I hope to have my 1977 Hunter 30 underway by Thanksgiving. Two years of ownership, with no sialing except the initial cruise across Tampa Bay. I am interrested in what others are doing for log keeping. Do you keep a formal log for your boat? Do you keep a separate engine/maintenance log? Do you use custom boat logs, or just plain ledger bound books? Pete Albright s/v Nancy Ross
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Log Book
We use a logbook we received as a gift. It is set up for daily entries, with one page for date, destination, weather, marina costs, and other details. The second page is blank, for general comments. We usually use it only on multi day cruises. My wife does a good job of entering a paragraph or two so we can remember all the wonderful journeys we have shared. We don't bother to record daysailing or other outings. I also use a few blank pages in the back to record maintenance I have performed on the engine and other systems. This seems to be the right amount of detail for us, but others may prefer to have more or less.
We use a logbook we received as a gift. It is set up for daily entries, with one page for date, destination, weather, marina costs, and other details. The second page is blank, for general comments. We usually use it only on multi day cruises. My wife does a good job of entering a paragraph or two so we can remember all the wonderful journeys we have shared. We don't bother to record daysailing or other outings. I also use a few blank pages in the back to record maintenance I have performed on the engine and other systems. This seems to be the right amount of detail for us, but others may prefer to have more or less.
Reply to log questions
Peter, I have kept logs since I took the USPS Sail and Cruising courses several years ago. There are lots of logbooks out there, and some are better than others. Look for a cruising log which provides for Time, Course, Speed, Latitude and Longitude Co-ordinates, and Weather categories as a bare minumum for sailing. I have a separate log for engine and boat maintenance. In it I list work done on the boat, when it is done, and how much parts cost. Also, sometimes I make sketches of procedures that confuse me or that I may want to repeat in the future.The format for the engine and boat maintenance log was in the USPS Cruising course manual. I copied it and it is in a standard 3-ring binder. It is excellent. I currently use a small 3-ring binder log sold as "Captain Jack's Log" as a cruise log. It is formatted for sailors and power boaters. Next year I will go back to a log which is formatted more for sailors. I don't use a lot of the categories in the Captain Jack's Log and have had to revamp others to include essential information. I still use my original log from years ago because it lists the SOPs I wrote down for getting underway and closing up the boat when I go home after a sail. A cruising log provides information both formal (where you sailed, sea conditions, co-ordinates, weather conditions, etc.) and anecdotal (what made the sail memorable) to return to at a later date. Don't leave home without one
Tom
Peter, I have kept logs since I took the USPS Sail and Cruising courses several years ago. There are lots of logbooks out there, and some are better than others. Look for a cruising log which provides for Time, Course, Speed, Latitude and Longitude Co-ordinates, and Weather categories as a bare minumum for sailing. I have a separate log for engine and boat maintenance. In it I list work done on the boat, when it is done, and how much parts cost. Also, sometimes I make sketches of procedures that confuse me or that I may want to repeat in the future.The format for the engine and boat maintenance log was in the USPS Cruising course manual. I copied it and it is in a standard 3-ring binder. It is excellent. I currently use a small 3-ring binder log sold as "Captain Jack's Log" as a cruise log. It is formatted for sailors and power boaters. Next year I will go back to a log which is formatted more for sailors. I don't use a lot of the categories in the Captain Jack's Log and have had to revamp others to include essential information. I still use my original log from years ago because it lists the SOPs I wrote down for getting underway and closing up the boat when I go home after a sail. A cruising log provides information both formal (where you sailed, sea conditions, co-ordinates, weather conditions, etc.) and anecdotal (what made the sail memorable) to return to at a later date. Don't leave home without one
TomLog, what log?
I guess I should keep a log, but it doesn't seem to be in my nature. I'm not good at lists either, which is why it always takes me 3 trips to West Marine to get everything I need for a project. I do have guestbook that I always forget to offer to guests and keep a reasonably accurate maintenance record. Despite my failure as a log keeper, my boat is very well cared for and in excellent condition. In my occassional moments of wanting to get organized, I've checked out the commercially available logs and it always seems that 20% of the format would be useful to me while the rest would stay blank. If I ever get motivated enough, I'm going to make up my own pages on my PC and make a loose-leaf log. If I was on an extended cruise I'm sure that I'd keep more of a record, but as an average weekend sailor, other than maintenance records, it just doesn't work for me.
I guess I should keep a log, but it doesn't seem to be in my nature. I'm not good at lists either, which is why it always takes me 3 trips to West Marine to get everything I need for a project. I do have guestbook that I always forget to offer to guests and keep a reasonably accurate maintenance record. Despite my failure as a log keeper, my boat is very well cared for and in excellent condition. In my occassional moments of wanting to get organized, I've checked out the commercially available logs and it always seems that 20% of the format would be useful to me while the rest would stay blank. If I ever get motivated enough, I'm going to make up my own pages on my PC and make a loose-leaf log. If I was on an extended cruise I'm sure that I'd keep more of a record, but as an average weekend sailor, other than maintenance records, it just doesn't work for me.
Log Keeping
I usually keep a log of both week-end trips and extended cruises. This summer on an eight week cruise, I found a solution to the challenge of recording trip data while sailing. When things need to be recorded it is often not convenient due to sea state or other situations. The solution was a pocket tape recorder. Five minutes at the end of the day was usually enough to record and review the days events. I also keep a separate engine/maintenance log.
I usually keep a log of both week-end trips and extended cruises. This summer on an eight week cruise, I found a solution to the challenge of recording trip data while sailing. When things need to be recorded it is often not convenient due to sea state or other situations. The solution was a pocket tape recorder. Five minutes at the end of the day was usually enough to record and review the days events. I also keep a separate engine/maintenance log.
I like the PC idea
I like the PC idea, being able to design your own forms seems to make alot of sense to me. The thing is, my typing is better than my hand writing. Often, I can hardly make out my own notes. Does anyone know of any software designed just for the ships log? I think it would be neat to have a program that can be on a notebook computer to keep up with everything.
I like the PC idea, being able to design your own forms seems to make alot of sense to me. The thing is, my typing is better than my hand writing. Often, I can hardly make out my own notes. Does anyone know of any software designed just for the ships log? I think it would be neat to have a program that can be on a notebook computer to keep up with everything.
I use a Record Book
I use one of those Record bound ledgers you get at office supply stores. I log the date, where I sailed, wind, temp and engine hours. Problem is my handwriting is really bad, so reading it years from now will be a challenge. Everytime she leaves the mooring she gets a log entry. I also note any problems I may have with the boat, maintenance to the outboard, type of bottom paint and how it fared. One of those record books lasts me about 10 years.
I use one of those Record bound ledgers you get at office supply stores. I log the date, where I sailed, wind, temp and engine hours. Problem is my handwriting is really bad, so reading it years from now will be a challenge. Everytime she leaves the mooring she gets a log entry. I also note any problems I may have with the boat, maintenance to the outboard, type of bottom paint and how it fared. One of those record books lasts me about 10 years.
Surveyor's field book
Being an engineer, I have ready access to these books. They are about 8 in high by 4 in wide, with hard orange covers. They were developed for a harsh field environment and fit just about anywhere, even in a back pocket. The pages are ruled and the paper can be written on even when damp. The book stays in my carry-on bag with the shades and sunblock. I try to make an entry for each trip. Minimum data includes date, time, names of all aboard, weather (incl. wind speed, direction and sea state) and planned destination. When planning a trip, I transcribe relevant information from the chart to the book, so I won't have to wrestle with the chart at the helm. Rubber bands keep the book open to the right page even in a howling gale. All my GPS waypoints are written in the back of the book, just in case. It was an uphill battle to force myself to keep a log, because unlike most engineers, I'm not real organized. It took me a year, but now keeping the log is a habit... and a fine one too, I might add. Peter H23 "Raven"
Being an engineer, I have ready access to these books. They are about 8 in high by 4 in wide, with hard orange covers. They were developed for a harsh field environment and fit just about anywhere, even in a back pocket. The pages are ruled and the paper can be written on even when damp. The book stays in my carry-on bag with the shades and sunblock. I try to make an entry for each trip. Minimum data includes date, time, names of all aboard, weather (incl. wind speed, direction and sea state) and planned destination. When planning a trip, I transcribe relevant information from the chart to the book, so I won't have to wrestle with the chart at the helm. Rubber bands keep the book open to the right page even in a howling gale. All my GPS waypoints are written in the back of the book, just in case. It was an uphill battle to force myself to keep a log, because unlike most engineers, I'm not real organized. It took me a year, but now keeping the log is a habit... and a fine one too, I might add. Peter H23 "Raven"
Logbooks
I use a Rite-in-the-Rain pocket notebook to take notes in the cockpit while I'm sailing and a Nalgene 8 1/2" x 11" waterproof lab notebook as a permanent log. I fill in the log entry every time I'm at the boat whether I sail or not. The Rite-in-the-Rain books are specially treated paper and are pretty tough and resistant to water damage. The Nalgene books are made of polyethylene paper. They are expensive but, if you use a micro point Sharpy pen, they are impervious to water and just about anything else. I keep a maintenance log on loose leaf paper sheets which I made up myself on the computer then printed out and made copies. I keep a number of pages in the boat. It is a simple form with three columns for: date, engine hours and work completed. There is room for 15 entries per page. I keep it in an enclosed plastic clipboard that I got at Staples. Look at the Rite-in-the-Rain web site at: http://www.riteintherain.com/ Look at the student notebook section for a full sized spiral bound book. For the indestructable (by water any way) look at the 6300 and 6303 notebooks from Nalgene at http://nalgenelab.nalgenunc.com/products/catalog/search.asp?genericSearch=notebook You will have to find a local dealer or a mail order site for each but the web sites will help you with that.
I use a Rite-in-the-Rain pocket notebook to take notes in the cockpit while I'm sailing and a Nalgene 8 1/2" x 11" waterproof lab notebook as a permanent log. I fill in the log entry every time I'm at the boat whether I sail or not. The Rite-in-the-Rain books are specially treated paper and are pretty tough and resistant to water damage. The Nalgene books are made of polyethylene paper. They are expensive but, if you use a micro point Sharpy pen, they are impervious to water and just about anything else. I keep a maintenance log on loose leaf paper sheets which I made up myself on the computer then printed out and made copies. I keep a number of pages in the boat. It is a simple form with three columns for: date, engine hours and work completed. There is room for 15 entries per page. I keep it in an enclosed plastic clipboard that I got at Staples. Look at the Rite-in-the-Rain web site at: http://www.riteintherain.com/ Look at the student notebook section for a full sized spiral bound book. For the indestructable (by water any way) look at the 6300 and 6303 notebooks from Nalgene at http://nalgenelab.nalgenunc.com/products/catalog/search.asp?genericSearch=notebook You will have to find a local dealer or a mail order site for each but the web sites will help you with that.
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