What should a boater do with a float plan?

A float plan is an essential safety tool for boaters, which outlines the details of a boat trip, including the departure time, intended route, expected return time, and the names of those on board. Ensuring that this information is provided to a friend or relative on shore is crucial for safety. By giving the float plan to someone not participating in the trip, you create a point of contact who knows your plans. If something goes wrong or if you fail to return as scheduled, this person can alert authorities and provide them with vital information to aid in a search and rescue operation.

While keeping the float plan on the boat might seem practical for navigation reference, it does not serve the safety purpose intended by creating a float plan. Similarly, filing it with the marina might not ensure that someone is ready to act if an emergency arises, and though the plan might be useful in navigation, that is not its primary function. Therefore, the key takeaway is that sharing the float plan with someone ashore significantly enhances safety by ensuring that someone is aware of your boating activities and can take action if necessary.