Boat log

Donald Tyson · Joined: 24 Jul 2023 Posts: 546 Photos: Thistle

Kind of on a ledge here btwn old and new record keeping habits. Book or computer. I hope I am not upsetting anyone with three questions in a row today but after surgery yesterday, I'm home climbing the walls, and yet trying to get my ducks in a row for 2025.
I have three areas of learning/recording I want to work on (i.e. log). Budget, Travel log, Repairs/upgrades/maintenance.
Do you keep all your records in the cloud, on a computer or do you do it the old fashioned way by actually writing it all into a book.
If you have a moment I'll benefit from your replies.

ssobol · Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2024 4:38 pm Post subject:

Depends on what you want to log.

I have a notebook for maintenance items. I have a Nebolink that logs boat movements and sends me an email at the end of every travel day with a report. Nebo also sends a monthly report and the logs are viewable on their app. Costs are logged on the same spreadsheet that I use for tracking my all my other financial stuff.

thataway · Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2024 5:03 pm Post subject:

I prefer that all the entries be in a log book kept on the boat. I keep all of my logs, but have a copy of them available when I sell the boat. That includes the dates of service and receipts for oil, parts etc.

My daily log is very generalized--basically when and where we started and finished--at times I will do day's total run in miles. When on passage, we used to and still would mark position on a paper chart.

Marie keeps a diary about people events and interesting places. the diary

CPlay · Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2024 5:41 pm Post subject:

I use the Weems & Plath "The Maintenance Log" and "The Cruising Log". Nothing on computer. I like pencil and paper. Easy to record and easy to flip pages to look at history. I have a "boat" file folder I keep receipts for big boat items that have a warranty. I personally do not keep a record of boat expenses. Probably better for my mental well being if I can forget how much was spent. 😀
-Jeff-

Donald Tyson · Joined: 24 Jul 2023 Posts: 546 Photos: Thistle

There seems to be a consensus of using a pencil for notes and the basic boat log.
I like to work in excel for planning and expensing. That way Kim can work those entries right in to our taxes if anything is eligible.

Can I afford Weems & Plath....we'll see. Captain Chris and Alyse were showing me their homemade logs and they did the Job for sure.

Thanks for your testimonials.

thataway · Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2024 9:12 pm Post subject:

With the computer you can easily design and print your own log book pages--however some of my logs are just notebooks, hand ruled vertical lines and entries penned in at the top of the page. I do have some of the W & P log books, but too much information for what I record. If you were doing predicted log racing, then that information is needed.

Even on our month long trips, Marie likes to keep track of what food is used and where it is kept etc. Much easier in a 22 foot boat than a 62 foot boat where you may have 8 people aboard at some times.

Donald Tyson · Joined: 24 Jul 2023 Posts: 546 Photos: Thistle

Well maybe I don’t even need the iPad or excel. After all, I’m hoping to have a very simple boat, comparatively speaking.

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NewMoon · Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2024 8:43 am Post subject:

We have a paper log book for recording each day's travel, partly because that's how we did things years ago before we had a computer onboard. We use Word for a journal, sometimes only a line per day, but sometimes several paragraphs.

I use Excel to keep track of spare parts, including part numbers and prices. Excel also to record all maintenance and repair work. And Excel for miles traveled, engine hours, fuel usage/cost, propane usage. I like Excel for these things as it is easy to search for a maintenance activity, or to compute fuel mileage. Handy for me as we have a relatively complicated boat, and put close to 800 engine hours and 4,000 nm on the boat each year.

colbysmith · Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2024 7:38 pm Post subject:

I have a file folder in the house to keep all important receipts, installation instructions, and other things like that. I also have a small portafolio on the boat with operating manuals, certificates, forms, etc. Inside that portafolio is also a small maintenance log book I made up were I record all maintenance on the boat, main outboard, kicker and trailer. In selling the boat, I will go through the house file and portafolio and pull out any personal information or items not going with the boat. But the maintenance log and operating/installation manuals all go with the boat. Colby

DayBreak · Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2024 7:59 pm Post subject:

Someday, when the boat is sold, I have a 'captains logbook' for DayBreak that shows every day that the boat has been operational on the water. We (Colleen and I) have quite a few daily entries so far. I make a note on the current page to show any scheduled maintenance performed. This will be nice for the next owner to see. The logbook stays in the family though!

Donald Tyson · Joined: 24 Jul 2023 Posts: 546 Photos: Thistle

Well there we have it. Almost every one of you are using a spreadsheet to track your technical data while using a logbook, a standard logbook, to track your day-to-day travel records. That’s what I plan to do, in fact, I’m ordering a logbook today so I can play around with the different categories.