Filing a Float Plan

The practice of leaving trip details (departure time, route, expected return) with a friend or marina to speed search-and-rescue if something goes wrong.

Related Terms

Mayday Call

The highest-priority distress signal via radio, indicating imminent danger to vessel or crew; mus...

US Coast Guard Support

Assistance provided by the Coast Guard, including search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, an...

Federal Regulations

Boating rules set by the US Coast Guard or other federal entities (e.g., EPA for marine pollution...

Overboard Recovery

Procedures for retrieving a person who has fallen off a boat (e.g., the “figure 8” method, throwi...

Float Plan App

A smartphone application allowing boaters to file and share float plans digitally with friends or...

Weather Routing Services

Third-party or online providers giving route suggestions based on predicted weather patterns, com...

National Weather Service Marine Forecast

Official NOAA reports on wave height, winds, and weather. Boaters rely on these bulletins for tri...

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