I'm very new to sailing have currently only been sailing dinghy's at my
local sailing club for approx 1 year but i still have a keen interest in
sailing larger boats in the future.

I have recently been offered a place to crew on a J109 for the Aug bank
holiday weekend.

My question is i believe its good practice to keep a log book of all sailing
trips/experience, but i'm un-sure what data i should be keeping within the
log book entries?

i.e. boat type, wind speed, weather, distance, location?

Can you buy proper log books? if so where from
Is there any computer software versions available?
I quiet happy to create my own but would like any info/suggestions as to
what headings i should include.



Many thanks from a keen new sailer

Mark

Jinx wrote:
I'm very new to sailing have currently only been sailing dinghy's at my
local sailing club for approx 1 year but i still have a keen interest in
sailing larger boats in the future.

I have recently been offered a place to crew on a J109 for the Aug bank
holiday weekend.

My question is i believe its good practice to keep a log book of all sailing
trips/experience, but i'm un-sure what data i should be keeping within the
log book entries?

i.e. boat type, wind speed, weather, distance, location?

Can you buy proper log books? if so where from
Is there any computer software versions available?
I quiet happy to create my own but would like any info/suggestions as to
what headings i should include.



Many thanks from a keen new sailer

Mark


Normally, the log is kept by the boat's owner/captain. Nice ones are
available at any Marine Supply store. You could make a rough one on the
Excell computer program and include columns & data about any trips such
as time of departure, events underway, arrival time, boat/motor
maintenance, etc.
http://ca.binnacle.com/index.php?cPath=61_75
In one of the Power Squadron courses they give a sample ships log.

Don White wrote:
Normally, the log is kept by the boat's owner/captain. Nice ones are
available at any Marine Supply store. You could make a rough one on
the Excell computer program and include columns & data about any trips
such as time of departure, events underway, arrival time, boat/motor
maintenance, etc.


I am curious about this. Since I got back into boating (and after my
years of Navy/Army and shipboard experience - all where logbooks were
required) I have had numerous discussions with boat owners/sailors about
logbooks and most said they don't use them. I find this odd - anyone
have any thoughts on this?

On Thu, 17 Aug 2006 16:04:56 -0400, Sailaway
wrote:

Don White wrote:
Normally, the log is kept by the boat's owner/captain. Nice ones are
available at any Marine Supply store. You could make a rough one on
the Excell computer program and include columns & data about any trips
such as time of departure, events underway, arrival time, boat/motor
maintenance, etc.


I am curious about this. Since I got back into boating (and after my
years of Navy/Army and shipboard experience - all where logbooks were
required) I have had numerous discussions with boat owners/sailors about
logbooks and most said they don't use them. I find this odd - anyone
have any thoughts on this?

My logbook is more like a diary. Date, destination, people onboard,
events, lenght of trip etc. Makes nice reading during long winter. Any
neat looking notebook will do.

Have another notebook to record engine hours, maintenance
etc.Checklists for spring & fall maintenance. And make sure to
document any new gear you install. Dont think you remember electical
wires after a few years. I also keep a to-do list and give tasks,
maintenance etc priority: fix or install as soon as possible or
nice-to-have-if-possible ideas.

Could also have a third notebook to be used for taking notes enroute.
Helps to keep your logbook neat. Maybe take notes of weather forecast
etc.

And if you navigate offshore and use traditional methods (for fun or
as backup in case your GPS fails), have a separate notebook for
navigation. Calculations, writing down your position every few hours
etc.

Mika







----------------------------------------------------
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eka (vai oliko se toka?) numero vitonen numeroksi
kahdeksan...
----------------------------------------------------

Sailaway wrote:
Don White wrote:
Normally, the log is kept by the boat's owner/captain. Nice ones are
available at any Marine Supply store. You could make a rough one on
the Excell computer program and include columns & data about any trips
such as time of departure, events underway, arrival time, boat/motor
maintenance, etc.


I am curious about this. Since I got back into boating (and after my
years of Navy/Army and shipboard experience - all where logbooks were
required) I have had numerous discussions with boat owners/sailors about
logbooks and most said they don't use them. I find this odd - anyone
have any thoughts on this?


The Ccanadian Power & Sail Squadron encourages their use. If a mishap
occured the logbook could be used as a legal document for evidence.

Talking about the Armed Forces, what we have used is a DOB (Daily occurrence
Book).
Still today, I use the same principle in my every day life. I use a ring
type 9" X 6" notebook.
A good example of my entries is when I shop for insurance rates I note the
time, date, from, and the quote received.
I note every thing that could be of some use in the future. This is very
true when I am debugging a computerized and electronic systems. When it
comes to my sailboat I note as an example the oil filter equivalent and any
other stuff used for maintenance.
As for sailing I like to keep a list of the way points used in a route (even
if they are listed in my Loran and GPS), the time, weather condition and any
worth while information not to mention the logistic involved. When I do
rescue I ask people to sign the book and make a record of the event. Still
today, I have DOB dated back to 1982. When I go on Automobile trip I carry
my DOB. So if I need to call someone or buy something for the boat I can
refer back to my notes. So far I only use one note book per year. This way
it is easy for me to keep a paper trail. With that DOB I do not have to go
on the boat when I need information.


"Sailaway" wrote in message
...
Don White wrote:
Normally, the log is kept by the boat's owner/captain. Nice ones are
available at any Marine Supply store. You could make a rough one on the
Excell computer program and include columns & data about any trips such
as time of departure, events underway, arrival time, boat/motor
maintenance, etc.


I am curious about this. Since I got back into boating (and after my
years of Navy/Army and shipboard experience - all where logbooks were
required) I have had numerous discussions with boat owners/sailors about
logbooks and most said they don't use them. I find this odd - anyone have
any thoughts on this?

As mentioned, its traditional, though not common, for a boat owner to
keep a daily log. I've kept one for the last 15 years, with at least
a simple entry for every time I've left the dock on my current and
previous boat. Always included are the names of any crew, and at
least the basic times and destinations. This means I can always tell
where we were day to day, and with whom. Also, I have every fuel fill
(with engine hours) and basic maintenance, such as oil and filter changes.

However, I quickly tired of entering how much water was in the tank,
or the weather, or the exact course, or how I felt about life. Most
of my entries are like "Noon- Powered out ... raised sail at R22 ...
arrived Scituate 3PM ... on Easy Rider mooring 3:20 ... into town
for ice cream."

On the other hand, if something of note happened, or even if I want to
jot down a phone number or the name of the harbor master, I have the
place, and I'll be able to find it 5 years later. Actually this is
significant: the log is the only place such info gets entered. I know
that if something broke and I ordered a part during a cruise, the info
will be in the log. Frankly, I often wish I kept such a log in the
house, but I never quite got around to in.

One thing that made it easy is that I always used the same book - the
"On Deck Log" which is of course no longer available spiral bound.
So now I have 6 or 7 spiral books, and one hardcover.

Keeping a log as a crew would be a useful exercise, but mainly to find
out what type of information you like to include. You might prefer
completely free form, or it might help you to be very structured. I
know someone who does it as a spreadsheet. Although I don't use most
of the slots in my log, the consistency helps me to continue using it.

One more thing: I've also kept on my Palm, and now on my Blackberry,
task lists for spring and fall chores, plus items that might be
attended to some day. I also have a "memo" that lists every part
number, serial number, and dimension that I could find. Thus, if I
spot something on a clearance table I don't have to guess what model
radio I have, or the size of my rigging, or which fuel filter I use, etc.

Jinx wrote:
I'm very new to sailing have currently only been sailing dinghy's at my
local sailing club for approx 1 year but i still have a keen interest in
sailing larger boats in the future.

I have recently been offered a place to crew on a J109 for the Aug bank
holiday weekend.

My question is i believe its good practice to keep a log book of all sailing
trips/experience, but i'm un-sure what data i should be keeping within the
log book entries?

i.e. boat type, wind speed, weather, distance, location?

Can you buy proper log books? if so where from
Is there any computer software versions available?
I quiet happy to create my own but would like any info/suggestions as to
what headings i should include.



Many thanks from a keen new sailer

Mark

Let me start by saying I sail inland lakes.

When I got my first sailboat in 1970, I had been reading very book on
boating that I could get my hands on. One of the things that they said
was a need was a logbook, therefore I had one.

I don't believe it lasted the summer. Each entry was basically the same
Launched boat, sailed boat, retrieved boat. Maybe I missed something in
making the entries, but it added nothing to my enjoyment of the boat.

Sailaway wrote:
Don White wrote:
Normally, the log is kept by the boat's owner/captain. Nice ones are
available at any Marine Supply store. You could make a rough one on
the Excell computer program and include columns & data about any trips
such as time of departure, events underway, arrival time, boat/motor
maintenance, etc.


I am curious about this. Since I got back into boating (and after my
years of Navy/Army and shipboard experience - all where logbooks were
required) I have had numerous discussions with boat owners/sailors about
logbooks and most said they don't use them. I find this odd - anyone
have any thoughts on this?

Jinx wrote:
I'm very new to sailing have currently only been sailing dinghy's at my
local sailing club for approx 1 year but i still have a keen interest in
sailing larger boats in the future.

I have recently been offered a place to crew on a J109 for the Aug bank
holiday weekend.

My question is i believe its good practice to keep a log book of all sailing
trips/experience, but i'm un-sure what data i should be keeping within the
log book entries?

i.e. boat type, wind speed, weather, distance, location?

Can you buy proper log books? if so where from
Is there any computer software versions available?
I quiet happy to create my own but would like any info/suggestions as to
what headings i should include.



Many thanks from a keen new sailer

Mark


I think the best way to do it is to keep two maybe three books. One
book is the "Ship's Log" (I think it is required by law in most places).
In it are details of where you were and when. When you turned your
lights on, when you were under power/sail etc. How many miles you
traveled and how long it took and weather. A well kept ships log is a
historical document as well as a legal document.
The second book is an engineering log/defect book. In it are details
about repairs and maintenance so that you know when what was done to the
boat.
Obviously, if you don't have a boat then you don't have these logs.
The final one is the one you are asking about. It is a personal log of
your qualifications and seatime. All professional mariners keep one
because upgrading requires proof of seatime. My professional log is
very accurate on seatime and the types of ships I have sailed in. My
recreational log is part of my package of qualifications. It also has a
record of seatime, where and when. It records races and
daytime/nighttime hours. It notes what my job was on the boat and has a
signature block for the skipper. It has all my qualifications in it from
radio licenses and first aid to boathandling and navigation. The log
was provided by the Canadian Yachting Association when I started
pursuing their courses.

I like it.

Gary

keith_nuttle wrote in news:6R5Fg.9097$1f6.1089
@newssvr27.news.prodigy.net:

Maybe I missed something in
making the entries, but it added nothing to my enjoyment of the boat.



If I asked Cap'n Geoffrey about a log book, I might find myself fed to the
sharks!

We go boating to get AWAY from paperwork and bureaucracy....not to CREATE
it...(c;



--
There's amazing intelligence in the Universe.
You can tell because none of them ever called Earth.