Your meticulous about vessel maintenance and onboard safety devices such as radar, chart plotters, engine monitoring systems, life rafts, life jackets, ditch bags, first aid kits etc.
Why is it that you are willing to leave the dock without filing a float plan? I will take a guess that 90% of recreational boaters make a habit of cruising without one, 100% of the time.
The prudent skipper understands that they always have room to learn more about safety and protection of their vessel and its guests. They will practice emergency drills such as man overboard, docking and anchoring in adverse conditions, making a mayday call, fire drills, soft and hard groundings, sudden weather changes and the like, before they need to use them. The calmness and communication skills of captain and crew are evident when the vessel captains insist on training schedules with permanent and temporary crew as well.
Even the most prepared skippers will find themselves in a situation that was not expected. It is not a matter of if, it is a matter of when! In addition to remaining calm and activating your practiced safety drills, you will need to have a float plan filed as an extra insurance plan.
If your radios are not functioning, there are no vessels in sight to see your signals for help and your world is now defined by surviving the crises at hand, it is imperative that someone else is watching your back via your float plan.
A float plan is easy to file with a friend, boating club, dock master, family member, friend or any other responsible party that you can think of who will make sure you are on schedule. If you are not, they will be able to have all the information necessary to activate search and rescue assistance as needed.
Here are a few organizations that have Float Plans for you to print and fill out:
You can also use a device such as a SPOT personal satellite device (very affordable) to check in with loved ones and let them know you are OK and on schedule, via satellite from anywhere in the world. Learn about SPOT here.
If you are going on a long cruise or just out for the day. If you have a mega yacht, a trailer boat or even a kayak, I implore you to file a float plan with someone before leaving. You can never be too safe!
NOTE: Just as important as filing a float plan is closing it when you arrive where you are going or get back to the dock or trailer.
This lifesaving practice costs you nothing but a minute of your time. Not a bad price when it comes to life safety is it?
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