Electronic log books

[z1ppy]

Is there such a thing??

I have to confess to not being the best at record keeping mostly as I forget! I always have an iPhone or iPad when on the boat so how about a little app that allows log info to be filled in and recorded???

 

[ccscott49]

My chart program (tiki gold) does all that for me, then I just add notes, later, from jotted down scribblings.

 

[Hurricane]

My system is known to others on this forum as a "Logging Event"

Its a very simple application that runs on a Windows PC (could easily be a laptop).
Takes input from a GPS (could be inbuilt into the laptop or from a GPS dongle).
Continually reads Position, SOG, COG and Time etc.
Every 30 minutes it "speaks" the data thus creating a "LOGGING EVENT"

Originally I wrote the application in a couple of evenings as a little bit of fun but it really works and keeps a kind of discipline during the longer passages.

We write the log down as it is spoken onto pre-printed log sheets. I suppose I could change it to automatically store the “Logging Event” but the act of writing the information helps to maintain a good awareness of the passage. For instance the current watch crew get a good understanding of their Lat/Long when they are recording the “Logging Event” so they would be more likely to recognise another vessel calling you by your position and speed etc.

The only problem is that the crew get a bit fed up with the voice but it really does form a good reminder and discipline for long passages.

Here's a video clip of our "Logging Event" - 3 years ago - I really didnt think we would still be using it 3 years later - and just a couple of evenings programming.

 

[jfm]

I use the old ics navtex Nav4 with paper printer. Great bit of kit. Big safety benefit becuase it prints your log every 15mins on ticker tape, so if you get a total electronics failure you just get the charts out. And can take the ticker tape home as trip record. Maybe hard to buy now (I took the one from my last boat and had it put in new boat, and I found one in stock recently in a chandlers and bought it as stock for my next boat)

Pity it only takes nmea0183 input. If it took n2k it could print fuel data and everything!

 

[TrailerSailer]

Nav 6 Plus (Navtex device with NMEA input) has the ability to record most everything input into it at 30 min periods as a matter of course. Can be downloaded to a PC or viewed on screen. Needs an RS232 interface or RS 232 to USB...

Good for historical info, but useless if the power fails before anybody tells me. However, for your purpose sounds fine.