recommendations for a log book for our sail boat

[Marceline]

We are wanting to get a log book for our sail boat and wanted to ask for some suggestions (as there's quite a few out there) and never used one before.

we're looking to do UK coastal sailing and to keep track of our times on the boat, things we've fixed and projects we've done, as well as any useful info for legal reasons, but also as a nice reminder of the places we've (hopefully) visited (does anyone put photos in their's ?)

We've got the RYA Yachtmaster personal logbooks (as we're wanting to keep track of our various RYA courses and times and distances on the water) so hopefully they take care of some of the info to be recorded, so this one we're really wanting for the boat

 

[penfold]

The Weems & Plath ones are reasonable quality; the name is just a brand these days but they look nice.

 

[[70521]]

I keep a couple of 'log books', a small notebook in my pocket at all times - things get noted in there. A RYA logbook for recording data underway, a filofax with plastic covers that was my late fathers for recording engine type stuff and an A4 book for narrative. Now and then I post on Sailblogs for family and friends to see what I've been up to.

 

[Refueler]

I buy a Diary each year.

I do have a Ships Logbook .... but TBH - its not really suited. The Diary allows for better record.

 

[Minchsailor]

I use an A4 hardbacked note book. Couple of columns ruled on the LHS for time and mileage, and the rest free-form text.

 

[colind3782]

I use an A4 hardbacked note book. Couple of columns ruled on the LHS for time and mileage, and the rest free-form text.

I did that for a while but now I have everything on an Excel spreadsheet with different tabs for different stuff

 

[dansaskip]

Like Minchsailor I use a A4 notebook - spiral bound so it lays flat. Always have as found layout of commercial log books not to suit and the constraints of a diary too limiting. I rule out columns over 2 pages for time, course, log, distance run, weather, lat, long, (well did use for ocean crossings) & remarks.
And the cost about a £5 for a decent note book against £14-£16 for a log book what's not to love.

 

[Boathook]

I designed my own logbook. Took a few goes at columns required and ended up spread over 2 sides of A4 paper. Covers most voyages up to around 14 entries. I seem to be using it less now but still fill out the basics for each trip. This data is then eventually put onto a spreadsheet which has been helpful in the past for planning future trips to same 'ports'.

 

[ean_p]

If you live near any university town then make your own book on sheets of A4 or whatever and have it bound at a local shop. You can in this way make it 'yours' .........

 

[Praxinoscope]

I start the season with every intention of keeping the Log Book up to date, but I am ashamed to admit like my attempts at keeping a diary fewer and fewer items get entered until it goes back on the shelf and is forgotten until the next season.

 

[ryanroberts]

I started using one of these cute writable tablets, not sure I would get one specifically for the purpose but it was given to me by work

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[johnalison]

Sailors record their journeys in different ways, and a single log book won’t suit all of them. For myself, I only keep a proper log for longer trips outside my home waters, such as a Channel crossing, where I note hourly position etc. I might make the odd note of interest but I keep a separate notebook as a diary/holiday diary/note of the family’s misdemeanours. I have seen some people use a log with the nav stuff on one page and the diary notes opposite, which suits careful types.

 

[Goldie]

If you live near any university town then make your own book on sheets of A4 or whatever and have it bound at a local shop. You can in this way make it 'yours' .........

I did exactly that. A layout that suits me, a couple of pages with the boat’s essential data, 120 pages (double facing page layout) for the log, a front cover with the boat’s name and pic and the whole lot is spiral bound and has acetate covers front and back. I started a new book the other day and the last one had lasted me 6 years. Cost was about £20 per book and the printers keep the layout on file.

 

[ashtead]

I have a log book by adlard Cole’s I write up as we progress on longer trips eg to West Country or cross channel but tend to record voyage calculations separately and to record shot trips on arrival. The top of the book is fairly useless pre printed stuff . Tend to note down high tides separately plus the tidal calculation s etc. note down the tides in the atlas though by hour. Tend to be interested on arrival in eateries and things about a marina plus timings between places roughly, .

 

[Marceline]

many thanks everyone for your replies and suggestions, and very interesting nearly everyone does their own thing rather than have a 'this is the book most use' scenario

I guess one of the reasons I asked was I was worried I'd pick one, use it for a while, then need to switch to something more 'usual that most people use/expect' and then not have those early entries in it

 

[laika]

It’s rare for me to be on the cheap end of the spectrum on the pbo forum but I’m completely happy with my (admittedly quite fancy quality) lined exercise books. Less than a minute per page to draw columns on the left for time, position, speed, course, wind, pressure. Narrative on the right hand page. My first log book was a bought hardback one but I’ve been using the exercise books for 10 years and don’t feel I need anything else.

 

[Refueler]

I was all fired up when I bought present boat about 20 years ago ... started a 'Maintenance Book' .... had the 'Clutha' Logbook for trip details.
After 20 years - the MB has been lost after only a few pages written. The Clutha Logbook is still only 1/4 used ...

I migrated to a Diary purely because I found I wanted a few notes more about 'events' rather than course / position stuff.

 

[wully1]

A4 page per day diary. Plenty room for nav info etc and generally comments.

Also very cheap to buy at the start of sailing season.....

 

[ylop]

My last RYA course, they were using an A4 pre-printed template, one page per day (easy to add more if you are doing some fancy nav on need to record lots of detail) which seemed to give the benefits of the page a day diary with the structure of a fixed format making running totals etc easier. At the end of each day the page was simply added to a binder. Might be interesting to file chronologically with passage plans and perhaps some reflection/prose on the trip too if that was of interest. Those who want it digital could either scan it (there are many phone based scanning apps now) or add to excel when they make it more permanent in the file.

I start the season with every intention of keeping the Log Book up to date, but I am ashamed to admit like my attempts at keeping a diary fewer and fewer items get entered until it goes back on the shelf and is forgotten until the next season.

Interestingly the kids will quite happily fill in the log. I'd not have expected them to get quite so interested in shipping forecast, CTS etc - but it does actually make them part of that bit of the journey.

I started using one of these cute writable tablets, not sure I would get one specifically for the purpose but it was given to me by work
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Interesting - I have one for other purposes and have wondered about using as a log. Its another electronic thing to fail and so I've not investigated it - but have you got a particular template that works well? for other things A4 templates aren't idea on the screen because they become cramped and I imagine in a swell it would be hard to use if too tiny.

 

[[70521]]

If you live near any university town then make your own book on sheets of A4 or whatever and have it bound at a local shop. You can in this way make it 'yours' .........

What sort of shop? Living near Exeter this sounds an ideal solution to me.