What should a boater do with a float plan?

A float plan is an essential safety tool that outlines important details about a boating trip, such as the intended route, the destination, and the estimated return time. By giving the float plan to a friend or relative on shore, the boater ensures that someone has a record of their plans. This is crucial in case of emergencies or if the boater fails to return as expected, as it allows authorities or search and rescue teams to know where to begin looking for the individual or vessel.

Keeping the float plan to oneself does not provide any external support in emergencies, and sharing it on social media could lead to unwanted attention or complications. Additionally, while contacting local authorities is important for safety, simply faxing the float plan to them does not ensure that someone close to the boater will have the immediate knowledge needed to act if something goes wrong. Thus, sharing the float plan with a trusted person on shore is the safest and most effective practice.