Do you keep a log book?

[Fr J Hackett]

I tried several times usually with each new boat to keep a narrative log and failed dismally. For coastal sailing I didn't keep a log other than a plotted position on a chart suitably annotated. For cross channel or other longer offshore passages then I kept a basic written log identical to the one Lady in Bed uses plus of course the paper chart. On acquiring a chart plotter I used this much as a paper chart which it supplemented and never actually replaced. All of the above was supplemented and proceeded with a basic passage plan noting tidal headlands etc which were scribbled down on a loose leaf piece of paper kept in or at the chart table for reference.
Sad to say at the end of each voyage the paper charts were erased and the written logs consigned to the rubbish bin.
I have never kept a diary either I am just not that sort of person. I carry the memories in my head and on occasions recount them either too myself or with those that shared the voyages and they are now becoming thin on the ground.

 

[SailingDog]

Yes, useful for engine hours, fuel used and maintenance under taken.

 

[rotrax]

It was my understanding that they (commercial) couldn’t be loose leaf. My last company was and it was never raised in inspections

I had at least one page removed from loose leaf folder as they didn’t like my remarks.

Obviously makes it easy for renewal of licences too.

In the UK I expected hourly position reports along with wind and tide details on passage in case the proverbial hit the fan plus a physical paper plot on the chart. I was considered a dinosaur but it was how I was taught and if you’re my crew you do what I ask on watch.

PW.

Ours is loose leaf for two reasons.

First, the expensive Chrismas Present log was dated, so was soon out of date and of no further use.

Second - and MOST important, the ring binder folder we use jams pefectly in the space we keep it when open and in use. When closed it can slide from side to side, but never on passage as it is a tight fit fore and aft plus port and starboard.

It also contains the fuel log, maintenance log and repair log plus a crib sheet reminding us where those sometime essential but rarely used tools and spare parts are kept.

I can reccomend the latter as a 'good idea'

As an aside, when our boat was a valuable stress relief aid whilst looking after four aged parents a fellow club member, mentor and Yachtmaster Examiner spent a long weekend on board with us for a 50NM each way coastal passage. He tells us - and we do not doubt him - that he has sailed 300,000NM's and never owned a boat.

First thing he did after stowing his gear was to ask " Can I see your Log Book? "

After 20 minutes inspection he closed the ring binder and said " Wow! Dont you two do a lot of sailing! "

And we did, considering the commitments we had made towards looking after our parents in their old age.

What impressed him, a man not easily impressed I might add, was that we had recorded it.

The thing he was not impressed with was First Mates handwriting........................................

You can tell her its crap. I'm not going to!

 

[Boathook]

I record details of every trip, even a day sail. I try and fill in each hour but it does vary as to what is happening. At the end of the trip I end up with a summary that I put into a spreadsheet. I have found the summary useful when trying to plan a future trip as I have an idea of how long it took, etc. Since retirement I now take a bit longer on trips as I don't have to rush back to work!

 

[sailingmartin]

I’ve gone electronic mostly with records of each trip along with fuel, gas, water consumption and expenses. Very useful as a tool to keep an eye on maintenance etc. Also I just export a PDF or Exel sheet to give any crew a record of their time on board, ports visited and distance travelled - ideal for those doing RYA qualifications. On long trips also keep a handwritten log, entered on watch changes usually.

 

[dom]

Me, a bit unorthodox: I use mine for recording work such as oil changes/engine hours, spraying teak decks, painting lazybags with UV blocker, launch dates, antifoul no. of coats+ product, sail services, etc.

Also trips to new places when I record useful info such as moorings, best anchor spots, availability of shelter, etc.

For passage planning, etc., I much prefer to do it electronically these days

 

[Never Grumble]

What do you do?

In addition to the log book I also use what I call my navigators workbook. In that I note all the tidal info I need for the day, when tidal streams change, VHF channels, other navigation matters of interest i.e. times for locking in out plus weather forecast. Makes it easy to get relevant info when the boat is moving around.

As an aside, when our boat was a valuable stress relief aid whilst looking after four aged parents a fellow club member, mentor and Yachtmaster Examiner spent a long weekend on board with us for a 50NM each way coastal passage. He tells us - and we do not doubt him - that he has sailed 300,000NM's and never owned a boat.

Reminds me of the climbing logbook I kept back in the 80s/90s was most useful to demonstrate my experience on an instructors course, without it would have been harder to pass.

 

[bigwow]

Unfortunately this year has no entries! On previous trips we kept logs and when the children were younger they used to by a postcard of every port visited and slip it into the log.

 

[stevebrassett]

I used to keep a log in a notebook, but since I moved to the Norfolk Broads, I don't generally bother. Seeing as I no longer use charts, VHS radio (I do have a hand-held just in case), or GPS (except as a speedo), a logbook doesn't seem necessary. I can guarantee that few of the hire craft keep one.

 

[prv]

when the children were younger they used to by a postcard of every port visited

I'm afraid this reminds me of a cruise years ago with several sixth-formers on board. They instigated a competition between themselves as to who could buy the most explicit and/or grotesque porn mag in each port

Naturally, our stop in Gosport was the highlight of the contest ?

Pete

 

[JumbleDuck]

What do you do?

Haven't bothered with anything since, I think, 1988. But then, all my sailing is relatively short coastal hops - I very rarely go more than 15 miles from land or 100 miles in one go. I might write more if I was going further, though I don't really know what good it would do.

 

[Derek ide]

SWMBO keeps a basic log - date, departure time, where to, arrival time, miles, engine hours etc. Yes we do look back on it, usually to get an idea of time taken for some passages and when last in a place.

I do, and fill it in for every passage no matter how short/long as a matter of habit.

Its just a cheap A6 spiral-bound ruled notebook with a few basic columns (Time, Eng, Log, Posn/Remarks etc) which tucks in the bino-holder just inside the companionway.

What do you do?

 

[Stemar]

The only time I kept a log was crossing to Cherbourg and back before smartphones, so just the one GPS on board. An Excel spreadsheet printed out with columns for position, speed, heading barometer, etc, updated every half hour. Navigational insurance against instrument failure, rather than anything else. Haven't been out of sight of land on Jissel since, so I've always known where we are. Don't know if it would have helped, but on a first cross-channel with only the Admiral as crew, it looked competent

 

[Alicatt]

Kept one for flying and one for diving,
The diving one doubled for the boat as most of my trips on the boat were for diving.

 

[LadyInBed]

I’ve gone electronic mostly with records of each trip along with fuel, gas, water consumption and expenses

What software are you using?

 

[Derek ide]

I have kept a narrative log book for years. I use a Black n’ Red A4 ring bound book.
I find it very useful both when cruising and just short sails around the Solent. On the left hand page I usually enter the tide times and ranges for the day together with the differences for any intermediate port or anchorages I intend to use.
On the right hand side I record the plan for the day, weather conditions and forecast. The narrative is a good record of who you met. Where you ate or drank or walks ashore.
On passage I keep an hourly conventional log with position , course, speed and condition.
I stick pictures, cards and other items of interest that I glean from port information brochures on the left hand side after the tidal information is of less relevance
I enjoy referring to it to remind that it is often cold early in the season although I still tend to want to go off on the boat too early.
I am sitting typing this enjoying looking back at a log book from 1976.
Do keep a log book, I thought it was a legal requirement and it is certainly a treasure trove of memories.

 

[prv]

Do keep a log book, I thought it was a legal requirement

Not as far as I'm aware, for small non-commercial vessels.

Pete

 

[Roberto]

Not as far as I'm aware, for small non-commercial vessels.

Pete

Not sure about the UK, but elsewhere even if not mandatory on some categories of crafts, if kept with some regularity the log book has legal value, especially in cases of serious accidents: its content is true until proven false.
Of course the flying piece of candy wrapping with some coordinates written on it, or likewise the "loose leaf" /opening rings binders have no legal value; some sort of booklet showing some regularity in noting onboard occurrences is a different thing altogether.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

I have 2!
One is the ships log. Navigation and technical records. The other is my personal which includes all the sailing I do. Both RYA published.
I've spent my entire professional life keeping logs so it's second nature to me and I know their worth when trouble shooting.

 

[bdh198]

I keep more of a journal than a log, and it wouldn’t be much use for navigation purposes if GPS goes down. Generally it is a combination of my passage plan (tides, forecast etc) and a record of the passage itself (departure/arrival times, engine hours, sail plan, interesting moments, total miles sailed etc). I do find it useful and interesting to look back at them when planning a similar passage, even if they are years old and on a very different boat. I also record all my sailing whether that is a transatlantic delivery, offshore race or a few miles pottering in the Solent.