Filing your plan
Dependability,
Reliability and Trust
Now that you've finished
preparing your Float Plan, you need to identify
and make arrangements with someone you trust who
is willing to hold your plan and follow-up, if
necessary, if you fail to return home. This person
is referred to as the “Holder”. They don't
need to sit by the phone waiting with every
breath, but they do need to be mindful of your
planned check-in and return times on your
itinerary and follow-up in a reasonable amount
of time if they have not heard from you.
Communication
Between You and the Holder
-
Choose a method of
communication (text, telephone or email) that will work the
best for the two of you once you are under way. Let the Holder
know you WILL contact them:
-
At the specified
check-in times noted in you plan.
-
If there is any
change in the persons on board or to
your itinerary.
-
As soon as
you have returned home.
-
Identify what email
address the Holder would like you to send
your float plan to. If this is the
first time you've used this email address it
is wise to send a "test message" to verify
that you have spelled/typed the email
address correctly and that they have indeed
received the message.
Go over you plan with the Holder
Now that you’ve selected a person to hold you plan, decided on how you will communicate,
and verified email address you will use, tell the holder about the Boating Emergency
Guide™ located on the last page of you float
plan. Let them know that the Boating Emergency Guide™
at the end of the USCG Float Plan provides the step-by-step instructions on
exactly what
they are to do, if you fail to check-in or
do not return as planned. The reset of the
float plan is self-explanitory.
File (send) your plan
Email your plan to your
"holder" any time prior to leaving. That's
it. Your float plan is now active.
If you fail to check in or return as planned,
your Holder will use the Boating Emergency
Guide™ to begin the search and rescue
process to find you.
See also:
Using Social Media
A brief
word about printing your float plan
– Never leave
a printed copy of your plan in your vehicle.
Although this may seem like a good idea in
theory, in today's world, there is a significant
risk associated with leaving a document
containing not only personally identifiable information
(name, address, etc.) but your itinerary (how
long you will be gone) as well. If your
vehicle is broken into while you are gone, the
burgler will certainly find your Float Plan as
they rumage through your vehicle for valuables,
and then know exactly much time they have to
work. Therefore, Float Plan
Central DOES NOT RECOMMEND THIS PRACTICE under
any circumstances.
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