Float plans provide peace of mind

STATEWIDE — A beautiful morning inspires you to head to your marina, board your boat, and sail out into the Pacific Ocean for a short fishing trip, visit to another marina or multi-day trip to Catalina Island. But, before you head out on a sail, should you file a float plan? Why have a float plan? Ramon “Ray” Evans of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary in Orange County said a float plan is integral to boating safety. He added a float plan often comes in handy when a vessel goes missing and harbor patrol or Coast Guard needs to do a search-and-rescue. A BoatUS blog states float plans help provide peace of mind and arms first responders with clues of where your vessel might be if something goes wrong. “A float plan lets your family and friends know your whereabouts and, should a trip come to grief, the plan will give the searchers a valuable head start locating your boat,” the BoatUS blog stated. Arv Larson, a liveaboard at Sunroad Marina in San Diego, said communication with a responsible party on land is an important element of a float plan. “A float plan is a plan we give to a third party who should be tracking that...