BoatUS.com - Seaworthy Magazine

Seaworthy Magazine: Why File a Float Plan?

Several times each season, BoatUS Marine Insurance gets a phone call from a distressed spouse--a boat is overdue. Maybe the missing skipper "is always home by a certain hour" or "has never been this late before." The overdue skipper almost always calls; everything is fine. But a lot of worry and frustration could have been prevented by taking a few minutes to file a float plan.

A float plan lets your family and friends know your whereabouts and, should a trip come to grief, the plan will give the searchers a valuable head start locating your boat.

There are two ways to file a float plan. The first, and the simplest for day trips, is to use your VHF to file a float plan with one of the TowBoatUS or Vessel Assist towers listed in the BoatUS Towing Guide that accepts float plans (click here for the key to the Guide to help you figure out who accepts Float Plans). On longer trips, you may also want to file the BoatUS Float Plan on the next page with your spouse and/or a friend.

The Float Plan starts with the basics: phone numbers to be called if the boat is overdue, a description of the boat, registration numbers, etc., that can be penciled in at the start of the season. Copies can then be made and details added before each trip.

Note: The Coast Guard does not accept float plans and should only be notified by your spouse or friend if there is a "deviation" (you are overdue) from the float plan.

To view the Float Plan in Adobe PDF format Click Here. When the Float Plan opens you can also save it to your computer or print it.

To get your FREE Adobe Acrobat Reader Click Here

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