recommendations for a log book for our sail boat

Why paper? My log book is online, I use Blogger - in addition to date stamped entries with text it allows me to add labels, add pictures, is easily searchable, and I don't rememebr to carry the paper book around, I can get to it via any PC or my mobile phone..
 
What sort of shop? Living near Exeter this sounds an ideal solution to me.
You are looking for a book binder / book binding service. Many universities will have a service on site that does printing, binding etc. Normally happy to do this for the public as well. Sometimes the uni's got rid of these overheads and there will be either someone doing it in their spare room/garage or a printing company in the town has taken it on. They do get really busy at certain times of the year. Typically they will have two services - soft-binding which produces something a bit like an old phone book and hard binding where you get something which looks like it belongs on a proper library shelf. The latter is inevitably a lot more expensive, but if you particularly wanted something to cherish or pass on (either with the boat or to your loved ones when you are too old and frail to sail) it would be a rather nice thing. Of course most printing places would be able to spiral bind for you too - which is probably more practical as it will lay flat in use.

Why paper? My log book is online, I use Blogger - in addition to date stamped entries with text it allows me to add labels, add pictures, is easily searchable, and I don't rememebr to carry the paper book around, I can get to it via any PC or my mobile phone..
I suppose it depends why you keep a log. As a paper record that you can go back to in 20 minutes time when disaster strikes and your electronics fail? As a record 20 years from now when google turns Blogger off for not making enough money? For the period between electronic is probably handy. As a running total of engine hours or to note water tank levels wont be so handy if you have poor signal at the time.
 
Why paper? My log book is online, I use Blogger - in addition to date stamped entries with text it allows me to add labels, add pictures, is easily searchable, and I don't rememebr to carry the paper book around, I can get to it via any PC or my mobile phone..
How does that work when crew need to make an entery or 0300 hrs and can't remember your password.

I'm all for online logs, I run one myself but it is more of a narrative. Not quite sure what use Great Aunt Sally has with reading what the engine hours or battery voltage on 24/July/2020, but she will love a dolphin picture.
 
I use this logbook red log book
I write my passage plan into a ring bound note book . The pages are stone paper so reasonably water proof. I sometimes use an a4 sized plastic "slate" which has boxes for tide times etc I have had it for years & it can bounce about the cockpit undamaged. I have separate sheets with tides marked on them & I use theses extensively when planing passage times. These get filed as I use them many times . I just alter the times for Dover across the top.
Under way I make notes every hour, or whenever I change course, so I can back track to check my position, if I find myself getting lost.
Then when finished I write that all into the log. I have used the red log book for the past 20+ years & they are all dated in chronological order. I often refer to them to remind me of the best departure times etc. I also make notes of transit points etc so I can find a route fairly quickly. I do not use GPS as the principle navigation tool.
I have most of my log books going back to when I started proper cruising in 1968.

There are little things in there that always amuse me or remind me of past trips. I recall sailing into Lezardrieux one day & was having difficulty finding my way as it was my first time. The wife kept hassling me over which buoys we were passing- she was down below logging the passage as we went. She called up, as I was stressed, asking the name of a mark. I yelled back " Just put Big green f..ker for now & I will look it up later". Sure enough, to this day the log entry says 18-10, Big green f..ker to stbd 50 yds. Every time I go there the buoy is logged as "big green f..ker" & we both know what one it is.
 
I use an A4 hardbacked note book. Couple of columns ruled on the LHS for time and mileage, and the rest free-form text.
Similar to others but ours is more free form. This is because my partner has very scrawly writing and seems incapable of keeping to a column without extreme care. (Lunch and a cup of tea or a neat logbook? )

It's a record for places, passages, interest, memory; also used for maintenance, as in engine hours and associated tasks, fuel level (no guage) and'to do' list.

We go backwards from the end to keep a budget sheet on spending.

All of this is particularly useful as we sail for 3 months of the year and often forget the previous year by the time we come to the next one!

Those familiar with the Bristol Channel will know what we mean by the "White Square" anchorage near Minehead ?
 
Why paper? My log book is online, I use Blogger - in addition to date stamped entries with text it allows me to add labels, add pictures, is easily searchable, and I don't rememebr to carry the paper book around, I can get to it via any PC or my mobile phone..

How does that work in the middle of Lyme bay?
 
Why paper? My log book is online, I use Blogger - in addition to date stamped entries with text it allows me to add labels, add pictures, is easily searchable, and I don't rememebr to carry the paper book around, I can get to it via any PC or my mobile phone..

What about the latest form of freehand writing tablets ? Interesting but are they just a passing gimmick ?
 
In exactly the same way as if you were writing in a book - write up your notes on the phone/ tablet/whiteboard or whatever and insert into the blog/log at an appropriate time...
First thing I do with my phone, when I get on board, is stick the darned thing in a locker, where I cannot hear it. ;)
I just could not even begin to contemplate sitting in the cockpit staring at a b..y phone, like a school kid.:rolleyes:
 
She called up, as I was stressed, asking the name of a mark. I yelled back " Just put Big green f..ker for now & I will look it up later". Sure enough, to this day the log entry says 18-10, Big green f..ker to stbd 50 yds. Every time I go there the buoy is logged as "big green f..ker" & we both know what one it is.

Marvellous - thanks so much everyone for all your info and suggestions, and especially for this one Daydream :) That Red Log Book looks ideal, I'll try one of those thanks
 
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