Log Book

steco1958 · 10 October 2013, 11:28

On passing my PB2 a couple of years ago, I was given the RYA Logbook, I have filled in the book, with my boat trips, hours and recorded the miles.

Does anyone else fill this in ?

Pikey Dave · 10 October 2013, 11:34

Nope, the closest I have is from my diving trips, depth, time of slack, notes on the wreck etc.

steco1958 · 10 October 2013, 11:39

I don't actually see the need, as I have my own boat, not looking to rent !!

thomas · 10 October 2013, 11:47

I was taught on my day skipper to always keep a log book, not 100% sure but I think we may have even bought one, never used it though.

ashbypower · 10 October 2013, 11:49

A couple of reasons to keep it up, obviously dependeing on what you want from boating.
1. If looking to Charter.
2. If looking to move forward to other (more advanced courses.. Commercial) a resume' of experience is usefull.

steco1958 · 10 October 2013, 11:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashbypower

A couple of reasons to keep it up, obviously dependeing on what you want from boating.
1. If looking to Charter.
2. If looking to move forward to other (more advanced courses.. Commercial) a resume' of experience is usefull.

No not looking to charter, and certainly not looking to go commercial.

lakelandterrier · 10 October 2013, 13:53

I keep a log, but as a spreadsheet recording dates, start / end times, engine hours, voyage, weather, and fuel etc - useful for calculating servicing, fuel consumption etc. I just note the details & type it in later - provides useful record of what the boat's done over time.

Seabay · 10 October 2013, 14:17

I keep a notebook up to date each time I go out. Date, location, weather, distance, fuel used, find it quite interesting to look back on.

Barrowboy · 10 October 2013, 14:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by lakelandterrier

I keep a log, but as a spreadsheet recording dates, start / end times, engine hours, voyage, weather, and fuel etc - useful for calculating servicing, fuel consumption etc. I just note the details & type it in later - provides useful record of what the boat's done over time.

Spot on. I do exactly the same....44K miles and counting!

Trimix · 10 October 2013, 20:39

Well i plan to keep one as soon as i get my boat in the water. Both as a service record and as something to read when im too old to be allowed out.

ShinyShoe · 10 October 2013, 20:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomas

I was taught on my day skipper to always keep a log book, not 100% sure but I think we may have even bought one, never used it though.

Presumably this is more of a traditional yacht/ship logbook. Where you record legs of a journey.

They probably have less of a place now that we all have electronic tech that shows us where we are, where we were 2 minutes ago etc. If you consider 30 years ago a yacht had very little nav aids, the poshest used radio possitioning if they were near enough shore. They had a paper chart, a compass and some means to estimate speed. If you knew where you set off you could plot most of the rest with some other things from your almanac etc.

Now your average yacht has GPS to tell it where it is often to within 3m, give it SOG rather than speed through the water, Plotter to put that on a pretty map. So probably less of a need. Good chance people have an iphone etc on board too as a backup if the main kit fails. Think most yachties do still keep a log and if you are ever quizzed by officials then I think its probably helpful to have even though you could fabricate it.

On a RIB - not hugely practical to log while underway...

Trimix · 10 October 2013, 21:04

But in 10 y you will still be able to read a paper log. Try accesing 10 y old software
.

ShinyShoe · 10 October 2013, 21:18

Wont be able to read a paper log if its been on my boat for a day!!

Pikey Dave · 10 October 2013, 22:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trimix

But in 10 y you will still be able to read a paper log. Try accesing 10 y old software
.

still running my business accounts on 1998 software

ShinyShoe · 10 October 2013, 22:38

Plus any older version of a PDF file will open on a newer version. Suspect same applies to old versions of MS Office - certainly does from versions in the last 15 years.

Or go for an open standards format and you can be sure someone will still have something that can read it, or something that doesn't even really need a standard (plain text or CSV).

Your biggest challenge will be the media its on... anyone seen a floppy disk recently...

But it is something you would want to consider if you are storing your log electronically and may be interested in reading it in 20 years time.

paulbrown22 · 10 October 2013, 23:19

I've always kept a log of some description.

On the sailing yacht it's a more detailed log with navigation/weather/tide data, and any other things we come across worth noting (data about the harbours/places, things learnt from locals, Mayday comms, etc).

On the RIB (but mainly filled in at home afterwards) I do keep a very simple log book with an entry for each outing, if nothing else so I know how many days I've used the boat, where's it's been, how many engine hours run, fuel used, service dates, etc. Not really something I'm going to look back on, but more a useful record of key information about this boat.

alystra · 11 October 2013, 12:03

Are we not talking about two different types of log here? I understood the OP was thinking about the RYA log book, which is a bit like a pilots (air) personal log, documenting hours afloat, whether skipper or crew, unusual conditions, etc.

I think that is well worth keeping up as a record of experience should you ever have to prove your competence.

Log books kept on boats are basically records of voyages and should be kept, even if it's just a small note book. A record of the weather forecast and tidal times on the day and any navigational hazards on the projected voyage will count as a passage plan, which, I believe, is a legal requirement.

John Kennett · 11 October 2013, 12:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by alystra

Log books kept on boats are basically records of voyages and should be kept, even if it's just a small note book. A record of the weather forecast and tidal times on the day and any navigational hazards on the projected voyage will count as a passage plan, which, I believe, is a legal requirement.

No legal requirement. SOLAS V regulations covers passage planning, and the MCA guidance quoted by the RYA says: "For small vessels and pleasure-craft the degree of voyage planning will be depend upon the size of vessel, its crew and the length of the voyage."

SOLAS V Regulations | Pleasure Craft Regulations | Regulations | Information & Advice | RYA

Whether or not you produce a formal passage plan, keeping a log book with information about your trips is definitely useful and is a great thing to have in years to come.

Festinghouse · 11 October 2013, 14:56

im out as often as possible - a lot of the time just for a play about rather than going anywhere, that would make very boring reading, instead i just keep a record in my logbook of the miles on my electronic log at the end of each season. that should be enough to prove competence if needed, especially as the boat always has me onboard!