A float plan is the shoreside twin of a pilot’s flight plan: someone on land knows where you are going, who is with you, and when you expect to be back—so they can start help if you do not return or check in. The U.S. Coast Guard Boaters Guide’s advice is blunt: always leave a float plan with a responsible person, because in a survival situation time matters. Discover Boating and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary’s Float Plan Central add the same habits: fill in vessel, people, route, times, and communications gear; leave the plan with someone you trust; update them if plans change; and close the plan when you are home safely.
This page summarizes the USCG Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (Nov. 8, 2023) float-plan section; Float Plan Central (home, FAQ, sample USCG Float Plan PDF with Boating Emergency Guide); and Discover Boating’s float-plan and emergency-preparedness pages—only. Those sources do not publish Coast Guard response-time guarantees or brand rankings for float-plan apps—and we do not invent those. Pair this guide with the printable Launch Day checklist, VHF marine radio basics, EPIRB, PLB and distress beacons, required safety equipment by length, man overboard response basics, disabled boat and mechanical breakdown response basics, thunderstorms, lightning and severe weather, hypothermia and cold-water immersion response basics, propeller safety and people in the water near running engines, launching and retrieving, and State Rules.
What a float plan is (and is not)
Definition (Boaters Guide + Discover + Float Plan Central): A float plan is a written (or digital) record left with a responsible / reliable person ashore. It holds critical information about your whereabouts for local marine police or the Coast Guard if you break down, capsize, stop unexpectedly—or simply do not check in when planned. Discover: it keeps someone on shore in the loop about where you are going, who is with you, and when you expect to be back.
Not filed with the Coast Guard (Float Plan Central FAQ + sample PDF): The U.S. Coast Guard does not accept float plans. The sample form’s header is explicit: Do NOT file this plan with the Coast Guard. Leave it with a shoreside contact who can notify the Coast Guard or another rescue agency if you do not return or check in as planned.
Not a legal carriage requirement in most places (Discover emergency preparedness FAQ): Discover notes a float plan is not legally required in most places, but is strongly recommended for every trip—even short ones—because it gives a trusted person the details rescuers need if you do not return on time. We do not invent state mandates; check State Rules for overlays.
Works for more than powerboats (Float Plan Central): The Auxiliary sample float plan is designed for any size or type of recreational vessel, including groups of canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards paddling together.
What to put on it
High-level fields from Discover’s float-plan page, Discover’s emergency-preparedness list, and the USCG Auxiliary sample form—paraphrase only:
| Topic | What the cited sources ask for (high-level) |
|---|---|
| Vessel | Name / hailing port; document or registration number; HIN; year / make / model; length, type, draft, hull material; hull and trim colors; prominent features; primary and auxiliary propulsion and fuel capacity. Discover: make, model, size, color, type, engine size if applicable, vessel ID. Boaters Guide: including a photo of your boat is a best practice. |
| People on board | Operator name, address, phones, experience with this vessel / area; passenger / crew names, phones, age, gender; note special medical needs (Discover); PFD check and any personal PLB unique ID numbers (sample form). |
| Departure | Marina, launch ramp, or dock name and location (Discover). Tow / transport vehicle year, make, model, license plate, and where it is parked—plus trailer note (Discover + sample form). |
| Route & return | Planned destination, general route, stops or areas (anchor points, dive sites, fishing grounds); estimated time of return or check-in times; itinerary waypoints with depart / arrive / check-in (Discover + sample form). |
| Communications | Cell and satellite numbers; VHF radio type and channels / frequencies monitored; DSC MMSI; radio call sign; email (Discover + sample form). |
| Safety & survival gear aboard | Visual and audible distress signals; EPIRB unique ID if carried; anchor and line length; dewatering device; fire extinguisher; flashlight; raft / dinghy; food and water for X days; other gear (sample form). Pair carriage detail with required safety equipment by length, visual distress signals and flares, and EPIRB, PLB and distress beacons. |
| Shore contacts | At least two contacts plus a local rescue-authority number the holder can call (sample form). |
Float Plan Central’s digital sample also lets you save a basic plan ahead of time, update it when you decide where and when you are going, and enter EPIRB / PLB identification numbers tied to individual PFDs.
Whom to leave it with
Responsible person ashore (Boaters Guide + Discover + sample PDF): Leave the plan with a family member, reliable friend, marina dock master, or anyone you trust to contact the U.S. Coast Guard (or other rescue agency) in an emergency. Float Plan Central FAQ: ideally someone familiar with you (neighbor, friend, or relative); because of how the plan is designed, anyone you pre-arrange with can start the search-and-rescue process if you do not return or check in.
How to deliver it (Float Plan Central FAQ + home page): Emailing a completed plan is the Auxiliary’s first choice when the holder has email; printing a copy is fine when that works better. The digital plan stays on your computer or device under your control—it is free from the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Give every holder the same close-out duty (FAQ): For every person you give or send a float plan to, it is your responsibility to contact that person so they know you returned safely and the plan can be discarded.
When to update it — and when to close it out
Before you go (all cited sources): Complete the plan before you leave the dock or ramp. Build “float plan filed” into the same pre-departure pass as fuel, weather, life jackets, and VHF—see the printable Launch Day checklist and launching and retrieving.
If plans change (Discover + sample PDF): Weather, mechanical issues, or even a personal preference to stay out longer—reach out to your shore contact and update them. The sample form: if you have a change of plans or will be delayed, notify the person holding your float plan.
Close it when you are home (sample PDF + FAQ): Notify the holder that you arrived home safely and that the plan is closed. If the holder has already reported you overdue, notify all applicable rescue authorities of your safe return so they can stand down. Skipping close-out wastes rescue time—the sources treat that as your responsibility, not optional courtesy.
How it pairs with VHF, EPIRB / PLB, and launch-day habits
A float plan does not replace a radio, a beacon, or the gear you must carry. It tells someone ashore where to start looking and what you have aboard if those tools are needed:
- VHF Channel 16 / DSC: Discover’s emergency-preparedness page and the Boaters Guide both put a working VHF (cell is not a substitute) next to the float-plan habit. If you need help underway, the call sequence lives on VHF marine radio basics—Channel 16 Mayday outline, DSC, and why MMSI + GPS matter.
- EPIRB / PLB: The Auxiliary sample form has fields for EPIRB and personal PLB unique IDs (federal registration at beaconregistration.noaa.gov as noted on the form). Pair carriage and registration detail with EPIRB, PLB and distress beacons—the float plan tells the shore contact those IDs exist; the beacon alerts rescue services when activated.
- Launch-day briefing: Discover: before departure, show passengers where life jackets, the extinguisher, and the first-aid kit are, how to use the VHF, how to shut off the engine, and what to do if someone falls overboard—and confirm the float plan is filed. Same pass as required safety equipment by length.
- Emergencies the plan supports: Man overboard, breakdown, severe weather, cold-water immersion, and propeller-strike prevention all assume someone ashore may need to start help if you do not check in—see man overboard, disabled boat / breakdown, thunderstorms / severe weather, hypothermia / cold water, and propeller safety.
If the shore contact becomes worried (sample Boating Emergency Guide—high-level only): The Auxiliary guide walks the holder through confirming a genuine concern, calling the plan’s listed contacts, gathering only known facts (do not speculate), and then calling the listed rescue authority. We do not invent how long “a reasonable amount of time” is—that judgment stays with the holder and the rescue agency.
Where to get a form
- Primary sample cited by the Boaters Guide: Float Plan Central (U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary)—free digital USCG Float Plan with a Boating Emergency Guide for the person holding your plan.
- Discover: Float plan templates are widely available online; Discover points to the USCG Auxiliary float plan as a great starting point and notes that boat towing companies and several state boating departments also offer downloadable forms. We do not rank brands or apps.
Habits table (cite only)
| Habit | Cited source (high-level) |
|---|---|
| Always leave a float plan with a responsible person ashore | Boaters Guide; Discover float-plan + emergency preparedness; Float Plan Central |
| Do not file the plan with the Coast Guard | Float Plan Central FAQ; sample PDF header |
| Include vessel description, people, route, times, comms, gear | Discover float-plan page; Discover emergency preparedness; sample PDF |
| Include a photo of the boat (best practice) | Boaters Guide |
| Update the holder if plans change or you will be delayed | Discover float-plan page; sample PDF |
| Close the plan when home; if already reported overdue, notify rescue authorities of safe return | Sample PDF; Float Plan Central FAQ |
| Pair with VHF, PFDs, passenger brief, weather check, launch-day pass | Boaters Guide; Discover emergency preparedness |
What this page does not cover
- Invented Coast Guard or SAR response times, ETAs, or “how long until help arrives.”
- Brand rankings for float-plan apps, towing-company memberships, or satellite messengers.
- Filing procedures with any agency that accepts voyage plans for commercial or inspected vessels—this page is for recreational float plans left ashore.
- Step-by-step Adobe Reader troubleshooting beyond Float Plan Central’s own FAQ note that the digital form needs a current Reader to save and send.
- First aid, Mayday wording, or beacon activation detail—those live on the linked VHF, EPIRB/PLB, and emergency guides.
Honest gaps
- No brand picks, price tables, or invented rescue clocks.
- Discover’s “What Are My Responsibilities After Filing a Float Plan?” heading on the float-plan article is thin in the fetched HTML body; close-out duties above are taken from the USCG Auxiliary sample PDF instructions and Float Plan Central FAQ instead.
- Soft-404 Discover URLs under
/resources/how-to-file-a-float-planand/resources/what-should-be-included-in-a-float-planreturned HTTP 404 on 2026-11-07; the live Discover float-plan article used here is/ownership/safety/float-plan. - Float Plan Central
robots.txtreturned HTTP 404 (no disallow list); pages themselves returned HTTP 200.
Book a free Vessel Safety Check with the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Confirm someone ashore has your float plan, knows to expect a close-out call, and knows who to phone if you are overdue—on the same pass as life jackets, a working VHF on Channel 16, and the printable Launch Day checklist.
Sources
- Always leave a float plan with a responsible person; survival-situation timing; float plan holds critical whereabouts for marine police / Coast Guard; sample at Float Plan Central; photo-of-boat best practice; pre-departure checklist context: U.S. Coast Guard / USCG Boating, A Boater's Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (Nov. 8, 2023 PDF). https://www.uscgboating.org/assets/1/AssetManager/Boaters-Guide-to-Federal-Requirements-for-Receational-Boats-20231108.pdf
- Official sample float plan site; save/update/email to shore contact; any recreational vessel including paddling groups; EPIRB/PLB UIN fields; Boating Emergency Guide for the holder; free; data on your device: U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Float Plan Central. https://floatplancentral.cgaux.org/
- Leave with reliable person who can notify Coast Guard / rescue agency; notify holder of changes or delays; close plan on safe return; if already reported overdue, notify rescue authorities of safe return; do not file with the Coast Guard; vessel / people / itinerary / comms / EPIRB / tow-vehicle fields; Boating Emergency Guide (genuine concern, do not speculate): U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, USCG Float Plan (sample PDF). https://floatplancentral.cgaux.org/download/USCGFloatPlan.pdf
- Coast Guard does not accept float plans; who should hold the plan; email vs print; close-out duty to every holder: U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Float Plan Central FAQ. https://floatplancentral.cgaux.org/FAQ.htm
- What a float plan is; vessel / people / departure / tow vehicle / route / ETA / comms fields; leave with family, friend, marina dock master, or trusted contact; update if plans change; points to USCG Auxiliary form: Discover Boating (NMMA), "What Should Be Included in a Float Plan?" https://www.discoverboating.com/ownership/safety/float-plan
- Float plan fields; leave with friend/family/marina; update when you return; strongly recommended even for short trips (not legally required in most places); passenger brief; pre-departure “float plan filed”; VHF 16 Mayday outline pairing: Discover Boating (NMMA), "Emergency Preparedness Guide for Boaters." https://www.discoverboating.com/resources/emergency-preparedness