Logbook (Paper)

[Celestialsailor]

I thought I would start this thread here where it doesn't have a lot of competition (eg:Nina thread).
I'm getting ready to head south and just bought a log book. Old one having fallen into the hands of the Pirates of the Caribbean (Joking, from the movie Captain Ron).
My last log was on my Ingrid 38, "Faiaoahe" and went with the boat. I don't remember the format I used. Essentially the new logbook is nothing more than blank, lined pages. I remember jotting down the
Date/time (eg:08/24/13, 18:30hrs),
Log start and end (basically watch length),
Wind direction and strength,
Sea condition,
Air temperature,
Compass course,
Latitude/longitude (GPS),
Sail conditions (eg:1 reef in main/jib 70%),
If the autopilot or windvane was steering,
Sightings (eg: freighter 2NM starboard at 18:45hrs),
Kt log start of watch and end.

Am I forgetting anything?
Maybe the folks here could give me some examples and I will make an example first page in my logbook for myself and crew to follow...Thanx..CS

[MarkJ]

I just have the L&L every 4 hours nuffin else. In a school exercise book. And whale sightings.
In reality, start with what you feel important and then as you go along you will find you 'naturally' do or don't fill in particular details.

Trust yourself

[SailPenelope]

More important than format, is keeping it. Mine tends to be more like a diary......and I always include what we had to eat!

[skipmac]

You didn't mention this but probably would have it on the list anyway but if under power then hours run time, rpm, temp, oil pressure, etc.

At sea I always use the manual pump and pump the bilge at the start of every watch and log how many strokes, if any, to empty the bilge.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by skipmac

You didn't mention this but probably would have it on the list anyway but if under power then hours run time, rpm, temp, oil pressure, etc.

At sea I always use the manual pump and pump the bilge at the start of every watch and log how many strokes, if any, to empty the bilge.

Both good points

[Whaubner]

The top of our is origin and destination ( destination is never filled in till we are actually there)

We also keep summary data at the top avg speed, engine hours, fuels, water, battery levels ...
The rest is a list of navigation entries and diary like others have suggested.

Also we always have guest write something in the log.

Log books always stay with us not the boat. It's nice to walk down memory lane of the previous Mahina Kais

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

I thought I would start this thread here where it doesn't have a lot of competition (eg:Nina thread).
I'm getting ready to head south and just bought a log book. Old one having fallen into the hands of the Pirates of the Caribbean (Joking, from the movie Captain Ron).
My last log was on my Ingrid 38, "Faiaoahe" and went with the boat. I don't remember the format I used. Essentially the new logbook is nothing more than blank, lined pages. I remember jotting down the
Date/time (eg:08/24/13, 18:30hrs),
Log start and end (basically watch length),
Wind direction and strength,
Sea condition,
Air temperature,
Compass course,
Latitude/longitude (GPS),
Sail conditions (eg:1 reef in main/jib 70%),
If the autopilot or windvane was steering,
Sightings (eg: freighter 2NM starboard at 18:45hrs),
Kt log start of watch and end.

Am I forgetting anything?
Maybe the folks here could give me some examples and I will make an example first page in my logbook for myself and crew to follow...Thanx..CS

I put the date and time, lat and long, and then I write in narrative. If there was something significant about the weather I would note it. I would note if we were reefed, but I would be more likely to note sighting dolphins than a freighter.

[jackdale]

here are two deck logs I use

http://www.swiftsuresailing.com/documents/decklog.pdf

http://www.swiftsuresailing.com/docu...og%20Sheet.pdf

They both have the True course and boat speed in adjacent columns. I like that because that is what is plotted on the chart.

I prefer the first one as I like to draw in my own horizontal lines. If what a list of what I include in the last column, let me know and I will dig it out of my notes.

[Snore]

IMHO the blank book approach assumes you have self-discipline about documenting things. I don't! A "Deck Log Book meets my needs nicely. The front is a conventional log book where you fill in date, day of week, has a check list for the engine, can be used to log engine hours if you don't have an hour meter and room for entries. The back has a maintenance log. There you can log oil changes, fuel filter changes, repairs and upgrades. Knowing when you did a repair is handy as is the filter or oil changes. Nice, neat in one book- cost a whopping $32.

See http://www.bluewaterweb.com/p-422-deck-log.aspx

[Georgiegirl]

Back in the day, when I was a naïve 18year old and on an ocean youth club yacht, we were always told that it was bad luck to complete the to box. You could put heading towards though. This was allowed! And we had to fill in every box on the form. Still what else are you going to do with twelve 18 years olds I suppose.