person such as a medical condition. You may be surprised to learn just how important this information can be in an emergency situation. This type of identification information allows rescuers to plan accordingly.

"You should list each person's name, age, gender, contact number, and any note of interest about the person such as a medical condition."

3. Once your float plan is complete, decide on two or more responsible family members or friends to leave your float plan with. We emphasize the word responsible as you definitely want to choose individuals that you know that you can count on. Make sure that they understand when you are expected to return and when they should try to contact you if they haven't heard from you. These simple steps can go a long way in removing confusion and unnecessary calls. Also, make sure that each person you leave the float plan with grasps the importance of the float plan and that they fully understand the steps they need to follow to ensure that help is on the way.

4. Provide your float plan guardians with contact info for emergency personnel. This isn’t just “call 911 if you don't hear from me”. It means that you need to provide them with the emergency contact phone numbers for entities such as the United States Coast Guard and the Marine Patrol as well as any other agencies in your area that assist with search and rescue. If they do not know who to call when you are missing, precious time will be lost that could prevent a timely rescue. By ensuring that they not only have the numbers to call but know who to call first is an essential step in protecting the safety of everyone on board.

"If they do not know who to call when you are missing, precious time will be lost that could prevent a timely rescue."

5. Always consider the weather before going out on the water. The weather can be unpredictable and being constantly aware of changing patterns is the smartest thing you can do. The last thing you need is to be unprepared for inclement weather. It’s best to have a portable waterproof weather radio so you can be aware of minute-to-minute weather changes. There is also a multitude of apps available that can keep you aware of changes in the weather. Make sure to contact your float plan guardians with any changes to the float plan due to the weather. This way they do not make unneeded calls when you arrive an hour late because of a detour.

6. Make every effort you can to contact your float plan guardians if anything significant changes while out on the water. Your float plan guardians need to be aware of your arrival is postponed by an hour or if you are making a stop that will add time to your journey. They don’t need to worry, or even worse, make calls to emergency personnel that isn't needed. Give your float plan guardians the same consideration that you would expect. By staying in contact with your float plan guardians, or at the very least, contacting them when circumstances change, you prevent wasted resources and unneeded worrying.

7. Always close out your float plan with your float plan guardians, marina, or agency you have left it with to avoid wasting resources. We really cannot stress this enough. It is important to keep those people you have trusted in mind. Imagine you left the float plan with your mother and didn’t call her to close it out. Just imagine how frantic and upset she would be. Treat your float plan guardians with the same respect you give to your mother or someone you love or respect. This will save unnecessary calls to emergency personnel and resources that could potentially be wasted. 

"Always close out your float plan with your float plan guardians, marina, or agency you have left it with to avoid wasting resources."

All of the steps above are meant to help you properly learn to fill out, use, and close out a float plan. Some people tend to use their own float plan rather than the USCG version. While we recommend using the USCG version, if you chose to use a pre-made float plan, simply follow the steps below. We will outline what you need to do to ensure that you have taken care of everything.

Float Plan – Developing your Own

If you decide you want to make your own float plan there are a variety of things to factor in. Do not just put a few small pieces of information and expect it to be of much help. When making your own float plan, include everything a rescuer might need to know. The first thing to consider when creating a float plan is what information is going to be on it. Below you’ll see a shortlist of some of the more important things to include on your float plan.

Name and information about the owner/operator – This should include detailed information about the person operating the vessel. You should list their home address, contact phone number, and where the vehicle they used to tow the boat has been parked. That last part can make it easier for rescue teams to verify that you are missing.

Information about passengers – This should be a list of everyone who will be on the boat with you. It should include their name, age, gender, phone number, and any pertinent information such as medical conditions. By adding this information, you are giving potential rescuers another tool that will aid in rescue attempts.

Trip details – Your trip details are things like your departure times, return times, reasons for stopping, locations you will be checking in, and the date and times of those preplanned stops and locations. Think about it like an itinerary where each activity is broken out into steps. This will make locating you much simpler as they can determine where the last place you were seen was at.

Vessel information – This is where you would list the make, model, year, color, and size of your vessel. You want to be sure to list any prominent features such as stripes or patterns that may decorate the hull of your boat. You also want to list the registration number of your boat and the method of propulsion your vessel uses.

Communication equipment on board – It is important for the people attempting to rescue you to be able to try various forms of contact. This is why you need to list your radio call sign, the type of radio you intend to use, the channel or frequency that you plan to monitor, and your cell phone number. This way every attempt to reach you can be made before a search and rescue operation is launched.

Safety equipment on board – It is important to list all of the safety equipment that you will have on board. Things like visible distress signals and audible distress signals as well as gear such as your anchor and its line length, number of extinguishers, raft, and anything else that can be used to help in an emergency. Additionally, this is a good place to list any navigation equipment that you will be carrying such as a compass, radar, maps, GPS devices, and the like.

Once you have your float plan made out, make sure you give it to at least two responsible family members or friends that you can trust. Make sure that they are aware of when you are expected to return and when they should try to contact you if you haven’t contacted them. Additionally, make sure that they understand the importance of the float plan and the steps they need to follow to ensure that help is on the way. By doing these simple things you greatly increase your odds of a quick and successful rescue. Now that you have a firm understanding of the importance of float plans and the right way to fill one out, let’s take a quick look at some general tips that can make your boating trip safer for everyone involved.

General Tips

Keeping up with maintenance schedules and being preemptive will go a long way in preventing engine trouble or failure while on the water. Something as simple as an annual checkup may do the trick, but you’re likely going to still run into the occasional problem. The best idea is to examine your boat from top to bottom and make any needed adjustments before every boating trip.

This goes hand and hand with the idea above. Make sure that all your fluids are properly maintained, but more than that, make sure they are full and that you have spare fluid with you on board.

Carrying a single flare is not enough. That general idea can be applied to most, if not all, emergency equipment. Carrying spare emergency supplies can be life-saving in the right situations.

This one cannot be stressed enough. Just because you have completed all the required maintenance does make your vessel impervious to problems. Having a complete toolset on board and knowing how to use them will save you a tremendous amount of trouble in the long run.

Boating in a new location can be somewhat unnerving at times. Properly researching the area where you plan to be boating is a smart way to stay one step ahead. Using tools such as Google Maps can help out tremendously in giving you an idea about an area long before you ever actually go there.

Before going out on weekend-long trips to a new location one hundred miles away, get to know your boat. It doesn’t matter how many boats you’ve driven; each one is different. Set time for a day where you can take a new boat out on the water where you are already familiar. This is the perfect opportunity to get a good feel for the boat.

By creating your float plan or using a preexisting one you ensure your safety and the safety of all your passengers. You make it easier for rescuers to find you and potentially save lives. This coupled with the general tips on being prepared that we gave you will help you get the most out of your day on the water. Remember, enjoy your day by playing it smart.