Frequently Asked Questions

FloatPlanWizard is an online boating trip-planning tool that helps captains create, organize, update, and share float plans. It gives you a place to record where you are going, when you expect to leave and return, who is on board, vessel details, route notes, emergency contacts, and other trip information.

Instead of relying on scattered texts, paper notes, or memory, FloatPlanWizard helps keep the important details in one organized plan.

A float plan is a written record of your boating trip. It usually includes your vessel information, passengers, departure point, destination, expected return time, route notes, emergency contacts, and instructions for what someone should do if you are overdue.

FloatPlanWizard helps you create a more organized digital float plan that can be updated and shared with trusted family and friends.

A float plan gives someone ashore a clear picture of your intended trip. If you are delayed, your plans change, or someone becomes concerned, your trusted contacts have a better starting point than “they went boating somewhere.”

Even for routine trips, a float plan can reduce confusion by documenting your route, timing, passengers, vessel details, and contact instructions before you leave.

No. FloatPlanWizard can be useful for local day trips, fishing trips, fuel runs, marina hops, weekend cruising, Great Loop planning, and longer multi-stop routes.

A short trip can still benefit from having someone know where you are going, when you expect to return, and how to view the information you chose to share.

Yes. FloatPlanWizard works well for local trips because it helps you quickly organize the basic details: where you are leaving from, where you plan to go, who is with you, when you expect to return, and who should know about the trip.

Local trips are often the ones boaters take casually, which is exactly why having a simple plan can be helpful.

No. FloatPlanWizard is a trip-planning and float-plan sharing tool. It does not replace official reporting, VHF radio, emergency beacons, AIS, DSC, marine navigation tools, weather checks, or contacting emergency services.

If there is an emergency, use the appropriate emergency communication method immediately.

The Route Builder helps you create a more complete boating trip plan by organizing your route, stops, timing, notes, and supporting float-plan details in one workflow.

Instead of only writing a destination and return time, you can build a route that better reflects how boat trips actually work: departure point, destination, possible stops, timing, fuel considerations, route notes, and information your family and friends may need while following the trip.

Route Builder turns a basic float plan into a more useful trip-planning workflow. It helps you think through the trip before you leave: where you are going, how you plan to get there, what stops or waypoints matter, how timing should work, and what information should be shared with family and friends.

That makes the plan more useful than a quick text message or a paper form that may not include enough detail.

A normal float plan form usually captures basic trip information. Route Builder goes further by helping you organize the trip around the route itself.

That means you can think through route details, timing, stops, notes, and related planning information while building the plan, instead of filling out disconnected fields with no trip structure.

Yes. Route Builder is designed to help organize trips with more than one stop or route detail. That can be useful for marina-to-marina cruising, fishing plans, fuel stops, overnight stops, Great Loop segments, or any trip where the route matters.

Yes. Route Builder does not have to be complicated. For a simple trip, you can use it to organize the basics: departure, destination, timing, notes, and who should be able to follow the plan.

The benefit is that even a simple trip becomes easier to share and update.

Yes. FloatPlanWizard is designed so your trip information can be updated as plans change. If your route, timing, notes, or stop details change, update the plan so your shared information stays more current.

No. Route Builder is a planning and organization tool. It is not a replacement for marine navigation software, official charts, current notices to mariners, waterway guides, depth soundings, weather information, local knowledge, or safe seamanship.

Always verify your route with current navigation sources before and during your trip.

A text message is easy to lose, forget, or misunderstand. Route Builder helps organize the trip into a more complete plan with details that can be updated and shared from one place.

Your family and friends can use the secure Follow link to view the trip information you choose to share instead of searching through old messages.

Route Builder helps organize the trip details. The secure Follow page helps you share selected trip information with family and friends.

That connection is important: you build the plan in FloatPlanWizard, then share a secure Follow link so trusted people can view the current trip information without needing their own account.

Route Builder helps set up the plan before the trip. Active Cruise helps manage the trip while it is underway.

Together, they support the full planning flow: create the route, organize the float plan, share the secure Follow link, then update status, delays, or check-ins while the trip is active.

Route Builder can help organize the information that makes a float plan useful, including departure details, destination details, route notes, timing, passenger information, vessel details, emergency contacts, fuel planning, and information for family and friends following the trip.

The goal is not just to draw a route. The goal is to create a useful boating plan.

Trip timing helps your family and friends understand when you expect to leave, when you expect to return, and when a delay may matter.

Timing is one of the most important parts of a float plan because it gives your trusted contacts a frame of reference.

Vessel information helps identify the boat connected to the trip. Useful vessel details may include the boat name, type, size, registration or documentation details, and other identifying information.

Those details can help your trusted contacts understand which boat the plan refers to, especially if you own more than one vessel or boat with different groups of people.

Passenger information helps document who is expected to be on board. If someone ashore needs to understand the trip, knowing who was included in the plan can reduce confusion.

Only include information that is useful and appropriate for your trusted contacts.

Contacts are a key part of a useful float plan. They help define who should receive or know about the trip information and who may need to be contacted if plans change.

FloatPlanWizard is designed around sharing selected trip details with trusted family and friends.

Yes. Trip notes are useful for details that do not fit neatly into a single field. You may want to include marina notes, bridge or lock considerations, fuel-stop reminders, local hazards, alternate plans, or instructions for family and friends.

Route Builder can support better fuel planning by helping you think through distance, stops, and timing. FloatPlanWizard also includes a Boat Fuel Calculator that can help estimate fuel needs based on trip-planning inputs.

Fuel estimates are planning aids only. Actual fuel use can vary based on speed, load, sea state, current, wind, engine condition, and how the boat is operated.

Yes. Route Builder can be useful for planning Great Loop segments because those trips often involve multiple stops, timing considerations, bridge clearances, locks, fuel planning, and notes.

FloatPlanWizard also includes Great Loop lock and bridge resources that can help with research before you finalize a route.

The Follow page is a shared trip page for family and friends. It lets the people you choose view the float plan information you share with them through a secure Follow link.

It gives your trusted contacts one place to check trip details and updates instead of relying on scattered texts, calls, or screenshots.

No. Family and friends do not need a FloatPlanWizard account to view the trip information you share with them.

Only the captain or trip planner needs an account to create, manage, update, and share the float plan.

Only people who have the secure Follow link can view the shared page. You control who receives that link.

Do not post private Follow links publicly unless you are comfortable with the trip information being seen by others.

Yes. You can share the secure Follow link with trusted family and friends by text, email, or another communication method.

For safety, make sure they understand what the plan means, when you expect to return, and what you want them to do if you are overdue.

FloatPlanWizard is not a live GPS tracking replacement unless a specific tracking feature is clearly enabled. The Follow page is primarily a shared trip-information page where family and friends can view the plan and updates you provide.

Use proper marine navigation, communication, and safety equipment while underway.

Tell them that you are sharing a boating trip plan, when you expect to leave, when you expect to return, how to use the secure Follow link, and what you want them to do if you are overdue or if the plan stops updating.

A float plan works best when your contacts understand their role before the trip starts.

Active Cruise is the trip-in-progress view for managing an active float plan. It helps the captain keep track of trip status, timing, check-ins, delays, and updates while the trip is underway.

A check-in is a status update from the captain. It helps confirm that the trip is still progressing and gives family and friends more confidence that the shared plan is current.

If you are delayed, update your float plan or Active Cruise status as soon as practical. You can add delay information so your expected timing stays more accurate.

Your family and friends should always rely on the latest shared trip information and any direct messages you send them.

If your trip workflow supports it, you can mark the trip as secure for the night or update your status when you are safely stopped.

This helps separate normal overnight stops from unexpected overdue situations.

No. FloatPlanWizard is not an emergency dispatch system. It helps organize and share trip information, but it does not replace calling 911, the Coast Guard, local marine patrol, or emergency services.

If you are in distress, use the appropriate emergency communication method immediately.

The Boat Fuel Calculator helps estimate fuel needs based on trip distance, speed, fuel burn, reserve, and other planning values.

It is useful for quick pre-trip estimates and can support better route planning.

No. Fuel use can vary based on speed, load, sea state, wind, current, hull condition, engine condition, and how the boat is operated.

Use the calculator as a planning estimate and always carry an appropriate fuel reserve.

Route Builder helps organize where you are going and how the trip is structured. Fuel planning helps you think through whether the trip is practical based on distance, expected speed, fuel burn, and reserve.

Together, they help turn a rough boating idea into a more thoughtful trip plan.

Yes. FloatPlanWizard can help organize Great Loop trip details, route segments, stops, notes, timing, locks, bridges, and information you may want to share with family and friends.

It is a planning aid and should be used with official charts, current notices, waterway guides, weather information, and local navigation knowledge.

The Great Loop Lock Library helps boaters research locks commonly associated with the Great Loop route. It may include lock names, waterways, locations, notes, and other planning information.

Always verify lock status, schedules, closures, restrictions, and contact information with official sources before relying on them.

The Great Loop Bridge Library helps boaters research bridge information relevant to Great Loop cruising, including fixed bridges, drawbridges, railroad bridges, clearance notes, contact information where available, and navigation-related notes.

Always verify bridge openings, clearances, restrictions, and schedules with official sources before relying on them.

No. Lock, bridge, clearance, schedule, VHF, and contact information can change.

Use FloatPlanWizard’s Great Loop tools for planning and research, then confirm critical details with official sources before departure and while underway.

You need a FloatPlanWizard account to create, manage, and share float plans. Current access options, trial details, and membership pricing are shown on the pricing or signup page.

Because offers can change, always use the current pricing page as the source of truth.

Use the current signup and pricing pages for the latest trial, free-access, or membership details. If a trial or free-access period is available, you can use that to explore FloatPlanWizard before choosing a paid plan.

No long-term contract is required for standard monthly access. Review the current pricing and checkout details before subscribing.

Yes. If you are on a paid subscription, you can cancel according to the terms shown during signup or checkout. Your billing and subscription details are managed through your account and billing portal.

Use the signup page to create your FloatPlanWizard account. Once your account is created, you can log in, create float plans, manage trip details, and share secure Follow links with family and friends.

Use the login page with the email address and password connected to your account.

Use the password reset option on the login page. Follow the instructions sent to your email address to create a new password.

After logging in, use your dashboard to view and manage your float plans and trip activity.

Account information should be managed from your account area after logging in. Keep your email address and profile details current so account messages and trip-related information reach the right place.

FloatPlanWizard uses Stripe for checkout, billing, and payment processing. Stripe is a widely used payment platform that handles online payment flows for businesses.

No. FloatPlanWizard does not directly store your full credit card number on its own servers. Card entry, payment method handling, subscriptions, and billing updates are handled through Stripe’s secure payment systems.

Stripe may be used for checkout, payment method updates, subscription management, and billing portal features. Seeing Stripe during billing or payment management is expected when Stripe is handling that part of the process.

Payment method updates are handled through the billing tools available in your account. When Stripe is used for billing, payment method changes may be managed through Stripe’s secure billing portal or checkout flow.

Using Stripe lets FloatPlanWizard rely on payment infrastructure built for secure checkout, subscriptions, billing management, and payment method handling.

This helps avoid storing full card numbers directly on FloatPlanWizard servers.

The TrustedSite badge is a trustmark that helps visitors verify information about a site’s identity and security. On FloatPlanWizard, it is intended to give visitors an additional trust signal before creating an account or entering billing information.

Yes. The TrustedSite badge is designed to be clickable. When available, visitors can click it to view verification details through TrustedSite.

No. The TrustedSite badge relates to website trust and verification. It does not guarantee boating safety, emergency response, route accuracy, weather accuracy, or navigation safety.

FloatPlanWizard is a planning and sharing tool. Safe boating remains the captain’s responsibility.

Float plans can include sensitive trip information, vessel details, timing, and contact information. FloatPlanWizard uses trust signals such as the TrustedSite badge to help visitors feel more confident that they are using the real site and can review available verification details.

Your float plan is not intended to be public by default. You choose what to share and who receives the secure Follow link.

Be careful when sharing any link that contains trip information, passenger information, vessel details, or timing.

Avoid sharing unnecessary sensitive personal information. Only include details that are useful for trip planning, safety, and trusted family and friends.

For public or casual sharing, avoid posting private trip links, full passenger details, home addresses, or security-sensitive vessel information.

Yes. A secure Follow link is meant to give access to the people you share it with. Treat it like a private trip link and send it only to trusted family and friends.

A float plan can include trip details, passenger information, vessel information, timing, and emergency contacts. Trust matters because boaters need to feel confident about where they enter and share that information.

No. FloatPlanWizard is a planning and sharing tool. It can help organize important trip information, but boating safety remains the captain’s responsibility.

Always use current charts, proper safety equipment, weather forecasts, marine communication tools, and sound judgment. In an emergency, contact the appropriate emergency service immediately.

Yes. FloatPlanWizard is designed to make that easier. Before leaving, make sure a trusted person knows where you are going, when you expect to return, how to view your plan, and what to do if you are overdue.

No. FloatPlanWizard does not replace official marine weather forecasts, radar, local conditions, tide/current information, or captain judgment.

Check current weather before leaving and continue monitoring conditions while underway.

No. FloatPlanWizard does not replace chartplotters, marine navigation apps, paper charts, official charts, depth sounders, AIS, VHF, or other navigation and safety tools.

Use FloatPlanWizard to organize and share your plan, not as the sole source for navigation.

Make sure you sent the correct secure Follow link and that the trip is in a shareable status. If the plan was edited, closed, or replaced, your contact may need the latest link or latest trip update.

Contacts viewing the Follow page should see the latest shared information available for that trip. If the change is important, also send your contacts a quick message so they know to check the updated plan.

Check your spam or junk folder, confirm that your email address was entered correctly, and allow a few minutes for delivery. If the message still does not arrive, contact support.

Use the contact page to report issues, incorrect data, or problems with your account. Include the page you were using, what you expected to happen, and what actually happened.