What a Shore Contact Should Do When a Boater Is Overdue

Before the boat leaves

A useful response begins before departure. Review what a float plan should include with the captain and make sure both of you understand the same plan.

• Review the float plan and keep it where you can find it.
• Know the vessel description, registration or documentation number, and home port or launch point.
• Know who is aboard and whether the captain provided any relevant medical concerns.
• Understand the planned route, destinations, stops, departure time, and expected return time.
• Agree on check-in times and the overdue threshold for this specific trip.
• Understand how the captain will report delays, route changes, or a safe return.
• Confirm the preferred ways to contact the captain and others aboard.
• Know where the tow vehicle or boat trailer may be parked, when relevant.

When a check-in or return is missed

1. Check the agreed trip details, check-in time, expected return, and overdue instructions.
2. Try the captain using the agreed contact methods.
3. Try other people aboard using the contact information provided.
4. Check whether another family member, marina, or trusted contact has heard from them.
5. Review the latest available trip update, if one exists. Treat it as a reported update, not as a live or guaranteed current position.
6. Record the missed check-in time and each contact attempt, including the time and result.
7. Reassess weather, route conditions, darkness, medical concerns, the people aboard, and any other risk factors.
8. Follow the captain's agreed overdue instructions when circumstances appear routine, but act sooner if there is a genuine reason to believe someone may be in danger.

There is no universal grace period. The right response depends on the captain's agreed instructions and the actual safety concerns at that time.

Information to gather

Gather what is already known. When speaking with an authority, report facts and clearly identify anything you do not know. Do not speculate.

• Captain's name
• Passenger names
• Vessel name
• Vessel type
• Vessel length
• Vessel color
• Registration or documentation number
• Home port or launch point
• Departure time
• Expected return time
• Planned route
• Destinations and stops
• Last known contact
• Last reported position, when available
• Communication equipment
• Safety equipment
• Known medical concerns, when provided
• Vehicle and trailer details, when relevant
• Emergency contacts
• Any route-change or delay message

When to contact authorities

A missed check-in does not automatically mean distress. Immediate action may be appropriate, however, when any known fact creates a genuine safety concern.

• A distress message was received.
• The captain reported needing assistance.
• Severe weather affects the planned route.
• The vessel is significantly overdue beyond the captain's agreed threshold.
• There is a medical concern.
• A child or other vulnerable passenger is aboard.
• The vessel failed to arrive and no one aboard can be contacted.
• Known trip information suggests danger.
• You have another genuine reason to believe someone may be at risk.

Contact the appropriate emergency authority directly and provide the known facts. FloatPlanWizard does not determine when rescue action is required, verify an emergency, contact authorities for you, or dispatch assistance.

The site's official U.S. Coast Guard Float Plan and Boating Emergency Guide also emphasizes contacting the people listed on the plan, recording only what you know, avoiding speculation, and remaining available after a concern is reported.

What to do after reporting concern

• Remain reachable and follow the authority's instructions.
• Preserve messages, the float plan, trip updates, and your contact-attempt notes.
• Provide new factual information to the authority handling the concern.
• Do not speculate about what happened or where the vessel may be.
• Do not independently launch an unsafe search.
• If the captain or someone aboard makes contact, notify the authority immediately.
• Record the time and content of each new communication.

What FloatPlanWizard helps organize

FloatPlanWizard is a planning and communication tool. It can help a captain prepare trip details, record vessel and passenger information, identify a shore contact, share a float plan, and organize route and timing details. That information may help the shore contact respond more effectively.

FPW does not continuously watch every trip, guarantee message delivery, confirm distress, provide professional monitoring, guarantee a vessel's current location, contact the Coast Guard automatically, or replace emergency authorities. Any available trip page or check-in should be treated as the latest reported information, not independent live vessel tracking.

See how trip planning and sharing work together, or review FPW's boating-safety limitations and guidance.