A Float Plan is the marine equivalent to a Pilots Flight Plan. A Float plan is is a document filled out by a boat captain or boat operator for a particular day on the water or an extended trip. A good float plan should have as much information about the the boat, crew, passengers and safety equipment as possible.

Pilots file Flight Plans with a Flight Service Station. Boaters traditionally leave Float Plans with with friends or family. Commercial boaters leave Float Plans with their companies. The United States Coast Guard does not accept float plans until a rescue is required. Too often when boaters are reported overdue, friends and family do not have all the information necessary to adequately assist rescue agencies.

A Float Plan is not for the 99.9% of trips that go perfectly, A Float Plan is for the .01% of trips on the water where things go very wrong.

When you invite someone on your boat you are assuming responsibility for their safety. Take 2 minutes fill i t out, print and save it, before you leave the dock. There is no charge. This is a public service of Boat/U.S. (You'll find the form below)

Once your float plan filled out, print a copy and leave it with a responsible person onshore. If you are overdue your float plan should be faxed to The Nearest United States Marine Rescue Station to where you were boating or Call The United States Coast Guard Command Office (see Numbers at the bottom of this page). You should also tell someone your Float Plan may be on file with Marine Weather. Com. If you hit "submit" after filling out your float plan, a copy will be e-mailed to Marine Weather. Be sure you get a conformation page after you hit submit. If you do not then your Float Plan was not mailed. We keep float plans sent to us 60 days. If you are overdue we can fax a copy to The United States Coast Guard or other Government Rescue Agency.

Fill-Out, Print, Save On Shore, Report If Needed

The proper use of a float plan can save lives. It is a felony to file a felonious missing ship report or cause a felonious report to be filed with any official government rescue agency.

Fill out as much information as you can. You must fill out your name, phone and address (for verification. In the event you are reported missing, this information will be of great value to the Coast Guard or other rescue agencies.

Click here for the BoatUS PDF Float Plan to Print and Submit