Boating weather and water conditions are unpredictable and can change in a heartbeat. However, having an outline of your planned trip can help in an emergency, like a boating accident.
A Trip Plan – also known as a Float Plan – is a document that provides information about you, your trip, and how to find you if necessary. It’s just like leaving a trail of breadcrumbs so that if someone is searching for you, they know where to look.
Here’s what you need to know about how to create your plan and leave it with someone you trust every time you hit the water.
Where Should You Leave Your Float Plan?
Before leaving the dock for a day on the water, give your Float Plan to someone on shore or an employee at your local marina.
Your plan should contain information, including your destination and expected return time. If you do not return on time, rescue teams can easily find their way to you with the information you left behind.
In emergency situations, the person with access to your Float Plan will have to react quickly and effectively. So, make sure it is somebody you trust or who understands the importance of staying safe on the water and the associated risks you could face.
Marina employees can be excellent resources for holding your Float Plan until you return. They’ll know what to do if you don’t return on time.
What Information Should You Include on Float Plans?
Four main categories of information should be logged in your float plan: your boat’s information, your boat’s safety equipment, passenger information, and trip information.
1. Your Boat’s Information
Do your best to describe your boat in your float plan. In emergency situations, rescue teams will need to know what they are looking for and how to recognize your boat.
Information such as your boat’s name and registration number, along with the size and colour, are great visuals for rescue teams to follow. You should also describe the type of boat (such as sail, paddle, power), year, make, and type of engine.
Lastly, if your boat has any unique features, be sure to include those as well. Looking for a boat can be hard, but if the rescue teams know to look for a boat with a big Canadian flag on it, their jobs become much easier.
2. Your Boat’s Safety Equipment
It is always important for rescue teams to know what safety equipment you have onboard while they search for your boat.
Be sure to list all of your equipment, such as sound and visual signals, navigation equipment, anchor, and number of lifejackets. If the rescue team notes that you are missing any equipment, they can alter their search accordingly.
For example, if they note that you do not have an anchor on board, they will widen their search because they know your boat has not been stable in the same place.
3. Passenger Information
Include your name and contact information as well as the number of passengers and their names.
If rescue teams are out looking for you and your crew, they will call for you and others on the boat with you. They must know who they are searching for. It is also a good idea to note any medical information, such as illnesses or allergies, in your group.
4. Trip Information
Outline exactly what you will be doing on your trip, from your proposed departure and return times to your proposed route of travel.
Also, include instructions in case of emergency so that whoever has your Float Plan knows exactly what to tell the rescue crews. These instructions can include overviews of all passengers’ medical conditions or any medication that they might need or be allergic to.
What If You’re In a Rush?
We highly recommend leaving a thorough Float Plan with someone you trust before leaving the dock. However, if you don’t have the time or did not consider writing out a full plan, message a friend or leave a Facebook status noting your whereabouts.
This can include four simple things:
- What are you doing?
- Who are you with?
- Where are you going?
- When will you return?
After you’ve put together all your information and handed it off to someone you trust, you are good to go! You can boat easy knowing that in any case of emergency your trusted person will have your plan and know how to react.
Learn More Safe Boating Tips with BOATsmart!
Making float plans is part of being prepared, but that’s not all there is to staying safe on the water.
Taking a boating course and getting your boating license not only helps you comply with Canadian and U.S. state regulations for boating legally, but it also prepares you with the safety knowledge you need to avoid accidents and return safely every time.
If you’re ready to hit the water, create your Float Plan and sure you have your boat license. In Canada, take the online course and purchase your license through BOATsmart! It’s the most convenient way to build your knowledge and get your license – all on one website!
For boaters in the U.S., choose the course for your state and start learning.
Originally published August 24, 2017. Content most recently reviewed and updated July 29, 2024.
