LOG BOOKS

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I rather resent paying these high prices for a log book. Are there any rules on what you can use? Can we for example just buy a ruled hard back book from Smiths and use this?
 
I don't think there are any rules for what you use and what you put in it. I use an A4 lined hardback book. I would be interested to hear what people put in it though
I always write it up after the journey and include
Dep/Arr times
Engine Hours
Trip mileage
Weather forecast
Actual conditions
Who on board
then any interesting points on the trip , Any fueling details, problems, costs of berthing, navigation difficulties encountered etc etc
 
There are no hard and fast rules regarding keeping a logbook. For most it is an aide memoire and record of the trip, to be looked over during grotty winter evenings. As such it is up to you what you put in it.

There is a requirement from the MCA that you have a plan for your passage and this can range from lines on a chart/chartplotter to a typed out passage plan and so it could be useful to have a record of when you pass various points on passage if something went wrong and you had to get involved with the coastguard, see -

http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mcga07...motorboating-2/mcga-sailing-regulations-2.htm

SOLAS V For Pleasure Craft
On 1 July 2002, some new regulations came into force, which directly affect pleasure craft users. These regulations are part of Chapter V of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, otherwise known as SOLAS V. Most of the SOLAS convention only applies to large commercial ships, but parts of Chapter V apply to small, privately owned pleasure craft. The following requirements apply to all craft, irrespective of size. If you are involved in a boating accident and it is subsequently shown that you have not applied the basic principles outlined in this document, you could be prosecuted.


Voyage Planning
Regulation V/34 ‘Safe Navigation and avoidance of dangerous situations’, is a new regulation. It concerns prior-planning for your boating trip, more commonly known as voyage or passage planning. Voyage planning is basically common sense. As a pleasure boat user, you should particularly take into account the following points when planning a boating trip:

* Weather: before you go boating, check the weather forecast and get regular updates if you are planning to be out for any length of time.
* Tides: check the tidal predictions for your trip and ensure that they fit with what you are planning to do.
* Limitations of the vessel: consider whether your boat is up to the proposed trip and that you have sufficient safety equipment and stores with you.
* Crew: take into account the experience and physical ability of your crew. Crews suffering from cold, tiredness and seasickness won’t be able to do their job properly and could even result in an overburdened skipper.
* Navigational dangers: make sure you are familiar with any navigational dangers you may encounter during your boating trip. This generally means checking an up to date chart and a current pilot book or almanac.
* Contingency plan: always have a contingency plan should anything go wrong. Before you go, consider bolt holes and places where you can take refuge should conditions deteriorate or if you suffer an incident or injury. Bear in mind that your GPS set is vulnerable and could fail at the most inconvenient time. It is sensible and good practice to make sure you are not over-reliant on your GPS set and that you can navigate yourself to safety without it should it fail you.
* Information ashore: make sure that someone ashore knows your plans and knows what to do should they become concerned for your well being. The Coastguard Voluntary Safety Identification Scheme (commonly known as CG66) is also free and easy to join. The scheme aims to help the Coastguard to help you quickly should you get into trouble while boating. It could save your life.


Hope this helps.

Tom
 
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You also have to keep a record of any distress situations you are aware of (ie if you hear a Mayday call) - I would just make a note in the "Comments" section of my log, which I produced as a Word document and print more sheets when I need them. I never did find a log book for sale that set things out the way I wanted
 
I rather resent paying these high prices for a log book. Are there any rules on what you can use? Can we for example just buy a ruled hard back book from Smiths and use this?
There are no rules as to what you can use as there are no rules that actually say you have to keep one at all.

There is nothing to say you have to write down your passage plan either.
 
I rather resent paying these high prices for a log book.

The Imray Navigator's Log Book is the best in my view. Costs £8.50, but is reusable in the respect of refill pages which cost £3.50. So if you resent the expense you can use the refill on its own.
The layout is very flexible without the fussy headings which you may never use. The back of each leaf is blank and I tend to reserve this for personal observations, jotted forecasts etc. Each refill tends to last 2-3 seasons (I do about 80 trips a season). The old pages hold together in a soft format and so can be kept for your archives.
In answer to the question why. I like to be able to see what I have done in the past, recall names of visitors, boats, tel numbers, fuel supplies, distances covered, etc. If you travel in Europe you may be asked to produce your log, particularly if visited by our French friends.
 
An offical log book as mention by a previous poster, is actually a different kettle of fish, than the sort of log book that most people think off and in which they record navigational type innformation. An offical log book actually records the legal life of the vessel, ie changes to crew, deaths, disiplinary issues and accidents. And at the end of its life (the offical logbook that is) is forwarded along with the vessel articles to the Registar of Shipping. Normally at 2 year intervals
 
Memory of a goldfish..... me

My stuff I have done scrap book,not only contains where and when fuel consumption,but any thing that has been fixed and when,filters what and when,major repairs who, where and why.
Also from time to time note oil pressures/temps/volts at whatever revs,can go back several years and tell exactly as to if engine is losing oil pressure because of wear or temps are rising due to heat exchanger or oil cooler clogging up.
One engine is down about 5 psi on pressure compared to other,will be having a look at the oil pump sooner rather than later.
 
Used to write a log, that was mainly about what we felt like or how good the scenery. Maybe a few lat and longs. Now it's more point and go. Yes we used to keep a log every half hour or so, sadly neglected. OTOH, the auto pilot will tell us about three feet off course. So we always know where we are, maybe 50 yards off, but a dam sight better than any other method. Think you can mostly get about, even if every thing fails. Mind, you have to know when it failed. Not sure about that either, you can get about 50 miles easy, with not much aid at all. Most places you soon work out the coast.
 
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