Electronic Logbooks

[Saluki86]

Hello,

Does anyone have a good source for E-logbooks for sailing?  Ideally I would like to have it so I can just make general notes for my trips (not necessarily time, coordinates, etc) and to record maintenance or reminders of things I need to fix/buy/think about.

I found a few that are for Iphone/Ipad but was wondering if someone else had a different version or just used a notebook

Thanks,
Saluki

[capt_nemo]

I still find paper and pencil more than adequate for the tasks. However, I do insist that the pencil have a good eraser!

capt_nemo

[skip1930]

" I still find paper and pencil more than adequate for the tasks. "

Me too. I don't trust or rely on anything electronic.
Being electronic...it will fail sooner or later.
But then again, I'm an old fart. I.S.U. tried to teach me computers using Fortran with punch cards. Best part of punch cards was tossing the punch's down girl's shirts. Something useful.

skip.

[BruceW]

Hi, folks,

I am updating this question because of the recent series of maintenance log newsletters from Active Captain. Of course, that guy is much more detailed than I will ever be, and he is a cruiser of a motorboat. However, I bet there is wisdom in the method of his madness.

Any of you folks keep logbook?  Have you found a good one to use, paper, elecrtronic, etc?

I was thinking of getting one of the iphone ones, but the reviews were bad so I didn't. I do have an app that would track my trips, but I was thinking more of a complete boat database, maintenance records, trailer repair stuff, to do lists, etc.

Capiche?

[deisher6]

Hey Bruce:
I keep a log book not only to keep track of use but when I change oil, filters, engine hours, fill ups and etc.  "Rite in the Rain" has a slew of waterproof writing stuff. I use one of their notebook size books. It had been impervious to sweat tears slobber and rain.
regards charlie

[Dogboy]

I use MS OneNote.  I have a page for each vehicle and the house and keep track of maint. items etc.  I can get to it on my phone or the PC.  I probably wouldn't use it if I didn't use it for work so much, but I have found it convenient to track what was done when.

[BruceW]

Thanks, Charlie and Dogboy

I think I have one of those notebooks. Maybe I'll remember to bring a pen, har har.

I have licenses for One Note.  I could also use Word and Dropbox, I guess.

My brain is basically blank, so I'd probably like a book or software that has the topics; heck, I should look at your book sometime, Charlie.

BTW, I hope to be down to the Neuse this weekend. Want to meet up?

[Saluki86]

After originally posting this, I too went to OneNote.  I usually make 'notes' with it on my iPhone while things are happening and then 'add details and content' when I get back on land and my laptop.  Mostly maintenance, reminders of what to fix/bring/leave next time and a few things about each sail .... mostly what I did wrong! ha.

Saluki

[Pete H]

This topic caused me to lean over to my left and grab my old logbook from the bookcase, flip it open and I see that on the 23/12/75 at 6am we left for our Christmas cruise. Wind was blowing SE at about force 4/5 and the barometer was falling, I see that I headed for shelter and anchored for the night behind a low spit of land. It immediately took me back there!
The last entry in this book is in october 1999. Memories! This logbook is English, (Weymouth Yacht Logbook).

When I sold my old boat to make room in the shed for my Legacy, I kept the logbook but bought a new one for the new boat. This one is an American publication called, "Boat Log &Record" by Marlin Bree.  This is a much more modern book than my previous one, and serves the purpose to keep all boat and trip info in one place and contains lots of information. I stick in photos, do sketches, keep licences and registration papers etc. in it.

Why paper? Because, books are books, they don't need batteries, they don't need to be upgraded, their operating system doesn't become obsolete, they can be read in bright sunlight, most importantly they are future proofed. At the start of this rant I mentioned that I just grabbed my old logbook and flicked it open and there was an entry from 40 years ago. If you trust all your trip information to some electronic device, good luck with being able to read it in 2055! You might think that you won't be interested in what you wrote forty years ago, but in forty years having that option may be good. The only reason I won't be able to read my new logbook in forty years is more to do with me than the logbook.
By all means use an iPhone app or some such while navigating, but in the evening do your future self a favour and record your days adventures in a real paper, real logbook.
Cheers