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Very Important
If you ever decide to get a Captains License from the Coast Guard because you are worried that they will confiscate your boat for accepting a beer from a guest then you will need this information. The application for a Captains License requires you to list your time on the water operating your vessel for the past ten years. You will want to know this to accurately complete the application. Your level of license is related to your experience and size of vessel you have been operating(50 ton, 100 ton, etc). Best regards Dave
If you ever decide to get a Captains License from the Coast Guard because you are worried that they will confiscate your boat for accepting a beer from a guest then you will need this information. The application for a Captains License requires you to list your time on the water operating your vessel for the past ten years. You will want to know this to accurately complete the application. Your level of license is related to your experience and size of vessel you have been operating(50 ton, 100 ton, etc). Best regards Dave
Ship's Log
I think it’s a (seldom enforced) legal requirement to maintain an accurate and up to date ship’s log (captain or not) - <b>certainly when traveling foreign waters</b>. Additionally, your log can become an important maintenance & repair resource, and a journal of your life aboard (even if just day-tripping & weekending). I encourage you to keep a (at least basic) log. I maintained my log in three main parts: 1. Legal & Navigational located on Top of front side of daily page. ~ Daily start finish locations (Port Name & Lat/Lon.) ~ Couse, Speed & Distance notations ~ Periodic waypoint info’ ~ Weather observations ~ Crew names, passport nos, birthdates, etc. ~ Radio communications log ~ etc ... 2. Maintenance Log at Bottom of front page. ~ Engine hours ~ R/O Watermaker Hours ~ Services performed (oil, filters) ~ Comments & etc ... 3. Daily Journal (diary) on back of page. ~ Provisioning notes ~ Daily diary ~ etc ... Regards, Gord
I think it’s a (seldom enforced) legal requirement to maintain an accurate and up to date ship’s log (captain or not) - <b>certainly when traveling foreign waters</b>. Additionally, your log can become an important maintenance & repair resource, and a journal of your life aboard (even if just day-tripping & weekending). I encourage you to keep a (at least basic) log. I maintained my log in three main parts: 1. Legal & Navigational located on Top of front side of daily page. ~ Daily start finish locations (Port Name & Lat/Lon.) ~ Couse, Speed & Distance notations ~ Periodic waypoint info’ ~ Weather observations ~ Crew names, passport nos, birthdates, etc. ~ Radio communications log ~ etc ... 2. Maintenance Log at Bottom of front page. ~ Engine hours ~ R/O Watermaker Hours ~ Services performed (oil, filters) ~ Comments & etc ... 3. Daily Journal (diary) on back of page. ~ Provisioning notes ~ Daily diary ~ etc ... Regards, Gord
I have never liked logs
Especially trying to dodge them at night!!! Oh but we aren't talking about those logs. I have never liked logs. Kept a SCUBA log for a while. SCUBA has become such a racket!!!!! I wrote stuff down and never looked at it again. I kept a flight log because it is required. Never really looked at it except to add up the hours flown. I haven't ever read that a ships log was required but it probably wouldn't hurt. My wife has started to keep a log many times and this lasts for a few trips and then is forgotten. If we start cruising as opposed to weekending we'll probablly keep a ships log just to keep track of where we've been. But again after a day of sailing do you want a swim and a drink and a nap or to sit down a scribble some notes??? We do keep close track of our position when sailing unfamilar waters.
Especially trying to dodge them at night!!! Oh but we aren't talking about those logs. I have never liked logs. Kept a SCUBA log for a while. SCUBA has become such a racket!!!!! I wrote stuff down and never looked at it again. I kept a flight log because it is required. Never really looked at it except to add up the hours flown. I haven't ever read that a ships log was required but it probably wouldn't hurt. My wife has started to keep a log many times and this lasts for a few trips and then is forgotten. If we start cruising as opposed to weekending we'll probablly keep a ships log just to keep track of where we've been. But again after a day of sailing do you want a swim and a drink and a nap or to sit down a scribble some notes??? We do keep close track of our position when sailing unfamilar waters.
Come on Dave
that line about "worried that they will confiscate your boat for accepting a beer from a guest" has already been discussed before. Lets not panic the general weekend boating public into gestapo like tactics from the USCG, it doesn't happen like that and Peggy Hall just recently talked about that and it not happening and not being policy. But I do agree that its good idea to keep some sort of log if anyone wants to attain a captains license. They will want you to list your experience and this will help.
that line about "worried that they will confiscate your boat for accepting a beer from a guest" has already been discussed before. Lets not panic the general weekend boating public into gestapo like tactics from the USCG, it doesn't happen like that and Peggy Hall just recently talked about that and it not happening and not being policy. But I do agree that its good idea to keep some sort of log if anyone wants to attain a captains license. They will want you to list your experience and this will help.
One good thing to keep in a log...
is a 'guestbook' of sorts that shows who has been a guest on the boat, along with their address and phone number. I often get a 'friend of a friend' on board and sometimes they're people whose help, advice, etc. might be useful in the future; like the friend of mine who brought his buddy the machinist out for some fishing one day. When I needed some aluminum machined and welded, I knew who to call, and he gave me a great deal on the job! Just my two cents worth... Jeff
is a 'guestbook' of sorts that shows who has been a guest on the boat, along with their address and phone number. I often get a 'friend of a friend' on board and sometimes they're people whose help, advice, etc. might be useful in the future; like the friend of mine who brought his buddy the machinist out for some fishing one day. When I needed some aluminum machined and welded, I knew who to call, and he gave me a great deal on the job! Just my two cents worth... Jeff
Log Books
I have found that the material one uses for a log book is important to its success and use. We tried spiral bound empty notebooks for a while, but they didn't work. Then we stumbled across John Rousmaniere's Log Book, published by Norton and other over the years. I like the format, because it can be used for navigation as well as just writing down stories of what happened any given day or cruise. It's fun to go back and read about your experiences years later, on those dark and stormy nights either on the boat or in front of a fireplace. Sometimes our kids have written in the log. Their stories are lots of fun. We also use the Guest Log, but I never read what a guest has written until I come down to the boat the next time. If you like to write, or even just note some small stuff down, you'll find it's fun and great memories, whether it's "required" or not. Take a look at the log books that are published, and find one that suits your style and interests. Keep it on the boat and see if you use it. I keep a separate maintenance log based on engine hours, but some log books include that important information as well. Stu
I have found that the material one uses for a log book is important to its success and use. We tried spiral bound empty notebooks for a while, but they didn't work. Then we stumbled across John Rousmaniere's Log Book, published by Norton and other over the years. I like the format, because it can be used for navigation as well as just writing down stories of what happened any given day or cruise. It's fun to go back and read about your experiences years later, on those dark and stormy nights either on the boat or in front of a fireplace. Sometimes our kids have written in the log. Their stories are lots of fun. We also use the Guest Log, but I never read what a guest has written until I come down to the boat the next time. If you like to write, or even just note some small stuff down, you'll find it's fun and great memories, whether it's "required" or not. Take a look at the log books that are published, and find one that suits your style and interests. Keep it on the boat and see if you use it. I keep a separate maintenance log based on engine hours, but some log books include that important information as well. Stu
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