This seems to be a popular question that needs clairification. A floater is a stone crab that is growing back into its new shell. The old terminology of floaters comes from the cooking process when the light crab would float to the top. In the grading process a floater is classified by being able to wiggle the tip of teh claw and punch through the nuckle of the shell. Floaters are sweet and juicy like the medium and large grade of claws. The shell on a floater is easier to open and the price per pound is less expensive than other grades of stone crabs.