Because this will be our first EXTENDED, EXTENDED cruise we are asking our fellow and more experienced boaters for advice on making sure our land-based contacts have enough information in the event we fail to meet the daily Float Plan. Are we missing anything?

All Hanz On Deck is a Chaparral Signature 310, 33 – ½’ length overall, white in color with black bimini. There are four adults and one animal on board. We have a Sea Eagle 8 dinghy, silver in color, mounted on a swim platform davit. The name All Hanz On Deck is affixed to the dinghy so as to be visible to following vessels.

All Hanz On Deck is a Coast Guard Documented Vessel and should be identified to authorities as M/V All Hanz On Deck, Official Number 1232915. The vessel can be further identified as having a RayMarine Radome Radar Scanner and KVH Satellite TracVision Television Antenna.

AHOD is in the Express Cruiser Class, Yacht-Certified with a fiberglass hull. We have four Type I and five Type III (which we will wear at all times we are underway) personal flotation devices, in addition to a life ring w/50’ of line, a flotation pad, and all other usual and customary Coast Guard required safety equipment.

The vessel’s MMSI – or Mobile Maritime Service Identity Number – is 338087931. This is tied to the DSC or Digital Selective Calling feature of the primary VHF Radio. “These identities are formed in such a way that the identity or part thereof can be used by telephone and telex subscribers connected to the general telecommunications network to call ships automatically.” I have no experience using this and no idea how much such a call would cost. I imagine it would have to be arranged through the Operator or perhaps the Coast Guard if someone called them to report us as overdue. I would suspect this would be an attempted communication of last resort.

The most important thing for our contacts to remember is DO NOT PANIC IF WE DO NOT UPDATE YOU EXACTLY WHEN WE SAID WE WOULD. We may be in the middle of docking the boat, navigating through heavy traffic in a narrow waterway… preparing to go through a lock/bridge… forced to take anchorage because of a sudden storm… looking at ourselves in the mirror… or enjoying a sausage/peppers hoagie… THE POINT IS…

The contacts’ first reaction should be attempts to calmly call, email or text us, with the understanding we may not be able to immediately answer the phone call or respond to the email or text. OUR first concern is to make sure the four (5) of us are in control of whatever situation we are in… then we will respond to electronic communications.

Now, in the event the contacts try all four of us using various methods, and still can’t reach us… you should touch base with the other land-based contacts and AGREE UPON ONE PERSON to make a phone call to the marina-in-waiting and see what’s up. If that doesn’t pan out, that person makes the emergency call and becomes responsible for communicating with other interested parties.