Remarkable Tablet as a ship’s logbook

[MattS]

Has anyone tried using a Remarkable writing tablet as a ships log?

Wondering if it’s a bridging step from pure paper logs to something that provides a similar experience, but with the benefit of providing an electronic copy of the log.

Looks like you can create templates to use, so you could have same pre-defined page structures as with paper log books.

 

[dunedin]

Looks interesting - but how would it last when writing up dripping salt water over it?

And as a dedicated device, is that better than a stylus for a conventional Android tablet or iPad, which can also double as navigation tool and general internet access?

 

[FWB]

I don’t keep a log but my ancient Nav6+ plus does. I’ve no longer got it connected to its antenna but it reads all of the instruments. I never have had reason to refer to it in anger but it logs all the instrument data, speed/heading/position /depth etc.

 

[MattS]

@dunedin good questions!

No idea how it might hold up to the conditions - although a paper log book wouldn’t fair well if splashed with salty water either I suppose.

Could imagine it feeling more natural to write on than a tablet with stylus, given it’s designed to imitate paper. I’ve personally never really got on with using iPads as writing tablets

 

[lustyd]

Seems to me it would be the worst of both worlds. It doesn’t have the convenience of proper computers like search and sort or gps integration and neither does it have the battery free convenience of actual paper. Digital isn’t always better, and usually not when you’re just recreating the paper solution.

 

[Porthandbuoy]

I prefer a simple WORM (Write Once, Read Many) device. Needs no batteries.

 

[Momac]

If everything was to become electronic we would lose the ability to write by hand and pens/pencils will no longer be made.
I can already see that happening in our work environment .
From a boating perspective I don't see a pressing requirement to keep any kind of log but I do keep a small notebook in which I make a note of most journeys together with any significant expenditure other boat and service work.

 

[Stemar]

As a log for a non-typist to keep below, I could see it working, but I write so rarely now that my handwriting indicates a second career as a doctor. The tablet looks neat but unless it's got some pretty spectacular OCR to read handwriting accurately, it feels like a solution in search of a problem.

 

[GHA]

opencpn does nearly all of it for you ?

Upload the logs to dropbox or wherever & view from anywhere.

If you want ?

Logbook :: OpenCPN

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

The purpose of a log (a document that could be relevant to MAIB enquiry), is expressly to keep a record of the data that will allow you to ascertain your current position in the event of being unable to access other sources of information e.g. observation of landmarks or ATONs, to document who is on board and note brief details of your passage plan, keep a record of the weather conditions and wind speed and direction, note trends in atmospheric pressure.and oh, yes, in the event that all your on-board electrics have failed.
IMHO, paper is best for this purpose.
Keeping notes of dolphin sightings or beautiful sunsets is optional and could be done in a separate notebook

 

[RupertW]

If everything was to become electronic we would lose the ability to write by hand and pens/pencils will no longer be made.
I can already see that happening in our work environment .
From a boating perspective I don't see a pressing requirement to keep any kind of log but I do keep a small notebook in which I make a note of most journeys together with any significant expenditure other boat and service work.

I think the loss of ability to write is about as important as the loss of ability to do morse code. I can’t remember when I last handwrote anything at work or elsewhere. Nothing at work since maybe 2010 except for the odd drawing wherein I sketch out before using software.

 

[dunedin]

opencpn does nearly all of it for you ?

Upload the logs to dropbox or wherever & view from anywhere.

If you want ?

Logbook :: OpenCPN

Not fir me it doesn't. My day log, written by pen on paper, records virtually no numeric data (other than wind speed/direction and boat speed). Its mainly times and narrative

 

[ylop]

Has anyone tried using a Remarkable writing tablet as a ships log?

Wondering if it’s a bridging step from pure paper logs to something that provides a similar experience, but with the benefit of providing an electronic copy of the log.

Looks like you can create templates to use, so you could have same pre-defined page structures as with paper log books.

I have a remarkable (mk1). I have used it on board, but not as a ships log. I have briefly considered it because you can create templates yourself which would make it a logical thought. I've used it on board the way you might a normal notepad and pen - shopping lists, sketching wiring diagrams as you delve into the spaghetti behind the switch panel etc

To answer some of the points:
- is ok getting wet? I've not killed it but there are no waterproofing claims. Damp hands OK. Rain probably not good although I don't think its screens is affected like a lot of touchscreens. Actual splashing likely bad - putting it down on the cockpit sole likely fatal. Paper doesn't like getting wet either - but it doesn't cost you hundreds or usually become totally unreadable instantly either.
- is it better to write on than a tablet. Yes, much closer to pen on paper.
- is the handwriting recognition good enough to cope with scribble. Actually works better than I expected, but it doesn't cope with structure so a "form" just becomes a load of text, and frustratingly corrections (crossing out*) confuse it. Pics / diagrams are no use either. So I rarely use the OCR (the OCR also requires a network connection).
- I did not buy mine for boat duties. I bought it for reviewing documents (contracts, pdfs, reports) so I am not staring at a laptop screen all day. It works well for this - it does not have a backlit display so it is like reading on a classic kindle. That may be a downside for overnight sailors? I also use it for meeting notes and its good and is constantly improving with software updates but things like time / data stamping etc should be easier. OCR should make my test searchable but doesn't help me find the right file etc.
- it synchronises to a phone and desktop app so you can access your notes even if you don't have the remarkable with you. It can also synchronise to dropbox/googledrive (and possibly others?) so you can easily get documents on to it. e.g. Insurance certificate, engine manual, etc
- the pens are super expensive so you will be paranoid about losing it.
- the charge lasts a long time (many days like a kindle rather than hours like a tablet) BUT sod's law is that it needs charged just at the time you've forgotten the cable/don't have power.

*remarkable2 has a "rubber" on the end of the stylus so you can rub out without changing "tool" on the menu so perhaps is less of an issue.

 

[lustyd]

Nice to hear from someone who has used one, I've been curious but they are very pricey for what they are.

Worth a mention that Surface Pro with the new slim pen feels exactly like pen or pencil on paper (and has a rubber). OneNote can recognise forms and tables and syncs to phones etc. and has exceptional handwriting recognition. It also charges from USB-C which is handy on board.

I still wouldn't use it for the primary log, but it would at least run OpenCPN and accept NMEA data for logging

 

[GHA]

Not fir me it doesn't. My day log, written by pen on paper, records virtually no numeric data (other than wind speed/direction and boat speed). Its mainly times and narrative

Sounds more like a diary ?

 

[ylop]

Nice to hear from someone who has used one, I've been curious but they are very pricey for what they are.

I didn't pay full price, and probably wouldn't! I definitely wouldn't for boat use. I also got in before the subscription model started so have free grandfathered rights. Again it would be hard to justify paying a monthly fee on top unless it was your main daily tool.

Worth a mention that Surface Pro with the new slim pen feels exactly like pen or pencil on paper (and has a rubber).

I've used a surface pro with the new haptic feedback pen. I don't think the "feel" is as good as the remarkable if you want to write on paper (although who determined that paper was the optimal writing medium?) but there are some extra nice features that come with it - but I assume the pen needs charged etc too (the remarkable one is remarkably expensive for something that appear to be just plastic - there's something more to it that that but its not £100 worth of tech in the pen!)

OneNote can recognise forms and tables and syncs to phones etc. and has exceptional handwriting recognition.

It also charges from USB-C which is handy on board.

remarkable 2 is also USB-C. The original one is a microUSB. I think they may find it harder to recognise forms etc as templates are just a graphic layer in the background.

I still wouldn't use it for the primary log, but it would at least run OpenCPN and accept NMEA data for logging

Although I think a surface pro is double the cost of a remarkable!
One think remarkable do make a big deal about is that it doesn't get your emails, YBW forums, WhatsApp etc - so you can avoid those distractions. Its an interesting bit of marketing for being feature poor. However I go sailing to avoid that stuff so it maybe does make sense!

I know Amazon have now brought out a write on kindle - but its not cheap either.

 

[LadyInBed]

Not fir me it doesn't. My day log, written by pen on paper, records virtually no numeric data (other than wind speed/direction and boat speed). Its mainly times and narrative

Ok, you like a Day Log, but there are two main types of log, the other being a Nav Log.
Your choice - one, t'other, both or none.

 

[lustyd]

but I assume the pen needs charged etc too

The new one charges wirelessly inside the typecover and after a year I've never paid attention to this aspect, it just works. I hadn't realised there was a subscription too, that kind of things is starting to really bug me in modern life!

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

I think the loss of ability to write is about as important as the loss of ability to do morse code. I can’t remember when I last handwrote anything at work or elsewhere. Nothing at work since maybe 2010 except for the odd drawing wherein I sketch out before using software.

Working and boating are separate contexts. I have a computer in my office, but I still hand-write, in, for instance, my desk diary, notes to self, etc.
I have the electronics on my boat, but I take pleasure in using paper charts and log, and just regarding the electronics as backup, on the basis that we are taught that one should not rely on only one source of information. Likewise I believe that a paper log is a foolproof point of reference should the electronics fail.
Using a tablet or other device as a nav log is just a solution in search of a problem.

 

[GHA]

Using a tablet or other device as a nav log is just a solution in search of a problem.

Think you missed "IMHO."......
Which is all there is on here, personal opinions set out as some kind of objective external "you must do it like this" reality in a subjective universe.
IMHO ?