Filing a Float Plan (and Why)

Why Float Plans Save Lives

A float plan is the single most effective piece of safety equipment that costs nothing and weighs nothing. When something goes wrong on the water — mechanical failure, capsizing, medical emergency, or simply getting lost — the difference between a quick rescue and an extended search often comes down to whether anyone on shore knows where you are, what your boat looks like, and when you were expected back.

Without a float plan, the Coast Guard doesn't know you're missing until someone reports you overdue — which might be hours or days after the incident. Even then, they have to start from zero: what kind of boat? How many people? Where were they headed? What safety equipment do they have? A float plan answers all of these questions before the search begins, dramatically narrowing the search area and accelerating the response.

What to Include

A thorough float plan covers five categories: the vessel description, the people aboard, the trip details, the safety equipment carried, and the communication plan.

For the vessel, include the boat name and registration or documentation number, hull type and color, length, distinguishing features (T-top, tower, distinctive graphics), motor type and quantity, fuel capacity, and trailer (with license plate number if trailered). The more specific you are, the easier it is for searchers to identify your boat from a distance or from the air.

For the people, list every person aboard with their full name, age, and any medical conditions that would affect rescue priorities (diabetes requiring insulin, heart conditions, mobility limitations). Include a cell phone number for each person if possible.

For the trip, describe your departure point, intended route, planned stops, destination, expected return time, and alternative plans if weather changes. Be specific about the route — "fishing offshore" is less useful than "departing Marina X, heading to the reef at GPS coordinates Y, then returning via the inlet at Z."

For safety equipment, list your VHF radio and DSC MMSI number, cell phone (with carrier, since coverage varies by area), flares (type and quantity), PFDs (number and type), fire extinguishers, anchor and rode, first aid kit, EPIRB or PLB (with registration number), and any other emergency equipment. This tells the Coast Guard what resources you have for self-rescue and survival while they're en route.

For the communication plan, specify check-in intervals (if applicable) and the deadline after which your shore contact should call the Coast Guard. A reasonable deadline is typically 2–4 hours past your expected return time, accounting for normal delays like slow fishing days, waiting for a bridge opening, or stopping for fuel.

Who to Leave It With

Your shore contact should be someone who will actually follow through — not someone who'll assume you're fine and go to bed. Choose a person who understands boating enough to distinguish between "they're probably just running late" and "something might be wrong," and who is willing to call the Coast Guard if the deadline passes without contact.

Good choices include family members, marina staff (if they offer the service), yacht club duty officers, or close friends who know your boating habits. Whoever you choose, make sure they have a copy of the float plan and understand their responsibility: if you don't call by the specified time, they call the Coast Guard at the designated VHF or phone number.

Float Plans for Multi-Day Trips

Multi-day cruises, fishing trips, and island-hopping excursions need float plans that account for intermediate stops, changing conditions, and extended timelines. Rather than filing a single plan covering the entire trip, update your shore contact at each major waypoint or daily. A morning check-in with your expected day plan and evening check-in confirming safe arrival keeps the information current without overburdening either party.

For trips with variable itineraries — "we'll decide tomorrow whether to head north or south" — provide your shore contact with a general area of operation and a check-in schedule rather than a fixed route. The key information for rescue purposes is where you were last known to be, what direction you might have gone, and when the last communication occurred. A broad area with recent check-ins is more useful than a detailed route filed three days ago that no longer reflects reality.

Group trips add complexity. If multiple boats are traveling together, each boat should have its own float plan filed with an independent shore contact. Don't rely on one float plan covering the group — boats can separate, radios can fail, and a group plan filed by one skipper may not include details about the other vessels. Redundancy in float plans follows the same principle as redundancy in safety equipment: if one system fails, the backup catches it.

Updating and Closing the Plan

If your plans change — different destination, delayed return, additional passengers — update your shore contact. A float plan with outdated information can send searchers to the wrong area. A quick call or text takes seconds and keeps the information current.

When you return safely, close the float plan by contacting your shore person. This is the step people forget, and forgetting it wastes Coast Guard resources on a search for someone who's already home watching TV. Make it a habit: engine off, lines secured, shore contact called.