Do you Let someone Know You Plans and Return ETA?

[mthieme]

After reading one post which involved a lost boat in the fog w/o a compass, I became curious...does anyone here let someone know of their itinerary and what time they can be expected back?
One thing I grew up with and do to this day is let someone (neighbor with a boat) know where I will be and when I expect to return (or how much fuel time I have in some cases like with the go fast boats).

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Do you Let someone Know You Plans and Return ETA?

Yes, always. I tell the wifey and the coastguard.

I happenned upon a fishermen and his young daughter floating aimlessly in a shipping channel, out of fuel. No radio, no flares, no mobile phone and only 2 cans of pepsi and one solitary sandwich. Luckily, it was a very calm day and the snapper were running - the area was full of boaties. I asked him if he had informed anybody of his plans - nope!

 

[scipper77]

Re: Do you Let someone Know You Plans and Return ETA?

I'm not sure how to respond. I always fish the same spots and because I leave my wife at home with the little one, she pretty much dictates what time I return (not that I have ever come back on time). so I never really actively convey my plans but they are always well known. any time I deviate from my normal routine (like go to a different body of water) I make kid of a big deal out of it so it's well known where I am then too.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Do you Let someone Know You Plans and Return ETA?

Even though im a resourceful person. I let some one know every time. Even when i go out on the water for work my wife knows about what time/day i should be back.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Do you Let someone Know You Plans and Return ETA?

Sometimes I'll let somebody know. Somebody always knows where we are launching though. I hardly go fishing alone.

We had a scare a while back when my brother went out fishing with one of his co-workers, in my brother's boat. They launched at my uncle's lot on the lake and stayed gone for better then half the day. We had a call from my uncle's neighbor asking if we have heard from my brother which we haven't, he was concerned. So somebody finally got in touch with my brother by finally reaching them on his cell phone and everything was fine, we relayed the message to the uncle's neighbor so he wouldn't worry. This neighbor was willing to go out and search for them in his boat, and even give them a tow if needed. It doesn't hurt to check in everyonce in a while that's for sure. Thank goodness for cell phones.

I feel bad for leaving my uncle way out on the lake and later on we came to find out that after we left him his starter gave out on his verly new (now X) bass boat. We left him out there without him knowing about it. He had to troll all the way back.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Do you Let someone Know You Plans and Return ETA?

Always let somebody know (family, friend, neighbor) approximate time of return. If we end up staying out for dinner somewhere or the fishing is excellent then I call to extend the time. A quick call when we are back to the dock and that's it.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Do you Let someone Know You Plans and Return ETA?

agree always let some one know, also have communcations onboard. i recommend also having a service, as sea tow, or tow boat.

 

[Shizzy]

Re: Do you Let someone Know You Plans and Return ETA?

growing up fishing, camping and hunting taught me that. I remeber once or twice getting turned aournd in the woods by myself. just knowing someone at least knew where you are made it eaiser to keep your mind straight.

I try to tell my OL when I go out. she knows I come in just as its getting dark and calls me if I forgot to let her know I went out in the first place

the call goes like this

"fishing?"

"Yep"

"Same spot?"

"yep"

"home by dark?"

"yep"

"have fun"

"always"

 

[arks]

Re: Do you Let someone Know You Plans and Return ETA?

Our boat is kept at a marina and we have lots of friends who look after each other. While we don't specifically ask any one person to act as our shore contact, I'm comfortable knowing that someone will notice if we're late and try to call us before the authorities. When we travel outside our local area, I leave a USCGA Float Plan attached to the top of our dock box (inside a plastic sleeve). Among other things, it lists out expected return date and time, and all our contact numbers. I think it's the most complete form out there in terms of information needed in an emergency.
Here the link to the form: http://floatplan.uscgaux.info/

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Do you Let someone Know You Plans and Return ETA?

Doing anything that requires a person to be out of their environment should always have a key person(s) know your whereabouts. Even as a teen growing up, someone always knew where I would be or at. However mom and dad would think I was somewhere, but my friends knew where I was really at,,,,,,,,but hey someone knew

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Do you Let someone Know You Plans and Return ETA?

I just think it is smart.

 

[dave11]

Re: Do you Let someone Know You Plans and Return ETA?

My wife is usually asleep when I leave. I launch from the same ramp most of the time and am back in the afternoon. If I am going to launch at a different ramp, I tell her or leave a note.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Do you Let someone Know You Plans and Return ETA?

Almost always. There have been one or two times when we went out without telling someone.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Do you Let someone Know You Plans and Return ETA?

My wife knows my approximate location and ETA back to the dock. I mostly stay in the ICW, and if I decide to go into the Gulf, I let her know before I head that way. I also update with new ETA if that's going to change.

Growing up in the times before cell phones, when my Dad was fishing, if he had a change of plans, or anything out of the ordinary, he would call my Mom via the Marine Operator. He was a firm believer in not being miles offshore without someone knowing whats going on, and I feel the same.