Float Plan Database????

jdsevier · May 26, 2015

Although not a "float plan"... This seems like a great idea if you want friends, family or social media to know where you are. Priced reasonable too.
http://www.findmespot.com/en/?cid=102
And no Im not affiliated in any way with the company, In fact I dont even own one but Im certainly looking int it.
Here is a link from Captain Dan out of Channel Islands Harbor CA
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0yiZlHqztni5bJHNQBJ1T5gW8gSJXDSl6

sailchannelislands.com

Kermit · May 26, 2015

Woodster asked about filing a float plan and the best way to do so. I hope he will find a way that he is comfortable with and helps keep him safe and his friends and family informed.

mgacka · May 26, 2015

woodster said:
....ok just sitting here thinking about cruising and filing a float plan in the near future...i know its a wise thing to file a float plan with someone but ...who????.....is there a national database for doing this????? i am thinking there should be one but there may not be.......i know when you file a flight plan its usually filed with you home base airfield and in the military it is filed with base operations....but for civilian sailors there doesn't seem to be a good place......i would like input on this subject and suggestions for doing so ...it seems to me a central agency would be a good thing and when the journey is over it would be a good thing if it was reported that it is complete ....in my mind if this was enacted it would alert the agency if there was some vessel missing .....i may be complicating pleasure sailing here by asking and if so say so ......we put a lot into safety and navigation so why not put an effort in this concept as well ....

USCG has a new app that allows you to file a plan in their database. They assign you a number. I also file with a friend who will not be in the water.

Bill Roosa · May 26, 2015

Logging a float plan with the government is not the best idea. If you don't make it on time you could trigger a S&R operation. find someone you trust with your life (or the life of your first mate) and keep them informed. If you get hijacked by terrorists you could even have a secret wake up word to indicate that you are on time but in trouble..........Not likly the CG of any nation is going to be able to help you in those cases but a friend who knows and has specific instruction.......

GAK · May 26, 2015

Sprega said:
Float plan?

In the UK we have Royal Yacht Association Safetrx app. Worth a look if you want an example of another country's approach.

Kermit · May 26, 2015

When do you plan to launch, Woodster?

mauruuru · May 26, 2015

The purpose of a float plan is !) to have a plan 2) share it with family/friends so that if something doesn't go according to plan, they will know and can take some informed action. In addition, if you are crossing borders, much of the info in a float plan will be required by customs/immigration officials so make extra copies....

Joe · May 27, 2015

I'm not seeing any controversy here... get with the times... the logical thing to do is get a SPOT and/or an EPIRB ... and let your family and friends know your tentative itinerary.

A float plan is basically to let the marina know how long they can rent out your slip while you're gone.

We2Sail12113 · May 27, 2015

Float Plan only for non-USCG trusted persons

John60M said:
Woody,
Here is the website for a new US Coast Guard app which among other things allows you to file a float plan. As a retired member of the USCG and a boating safety instructor I urge you to file a float plan either with this app or leave one with a trusted friend, relative or your harbor master.

http://coastguard.dodlive.mil/2015/05/coast-guard-launches-boating-safety-mobile-app/

To great days sailing.
John M

It looks like a great app, but it appears to me there is some misunderstanding. I just checked out the Float Plan app (on line), and the USCG person describing it, says it is only for the convenience of the user, and that none of the Float Plan is sent to any CG entity. It seems similar to the old way, except that it is done through the app, but is not sent to the CG. The app gives space for what seems three (3) emails., which may be anyone of your choosing.

Stu Jackson · May 27, 2015

Joe said:
1 I'm not seeing any controversy here...

2 A float plan is basically to let the marina know how long they can rent out your slip while you're gone.

2 Funny!

1 I agree.

Woodster, the answers you've been given are essentially philosophical ones if you take each one individually.

Some folks do care about safety very much, but recognize it's their own responsibility, not a government agency, where further checking of that "app" for example indicates it's nothing but filling out a form that goes essentially nowhere.

PilotMech's great long answer covered a lot of bases with great reasoning and explanations.

So much of the appropriate answers have to simply do with "Where are you going?"

Many assumptions have been made but are unspecified.

For example, not ONE single reply suggested the use of a TELEPHONE!

99% of the sailing most of us do is coastal or inside protected waters. I don't even have a smart phone (my cell phone is so old it is a rotary dial model!!!) but I call home each evening when I'm out to let The Admiral know I'm OK. When she's with me, like on last weekend's cruise, I turn around to her and say, "Honey, we're OK!"

When coastal sailing here, we usually pull into an anchorage each night, which is close to land and cell phone coverage.

OTOH, going offshore, one simply needs to recognize the communications issues involved. I can go 25 miles offshore and still be in VHF contact with the CG here off the Northern California coast because their antenna is so far off the ground that I could probably go 50 miles offshore and still have VHF contact. Any further, then I'm thinkin' EPIRB or SPOT or InReach.

This long range VHF connectivity may not be available in the South or the East since there aren't high mountains for the CG antenna mounts.

So, there are quadruple answers to your question, in addition to the old essentially pen & paper "float plan" - a copy of which youcan get from the BoatUS website. Print it out and send it to your friends & relatives. I almost said fax it to them!

But you could scan it in as a jpg or pdf and email it to them, too.

Hope you get in the H2O asap. All the best.

Richard Dwyer · May 27, 2015

I was a Military rescue pilot for 15 years which rescued military and civilians. I even rescued a 27 foot sailboat going from San Diego to Hawaii. Look at a float plan this way. If you file one and you do not show up the Coast Guard has two options. If you have a float plan rescue has an idea of where you may be located and a time line from your last known position which gives the authorities a place to start looking. Without a float plan the authorities will only publish a "be on the lookout for" posting, and good luck to you. I cross the Gulf Stream twice a year and this year I plan on taking my boat to the Caribbean for 6 month. I carry an EPIRB and a 6 persons Switlik raft with lots of other survival equipment. If you want to be rescued help us find you. If you are an individualist then rescue yourself. You can file a float plan with the Coast Guard.

Capt jgw · May 27, 2015

You file your float plan with a friend or family member. No one else needs to know. Do you really want a government or public database out there with your description and itinerary on it? I think not. And I don't do Facebook either. My business is my business, no one else's.

WayneH · May 27, 2015

Stu Jackson said:
I don't even have a smart phone (my cell phone is so old it is a rotary dial model!!!) but I call home each evening when I'm out to let The Admiral know I'm OK.

So, YOU're the guy who bought my old cell phone. LOL

The other thing about the new CG app is it runs on Android 3 or greater. Being a Luddite, my phone is 2.3 and can't run the app. (Wait. I can't be a Luddite. My phone has a touch screen and not a rotary dial.) Display of hands if you know what "rotary dial" means.

So we use the InReach so our kids can track our progress on the boat. I also told them it has two way texting but not to expect us to show up on their doorstep hours after they have a crisis. More like 5 or 6 days later if then. I've since found out that 5 or 6 days is usually about twice as long as the current crisis.

Scott · May 27, 2015

Hi Woodie

Sounds like your finally ready to "float your boat." :dance: Here is a picture of a new slip neighbor that came in yesterday. Thought you might enjoy a pic of an S2 "off the hard."

Float Plan Database????

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