For the last 8 years I've been using a simple database on my
phone (HanDBase from DDH Software). It runs on many different phones including the
iPhone. It will backup the data in a normal spreadsheet format on both Macs and PCs.
I keep 7 databases on the
phone:
- Projects: my to-do list of projects I'd like to complete
- Maintenance: list of different items by date or hours
- Captain's Log: list of everything I do on the
boat or places where I move the boat
-
Parts: every part name, model,
serial numbers, etc.
-
Fuel Log: every drop of
fuel I've purchased in the last 8 years
-
Engine Checks: recordings of various measurements during
engine room checks
- Inventory: location and amounts of inventoried items
The databases are simple to create and allow you to store the things that are meaningful to you. It takes a couple of days of playing with it to set it all up. If you find something you'd like to add after using it (manufacture phone number for example), it can be added later. It's quite capable. And as a real database, it can search/find, sort, etc. I think it cost something like $30 for the
iPhone and Mac version.
It has proven to be invaluable time and time again. It is very nice to have it all with me on my phone. That way when I'm hanging around a Wal-Mart, I can look at my Projects database and see if there's anything I need. When we were in Salem, MA and the
marine store had slashed prices on zincs, I had the exact model
hull zinc I used and was able to pick 2 up at 20% the normal cost.
It's also nice when planning boat movements. I can look up to see where we were 5 years ago and what we did then and what we experienced (were there crab pots in that anchorage in the spring or fall?).
I use it almost every day on the boat.