SOS & safety

If anyone is in immediate danger, call for help first.

Open this page once before you sail — it's saved on your phone and works without signal.

At sea, use VHF Channel 16 to reach the Coast Guard. In the US you can also call USCG.

Add an emergency contact in your profile.

Weak signal? A text message often gets through when a call won't. In much of the US you can text 911 — say where you are and what's wrong.

File a float plan before you sail

Phones lose signal a few miles offshore. Before departure, send someone ashore the details below so they know when to raise the alarm.

Offshore passages: ask your captain whether the boat carries an EPIRB, VHF-DSC radio and a satellite messenger (e.g. inReach or SPOT-style devices). Many captains can share a live tracking link — paste it into your float plan so family can follow along.

Stowaway reviews each captain's license number and insurance certificate before they can list. We don't inspect vessels — ask your captain about safety gear, life jackets and their EPIRB before departure. Report any unsafe behavior from a voyage page and our team will act within 24 hours.