2015 New York Safe Boating - 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

___Water

___Anchor

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?

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.

___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.__________________
11. If not returned by ______________(Time) call

Water depth

the US COAST GUARD, or (Local authority)________

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 ______________________
____________________________________________
30
http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/staff/chartspubs.html
2015 New York Safe Boating

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2015 New York Safe Boating
