June 6, 2000

Web Offers New Concept for Saving Lost Boaters

(Summary)

Zarcor Inc., a privately held Texas-based manufacturer of boating accessories today announced a free Web-based service for boaters called, "FloatPlanPlus," that will aid in search and rescue operations for lost or missing boaters.  

Each year the USCG conducts over 40,000 search and rescue operations and saves over 4,000 lives.  It has been a long-time advocate of boaters leaving a float plan with friends or family so that someone can notify search and rescue operations if the boaters become overdue.  Because boaters could never file their plans directly with the USCG, FloatPlanPlus was created.  Halter told Newsbytes that now, boaters can file their plans online in seconds with FloatPlanPlus, a national clearing house.  More information on this free service is available at  http://www.zarcor.com/fpp/home.htm .

The site is supported by advertisers, who use the information that Zarcor receives in boaters' profiles.  This data allows Zarcor to direct demographically specific boat-related and travel advertising to individual boaters.

  June 16, 2000

Dallas boating-accessories manufacturer Zarcor Inc. recently launched a free service called FloatPlanPlus, which lets boaters file their itineraries online, and tells rescuers who to contact of they' are overdue at their destinations.

The following magazines and Information providers,  have published articles which are highly complimentary to Zarcor / FloatPlanPlus for the safety services they are providing to the boating industry.  Complete text is available upon request.

August 4, 2000	July 5, 2000
A Float Plan System That Works August 2000	Florida Times-Union Filing a Float Plan is now as easy as point and click Larry Dennis -  discusses USCG capabilities and compares available float plans  (one page article)
The ENSIGN November 2000  OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE United States Power Squadrons "New FloatPlan Service Available" Cdr Gregory T. Absten, AP          Marathon (FL) Squadron    There's a new service available online that appears to be useful. Its a free service to file float plans, located at www.zarcor.com/fpp/home.htm        You set up a boating profile on this site by joining one time. Then you file a float plan for the trips on which you want to be automatically monitored. The service does not track you or notify the Coast Guard. Rather, you enter the e-mail addresses of three individuals you choose to have notified. Then, if you don't close your float plan within 24 hours of your filed time, it will automatically notify those you've selected and ask them to check on you and/or notify the authorities. The Coast Guard has the ability to pull your boating profile from this group. The site also includes a link to the USPS Web site.    My guess is that the only downside is that your "profile" may be used to target you for advertisements. It’s only my guess, but it seems to be a useful service that is otherwise free. Check it out and pass the word to other USPS members and fellow boaters.