Coleman and Jansky reviewing a Float Plan.

In the summer 1990, my father and I attended a Boating Skill and Seamanship (BS&S) class together. A segment of the class included a discussion of the importance of preparing a "float plan." All students in attendance received a copy of the "Federal Requirements" brochure, that included a "float plan" on its back page. Looking at it then, I thought to myself, "this could be A LOT better," but I let it go at that.

I saw a poster at my work, advertising the Auxiliary, and in November of that year, 1990, I joined the organization. As an Auxiliarist, the subject of float plans came up from time to time, and remembering my feelings about the one I saw in the pamphlet, I decided I would do something about it.

In 1991, I created what I thought was a better product, and showed my design to fellow Auxiliarist Rick Stogdill. Rick submitted the design, on my behalf, to the then annual "Training Aids" competition at the National Training and Development Conference.

Following the conference I received a letter of appreciation and certificate of participation, although the real award would come three years later. A condensed version of my Float Plan design was published in the next printing of the "Federal Requirements and Safety Tips" pamphlet. I was elated. It has, in fact, remained in the pamphlet, unchanged, to this day.

Although much improved over previous versions, the float plan just was not what I thought it could or should be. This would be something I would think about, off and on, for the next six years.

Float Plan story.

In October of 2000, I set about completing my 10-year old vision by creating the quintessential Float Plan. The goals for the "quintessential Float Plan" were: one design, universal use; seamlessly embracing the goals of the Coast Guard including the Auxiliary; contain the essential data needed by Coast Guard search and rescue operations; fit on one side, of a single sheet of paper; be logically organized for clarity and ease of use in an emergency; have a distinctive look that would be inviting to the preparer; prominently display both the Auxiliary and Coast Guard's Office of Boating Safety logos, and their World Wide Web addresses; and finally, be able to be printed with any printer, on any platform, anywhere.

Every project has to have a name, so I decided to call it the "Millennium Edition" float plan. It was, after all, the first year of the new millennium. Well, it just seemed to fit.

Twenty-nine revisions, seven months of my spare time (which turned out to be most of it), and 9 years since I first envisioned the project, the state-of-the-art "Millennium Edition Float Plan" was ready for duty. I'm very pleased with the finished product. During the summer of 2001, the Eighth Coast Guard District's, Public Affairs Office, featured the "Millennium Edition Float Plan" in their article "Float Plans; A Lifesaving Device on Paper".

Auxiliarists now have a float plan they can be proud to call their own. A float plan that has no rival. A float plan that is designed to last... a millennium.

During the development process it occurred to me that the float plan is only one side of the life saving coin. What does the person do who is holding the plan if there is a genuine concern for the safety or welfare of the persons identified on the form? What if a person is concerned but was not given a float plan? Both situations would benefit from some guidance.

Float Plan on computer.

The solution? A "Boating Emergency" protocol. The "protocol" would guide the holder of a float plan (or in the event a plan was not prepared, a concerned person) through a sequence of steps in initiating a search and rescue (SAR) effort. The protocol works for any situation, whether lost at sea, on a lake, or "down the river."

With the protocol finished, and my inspiration now riding at high tide, I contacted a fellow Auxiliarist and Flotilla member, Claire Coleman, about creating a product to promote the use of float plans to the boating public. During our conversation, Claire indicated that a float plan could actually be used or prepared in two different ways. The first for routine outings, and the second for longer more involved trips to non-familiar or rarely visited locations. Taking Claire's ideas to task, I set sail on creating a guide on "How to prepare a Float Plan".

Initially, these products were available only on Flotilla 33-2's web page. We realized, though, they all have national application. Putting the "Millennium Edition Float Plan" and its related support products together under some sort of umbrella, made sense. After some brainstorming, and a few design sketches, "Float Plan Central" was born.

On 17 Jan 2003, "Float Plan Central" became the unique Website devoted exclusively to promoting the use of a float plan. It also provides Auxiliarists and flotillas with products that support and promote this "Lifesaving Device on Paper." The Website's address is: http://www.uscgaux.org/~0853302/FloatPlanCentral/FPC.htm

Float Plan preparation.

The cornerstone of the site is the state-of-the-art "Millennium Edition Float Plan," available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. It is the quintessential float plan. The full-color "Float Plan" features both the Auxiliary and Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety logos. The homepage of "Float Plan Central" covers five key areas: 1) a definition of what a float plan is; 2) getting a downloadable float plan; 3) receiving help on how to use a float plan and how to prepare a float plan; 4) what's new at "Float Plan Central," and; 5) providing support products for webmasters, public affairs, and public education staff.

It is only through consistent, repeated exposure, will the boating public begin to embrace the activity of preparing a float plan as a fundamental part of "going boating." "Float Plan Central's" mission is to facilitate that exposure.