Be honest now! Do you really keep an hourly log of position etc.?
- Thread starter cliveshelton
- Start date
prv
Well-Known Member
Thanks.
Must admit, the battery-securing arrangements in some boats do seem a bit approximate. Including the one we've just bought, till I get around to refitting the battery locker.
Pete
AliM
Well-Known Member
Yes we do all the time. For short local passages, we just write down the leaving and arrival time, and often note HW or LW so we don't need to look it up. We always note the distance sailed, so we can keep a record of how far we've sailed each year. For longer passages, we note buoys or landmarks passed, major changes of course or sails, or of conditions, wildlife seen, and sometimes other boats etc. it's nice in the depths of winter to reread the logbooks and relive where we have been. We often paste in photos too, so it ends up as much a diary as a log book. only when we are crossing the North Sea or well out of sight of land would we note the position hourly and plot it on a chart. That helps to pass the time and make sure you are not drifting too far off course.
aquaplane
Well-Known Member
Mum records everything, even tied up in Tarbert. It makes a good read in the winter too. And you know how long a gaz bottle lasts and all sorts of stuff.
We record nothing, but on Windermere or the Clyde you can see where you are going and where you have come from, but the First Mate keeps a diary which makes a good read in the winter too. Where we went, what we did, how nice it was sort of thing.
We record nothing, but on Windermere or the Clyde you can see where you are going and where you have come from, but the First Mate keeps a diary which makes a good read in the winter too. Where we went, what we did, how nice it was sort of thing.
Suttle
Well-Known Member
Not on local trips. But I do on passage but not always on the hour!
Boathook
Well-Known Member
I record all trips out. The detail does vary depending upon whats happening, and the longer passages I do record details about every hour. At the end of the year I put all the details on to a spreadsheet that goes back to around 1984. Took quite a while to input the data and sort out columns (possibly a bit sad) but it has proved useful recently.
Uricanejack
Well-Known Member
Just aquired a new to me boat. Even before the deal was set. The first thing I bought to equip boat was a nice new Log Book. I might even use it.
jbweston
Well-Known Member
At the risk of drifting the thread, I've never found a pre-printed log book that suits what I want to record. So I have sheets in .pdf format that I print out and then bind 20-25 together with a frontsheet, plastic cover, and a comb binder to make my own log books. Picture here:
If you want the .pdf (or the .doc file so you can edit it and don't have 'Penguin' on every sheet!) you are welcome in which case PM me - but I guess it won't suit any of you and you should create your own . . .
Don't print out that .jpg above - the .pdf or .doc gives you better quality.
If you want the .pdf (or the .doc file so you can edit it and don't have 'Penguin' on every sheet!) you are welcome in which case PM me - but I guess it won't suit any of you and you should create your own . . .
Don't print out that .jpg above - the .pdf or .doc gives you better quality.
Uricanejack
Well-Known Member
Actualy its quite good. I dont think your drifting to far off topic your just letting us know what you log.
I picked mine because it had a nice cover.
Actualy one of the features I liked was it has mostly a blank sheet for journal with just a day where from and to as headings. I find i like to vary the content depending on the duration and peculuarities of a particular trip.
I also liked seperate sections for engine log and radio.
I have used quite a no of different formats and find something iritating about all.
Often have used just a blank note book.
for day trips left from A at Z to B at Y. time of a few points of interest or alterations along the way. with a bit of weather
Longer trips 4hr standard log entry
Time, position, Co Steered, Mag, True, Set, Drift, Log, kn, dist, wind, sea, weather, Cloud, tide, Remarks
At significatnt points or alterations of Co
Time, position, Course, Steered, Mag, True, Log, Kn, dist, Weather if changes.
I often shorten to
Time abeam point of interest. new Co especialy if lots of alterations round island and narrow channels.
some times I include sails up down moter on some times not.
I tend to be more diligent motoring than sailing.
I tend to like practical details my wife likes a nice little story.
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
So do I (1985) so that makes two sadO's
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
Three. See post #16
Phoenix of Hamble
Well-Known Member
Four....
charles_reed
Well-Known Member
It is interesting to see that some don't keep logs.
Due to advancing age and creeping cognitive dysfunction I have, for the past 12 years, extended keeping a log from whilst sailing, to every day - so far it's simplified arguments with various suppliers (to my benefit) on 15 occasions - the most satisfying been in negotiation with banks (though one, finally, only admitted defeat when they were sent the intended submission to the Banking Ombudsman). In the past it was very helpful on simplifying editing and labelling photos - now with a camera which puts a GPS position as well as a time/date against each shot, that utility is less important. Best of all it has allowed me the final word in many marital disputes (most of which are about time, place and meanings).
I would strongly urge all to keep running logs (smartphones or laptops are ideal). Possibly even as great a human advance as the opposable finger and hallux ;-).
PS 2000 was when I retired and was able to devote sightly more time to sailing, strangely my annual mileage appears to have dropped.
Due to advancing age and creeping cognitive dysfunction I have, for the past 12 years, extended keeping a log from whilst sailing, to every day - so far it's simplified arguments with various suppliers (to my benefit) on 15 occasions - the most satisfying been in negotiation with banks (though one, finally, only admitted defeat when they were sent the intended submission to the Banking Ombudsman). In the past it was very helpful on simplifying editing and labelling photos - now with a camera which puts a GPS position as well as a time/date against each shot, that utility is less important. Best of all it has allowed me the final word in many marital disputes (most of which are about time, place and meanings).
I would strongly urge all to keep running logs (smartphones or laptops are ideal). Possibly even as great a human advance as the opposable finger and hallux ;-).
PS 2000 was when I retired and was able to devote sightly more time to sailing, strangely my annual mileage appears to have dropped.
Seadog17
Well-Known Member
Haven't really thought about it before this thread but I have a Pentax Optio WGII GPS camera. If I have need to keep positions without the bother of updating a chart all I have to do is take a picture of anything on the hour, or whenever and I have a record saved.
Great little camera, by the way. Hang an arm over the side from pontoon or dinghy and you have pictures or videos of the hull to check on whatever you want.
Great little camera, by the way. Hang an arm over the side from pontoon or dinghy and you have pictures or videos of the hull to check on whatever you want.
cliveshelton
Well-Known Member
So the poll is closed with interesting results. It seems that I needn't change my ways after all! The majority keep hourly formal logs in case of need when out of sight of land or at night. Those that always do so either like to practise nav calculations (which I understand) or to transfer positions etc. to other media for future review (which I don't understand but, hey, each to his own).
Many thanks for everyone's input.
Many thanks for everyone's input.
mikeinkwazi
Well-Known Member
nathanlee
Well-Known Member
Considering this thread is 8 pages long thus far, and I can't be bothered to read ALL the posts, I'm probably about to lakesailor myself, but...
As a good Day Skipper shore based graduate, I always kept a paper log of where I was. Usually about every half hour.
I too, got bored of it. My chart plotter ain't going to break, decides I. I'm not exactly ocean crossing, I'm coastal. So I didn't keep the log on the next time out.
So there I am, in the middle of the wash, entirely out of sight of land, and the power goes pop. Everything offline, from autopilot to the jacuzzi. I had pretty much no idea where I was, failed the first time to fix the fault, and got just a little bit worried.
Turns out I did fix it, and all was well in the end, but it taught me to keep a log from then on.
I work in IT. I am responsible for spending a small fortune on internet hosting with all the backups you can imagine, plus others you can't, and just sometimes, albeit very rarely, something happens that nobody thought of and the whole lot goes offline.
Last example was a server room kitted up to the hilt with contingency plans, including backup Air-Con units, and two of them failed at the same time, which meant the room was getting way too hot, so they had to move the servers to another suite, which of course meant turning them off.
Point is, pencils don't fail.
That said, if, having kept a log and then lost power, I'm not sure my Day Skipper shore based was remembered enough to do anything with the scribbled position.
