May 05, 2024| Safety
By: Larry Orlans
"They're late! Where are they?"
Whether you are boating, fishing, waterskiing, tubing, or paddle boarding, enjoying the outdoors on Lake Hopatcong is a fantastic experience. However, before you hit the water, it's crucial to let others know your plans.
An effective way to inform others is by preparing a float plan. A float plan provides an overview of your excursion on the water, helping search authorities locate you in case you fail to reach your destination or return home.
Your float plan should include essential details like a description of your vessel, the number of people on board, your destination, communication equipment you have (such as a cell phone or radio), and most importantly, your expected return time.
Regardless of the length of your excursion, always inform someone responsible of your plans—whether it's a family member, friend, marina staff, or someone else you trust to check on you.
For longer or multi-day voyages, a detailed float plan is crucial for your safety. However, even for a short morning of fishing locally, a simple "Honey, I’ll be fishing in Byram Cove for a couple of hours, and I’ll be home by three o’clock" may suffice.
Just don’t head out on the water without someone knowing your plans. We want you home safe and sound!
For more information on float plans, visit the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary website, where you can also find a fillable float plan.
This post is part of our Spring Safety Series. Larry Orlans is a U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Boating Safety Instructor and Auxiliary Operations Officer for Flotilla 15-10.
