The text your family gets
This is the whole app, really. One text.
Example wording. On a normal day they just get "headed out" and "back, all good."
How it works
- Tap Start and say where you're headed.
An honest back-by time and one line in your own words, like "15 miles northwest out of John's Pass" or "paddleboarding the Treasure Island causeway until sunset." Then put the phone away. - Your family follows along on a live map.
They get a private link by text. It opens in any phone's browser. No app, no login. - Running late? They get your last position and what to do.
The overdue check runs on our server, so it goes out even if your phone dies or loses signal.
Free forever
The overdue alert is free, forever. That's the part that matters, and it will never cost you anything. During the beta, everything is free.
FAQ
Does Headed In call the Coast Guard?
No. It texts your family with your last position and what to do next. They're the ones who know you, your boat, and where you launched.
What's a float plan, and why does it matter?
It's telling someone where you're going and when you'll be back. When you start a trip, Headed In asks "Where are you headed?" Your answer shows on your family's map and goes into the overdue text, because "where were they headed?" is the first thing the Coast Guard asks. A good plan says where you launched, where you're going, and anything that might change it: "Out of John's Pass, 15 miles NW to the reef, back through the pass by 5."
Kayaks and paddleboards too?
Yes. Anything you take out on the water works the same way: start at the launch, say where you're headed, and keep the phone in a waterproof pouch. Paddlers often stay closer to shore, which usually means better signal.
Is it really free?
Yes. The overdue alert is free forever, and everything is free during the beta.
What happens when I'm overdue, exactly?
15 minutes after your back-by time with no check-in, your family gets a text with your last known position, your boat, how many are aboard, and a link to your live trip map. If there's still no word 45 minutes later, they get a firmer second text with everything a 911 or Coast Guard dispatcher will ask for. Before any of that, your phone reminds you, so a simple "running late" never alarms anyone.
What if I lose cell signal offshore?
Your family still sees your last reported position on the map, your phone keeps recording, and the track uploads when signal comes back. The overdue text doesn't need your phone. Full details: when you lose signal.
Does it drain my battery?
It only uses GPS during a trip you start, and it checks in less often when your battery runs low. A long day on the water still uses battery, so start charged. We're measuring real numbers during the beta.
What do you do with my location?
It's shared only during a trip, and only with the people you choose. That's it. See the Privacy Policy.
iPhone only?
iPhone first. Android is planned. Your family can be on any phone: the map opens in the browser.
Someone I know is overdue. What do I do?
Read our guide: Someone's overdue. Now what?
Tampa Bay beta: 20 spots.
You run offshore. Your people worry. Help us get this right before we open it wider.
Join the betaBuilt in Tampa Bay
Designed on the water in Tampa Bay, for the people who boat here. Free, local, and built by a St. Pete nurse whose family watches the horizon too.
Privacy, in plain English
Your location is shared only during a trip, and only with the people you choose. We don't sell data. There's nothing to sell.
About the texts
- Who sends them
- Headed In, on behalf of a boater who added you as a trip contact.
- How you opt in
- The boater asks you first, then adds your mobile number in the app. You get one text asking you to reply YES. Nothing else is sent unless you reply YES.
- What you get
- A text with a map link when the boater heads out, a text when they're back, and an alert if they're overdue, need help, or their phone battery is low. Usually 2 to 4 texts per trip. Never marketing.
- Stop or help
- Reply STOP to any text to stop all texts. Reply HELP for help. Message and data rates may apply.
- Your number
- We don't sell or share phone numbers or opt-in data with anyone for marketing. See the Privacy Policy and Terms.