What should be done with a float plan upon returning from boat outings?

Upon returning from boat outings, the appropriate action regarding a float plan is to cancel it. A float plan is a crucial safety measure that informs others about your boating trip details, including your intended route and expected return time. Once you have completed your outing and returned safely, it's important to cancel the float plan to indicate that you are no longer out on the water. This helps to prevent unnecessary concern or search efforts by friends, family, or authorities who may have been informed of your plan.

Keeping track of whether a floating plan is active or canceled is essential for safety protocols, as maintaining an unaltered active plan can lead others to believe you are still on the water, especially if you do not return as scheduled. While updating, sharing, or filing it for records might seem beneficial in some contexts, they do not directly address the need for clarity and up-to-date status regarding your safety when you have completed your boating activity.