New York Safe Boating - 2020 - 30

Planning your trip...

FLOAT PLAN

Your time on the water will be much more enjoyable if you
spend some time planning before you launch. First, think
about your boat and how you want to spend your day. If you
plan to water ski, you'll need a place that offers enough space
to ski safely without any hazards that might endanger the
skier. If you're a sailor, you'll need a waterway with enough
distance between opposite shores for you to sail comfortably.

1. Name of person making this plan
_____________________________________
Telephone number _______________________
2. Description of boat.

Once you've determined which waterway you'll be cruising,
you will need to get familiar with the local rules and hazards.
So how do you get that information? Other boaters who use
the waterway and the staff at the marina are great sources of
information. And you'll find a lot of the information you need
on a nautical map, which is commonly called a chart. Even if
you are familiar with a waterway, it's a good practice to carry a
chart of the waterway you're using.

Type_________Color_________Trim_________
Registration No.___________Length__________
Name________Make_________Other Info.____
3. Engine type______________H.P._________
No. of engines_________Fuel capacity________
4. Survival equipment: (Check as appropriate)
___PFDs

___Flares

___Smoke Signals ___Flashlight
___Paddles
___Anchor

___Water

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) or National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) have surveyed
most larger bodies of water in the United States. USGS or
NOAA charts can tell you about the shoreline and the depths.
Areas of different water depth (contours) are marked on these
charts, as are dangers such as submerged rocks, sunken
boats, dams, overhead and underwater cables, bridges and
other hazards.

___Mirror
___Food
___Others

___Raft or Dinghy ___EPIRB

5. Radio ___yes ___no Type______Freqs.____
6. Automobile license Plate_________________

Smaller waterways also have hazards, but USGS and NOAA
charts aren't always available for smaller bodies of water.
However, many have unofficial charts or navigation guides.
Purchase a guide to the waterway you will be boating on if
one is available. Many smaller canals, rivers and lakes have
organizations devoted to their proper use and preservation.
Many of these organizations have pamphlets or books about the
waterway, its navigation and points of interest along the way.

Type____________Trailor license___________
Color____________and make of auto________
Where parked__________________________
7. Persons aboard_________________________
Name

Age

Address & Telephone No.

_______________________________________

CONSIDER YOUR SKILL LEVEL AND BOAT'S
RANGE WHEN PLANNING A TRIP ESPECIALLY
IN ROUGH WEATHER OR CONDITIONS.

_______________________________________
_______________________________________

Hazards

8. Do any of these persons aboard have a
medical problem?

11. If not returned by ______________(Time) call

What hazards might you encounter on the water? Hazards
to boaters appear in many forms: dams, waves, submerged
objects, sand bars, strong or swirling currents, cold water, and
fast-changing weather. These hazards aren't always obvious.
Boaters need to recognize these dangers and be prepared
to avoid them at all times. Talking with people at the bait
shop, the launch ramp, or the marina will help you find out the
information that you won't get on a chart. Information such
as how the current is running after a rainstorm, whether the
water level is unusually low because of drought, or areas with
unusual or strong currents, etc.

the US COAST GUARD, or (Local authority)_______

Water depth

___yes ___no If yes, what?__________________
9. Trip Expectations: Leave at________________
From____________Going to_______________
Expect to return by____________(Time) and not
later than______________________________
10. Any other pertinent Info._________________

On almost every waterway, water levels vary with the season
and the weather. A few inches difference in depth can make
the difference between "smooth sailing" and an abrupt end

12. Telephone numbers ____________________
_______________________________________
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New York Safe Boating - 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of New York Safe Boating - 2020
