digital Ships Log recommendations

[armand.seguin]

Hi,
Decided it was time to move from a paper log to digital on ios, iPad and/or iPhone.

Searched for hits in here and came up empty.

Really don't need anything fancy, just the basics and am looking for feedback from real users.

Thanks,

Armand

[CaptTom]

As an old IT guy, I've occasionally considered what (if anything) I'd want in an electronic log app. I'm not even sure I know that, but I do know that almost everyone wants something different.

Some want a maintenance log/schedule. Some want a traditional "ships log" of locations and events. Some want to record fuel burn and engine hours. Some want an inventory of everything aboard. And probably a hundred other "wants" I haven't even thought of yet.

Me? I guess I'd want an app that, at the press of a button, records one entry with time and location, along with all the other data available on the NMEA bus, plus a free-form text field I can enter via text-to-speech.

Sounds simple, but I'd also want some pre-formatted entries, like departure, arrival, fuel taken on, etc. Then you'd need a good way to display, search and report on the entries. It could get complicated pretty quickly. It could become more effort to learn and use than it's worth.

So I keep my paper log. I have my own system; my own format as to what, how and when I make entries. It's quick and easy to use, and to look things up from the past. Maybe not ideal, and I'm willing to look at suggestions if anyone has a good app.

[Letterkenny]

I’m also looking around for this and haven’t really found anything that fits what I want. I think what I’m going to do is try to create some macros in google sheets along with IFTTT integration to make a schedule of what I want.

[Sailor279]

As noted, depends what you’re looking for but I’ve seen a few listed here on CF in various threads:

https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ks-246257.html

https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ea-246037.html

https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...re-245673.html

[Letterkenny]

I’ve taught myself how to code in the past so maybe it’s something I’ll try again in the future. I’m going to spend some time trying to make a google sheets macro spreadsheet for log book and maintenance tracking. Ultimately, I’d like to be able to input the regular maintenance interval timings and also pull in an if formula for items that are time/usage based (engine hours) so that you can ultimate input the hours on the main page, stored it to the data sheet, and then populates any maintenance due.

[FabioC]

I use Noteshelf on iPad. It lets you create your own "paper sheets", so I created a template with some basic information that you would want in a log, and fill it in. If sometimes you need a different template, you can mix and match "paper sheets".

[skwanderer]

I created a Facebook account specifically in my boat's name. There I can add photos and journal entries, etc., as well as share with interested OP.

[garychurch]

Easy peasy. Build you own in Excel. You can make it as simple or complex as your want.

I looked at and bought a number of paper and electronic log books which I tried to use. Most were excruciatingly detailed and were way too time consuming to keep.

My Excel Logbook has the following fields:

Column A: Date (04/01/21)
Column B: Engine Hours (4505)
Column C: Start Time (10:00)
Column D: End Time (18:00)
Column E Time (Column D - Column C)
Note: Day ends at 24:00 and Day Starts at 00:00. Overnights are two consecutive day entries.
Column F: Ending Name of Location
Only First Entry is Origination
Column G: Latitude (hidden - unused)
Column H: Longitude (hidden - unused)
Column I: Comments (including maintenance performed)
Column J: Hours converted to hours and tenths from Column E
Column K: Cumulative Hours.

All Columns need to be properly formatted.

That’s it.

[skwanderer]

Originally Posted by garychurch

Easy peasy. Build you own in Excel. You can make it as simple or complex as your want.

I looked at and bought a number of paper and electronic log books which I tried to use. Most were excruciatingly detailed and were way too time consuming to keep.

My Excel Logbook has the following fields:

Column A: Date (04/01/21)
Column B: Engine Hours (4505)
Column C: Start Time (10:00)
Column D: End Time (18:00)
Column E Time (Column D - Column C)
Note: Day ends at 24:00 and Day Starts at 00:00. Overnights are two consecutive day entries.
Column F: Ending Name of Location
Only First Entry is Origination
Column G: Latitude (hidden - unused)
Column H: Longitude (hidden - unused)
Column I: Comments (including maintenance performed)
Column J: Hours converted to hours and tenths from Column E
Column K: Cumulative Hours.

All Columns need to be properly formatted.

That’s it.

Great Idea, thanks for sharing. I think I'll do this but in Google Sheets, so it's always a single current version and available.

[Joh.Ghurt]

Depends on what you need the logbook for.

If it's to track the history of maintenance and travel I found paper works best. Not the fancy books sold at the chandleries, just regular notebooks. I like the ledgers used by accountants. I started to add a little life to it by giving it a journal character and noting events of the day. Some of them might be a little private, but who reads that stuff anyway?

If you need to document miles for yourself or for crew, a simple excel-sheet works nicely. That can later be printed, stamped and it looks official. Better not add where you found a secluded cove nobody could see what you did there.

For anything beyond this, I would really expect an integration with the NMEA-over-Wifi integration so that I can mark the current GPS-position, Wind, Barometer automatically.

[wingssail]

We use a hybrid solution:

• Preprinted form (created in Excel) for fast notes, done in pen. The columns suit our needs.
• Crew and other heading information filled in prior to starting
• Details filled in on the paper form after the fact from Open CPN Track (Properties)
• We don't collect any automated lon/lat or engine information. What we need is quickly noted on the paper form.
• Maintenance and other events noted at the bottom of the form
• Periodically the forms are scanned and saved on the web with indexes and plenty of tags for searching.

Here is an example and a link to out logs online.

Log Book Pages

[Dockhead]

I'm surprised no one mentioned the OpenCPN logbook plug in. I love it! And it automatically records data from the network according to how you program it -- so hourly position, for example, changes of course, speed, even wind -- whatever you want. And it has separate sections for maintenance, engine hours, etc etc etc. It's great!

[spiv]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

I'm surprised no one mentioned the OpenCPN logbook plug in. ---------- It's great!

I used to use it and loved it.
Since I changed boat and Covid stopped me, I have not re-established the use of it, but intend to revisit it soon.

Are you talking about Konni's logbook/
Is it still being updated?

[Pelagic]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

I'm surprised no one mentioned the OpenCPN logbook plug in. I love it! And it automatically records data from the network according to how you program it -- so hourly position, for example, changes of course, speed, even wind -- whatever you want. And it has separate sections for maintenance, engine hours, etc etc etc. It's great!

Will need to check it out.

Curious about what is legally required these days if you are a licensed master?

Also whether digital logs are acceptable

http://www.bullivant.com/mobile/show...l's%20work.