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Frequently Asked Questions

floatplans
    Why shouldn't I just leave a floatplan with a friend?
    Even the most well intentioned friends (or family, for that matter) often forget to look at the clock, don't always check their e-mail, or become distracted with tasks other than waiting for you to get back to shore. Let floatplan.us be your trusted partner - we will hold your float plan and wait for you to check-in with us. In the unlikely event you don't arrive on schedule our staff will begin emergency contact attempts and will notify the authorities at the earliest possible time.
    I just want to take a quick trip, why are your forms so long?
    Knowing details about your trip can help rescuers narrow down search areas and focus efforts/resources.  The information you supply will certainly help facilitate any search, meaning less time in distress for you and your passengers.  For example:

      Knowing the fuel capacity of your vessel, and/or having a good estimate of fuel carried could allow search and rescue operators to create a more refined grid in which to conduct their efforts.  An accurate itinerary could give rescue operations a smaller search grid to work with as well.

      Knowing the medical conditions of your passengers could mean approprate medical supplies are brought along during rescue operations (i.e., heart medications, insulin or an inhaler).

    You are not required to fill in every line of every form.  To make things a bit easier, we've tried to organize it so required fields are clustered together whenever possible.  Forgive us for being sticklers though, and we reserve the right to pester you every so often to review even the non-required parts of our forms for the sake of completeness.
    What if I forget to check-in?
    Our staff will begin calling out on your behalf if you have not checked-in by your scheduled time. You would be subject to additional fees noted on the "pricing" page.
    If you simply forgot to check-in, our staff would likely reach you during the first round of outbound calling, and you would incur a one time charge of ten dollars ($10). However, if you cannot be reached immediately, our call-outs would continue on your behalf, up to and including the contacting of the authorities, and you would incur the additional charges noted on the "pricing" page.  Click [here] to visit that page now.
    We hope to never have to make calls on your behalf, but we are here if the need arises. We cannot stress enough the importance of you taking your resposibilities seriously enough when it comes to checking-in or extending your trip online in an appropriate and timely fashion.
    Does floatplan.us monitor me in real time?
    No.  There is currently no practical way to monitor your precise location in real time.
    The next revision of our companion app will obtain GPS information from a subscriber's cell phone at designated intervals for review afater the floatplan is closed out.
    GPS information obtained from a phone is not a reliable means of monitoring in real time. Location data can be collected throughout a journey, but it can only be transmitted while within cell phone coverage areas (typically within 1 mile of shore).
    We are working towards a partnership with a hardware vendor to enable real time (satellite) monitoring, and will keep you informed as to our progress in that regard.

costs
Are there additional fees buried in the fine print?
    No.  Aside from the annual membership fee, the only other time you might incur a charge is if you do not check-in by your scheduled time and we begin to call out in an attempt to locate you. The call out fees are detailed on the "pricing" page.  Click [here] to visit that page now.
I purchased / received my account as a gift card, why do you need my credit card information during the sign-up process?
    A gift card purchase completely covers the cost of one year's membership fee.  We require a valid credit card on file for the following reasons:

    • As a means of verifying identity and eliminating fraudulant activity

    • Additionally, if you do not check-in by your scheduled time and the staff at floatplan.us attempts to locate you, you may be subject to immediately billable charges. The call out fees are detailed on the "pricing" page.  Click [here] to visit that page now.
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