How to log my GPS location once an hour.

[Captain Graham]

Hello All,
I am looking for a way to log my GPS location once an hour using my iPhone.
The features I would like
1. Log the GPS location every hour not every 1 seconds.
2. Export out the log file so I can put it into google maps or some other map app on my computer.
3. I also would like the app to use very little power so my Iphone will last a few days.

I want to log my 2-3 day sailing trip.

[JoeRobertJr]

Will you be offshore or coastal?

For my coastal trips, I do the logging with my phone using the Navionics app, which will save tracks with stats, and let me take snapshots of the tracks on the chart that I can then paste into my logbook. That is not exactly what you asked for, but maybe close to accomplishing your goal.

[valhalla360]

As much as I find Google's intrusion into our lives a bit overbearing, even scary...

Have you tried simply checking your "timeline" in google maps. They already do track your movements and you can pull it up in google maps.

[goboatingnow]

I’m working on a little NAVTEX Ardunio project I have an attached little thermal printer. I’m going to connect the project to the nmea2k bus and have it print out an hourly gps log plus COG , SOG CTS etc

[Lake-Effect]

There are already a number of GPS loggers (example) available on Apple's app store. (Ditto for Android, on the Play store)

Perhaps one app does better than the others re battery usage, but that shouldn't be a serious problem aboard because you can charge the phone from the boat's battery, using a car USB adaptor.

[Captain Graham]

Well after doing some research I found
1. The standard GPX file is just a text file with all the info I need.
2. None of the apps I looked at have a setting where you can change how often it stores the GPS track info.
3. But one app is almost what I want.

The app is sailfreegps (https://sites.google.com/view/sailfreegps)
Features that I like
1. Its screens use very large text so you can read it.
2. The tracking screen gives you your estimated time of arrival
3. It saves the track of your trip to a GPX text file that can be loaded into google maps.
But it only saves the track when you exit the program, I asked the developer to have a button that will save it on demand.
The other problem is the track is logged every 5 seconds. I also asked for this to be a user changeable setting so change to another time frame.

PS it is a free app but because I like it as is and also asked for a few changes bought the annual subscription

[requiem]

Sometime back when looking for a decent logbook app I found this one:

https://logbook-app.com/

It offers the ability to create log entries at predefined intervals, either by distance (1/8 mile, 1/4 mile, ... 1 mile) or time (10, 15, 30, 60 minutes) and I believe GPX export.

It was almost overkill for my needs, but I'm thinking of giving it another attempt this weekend.

[Captain Graham]

Originally Posted by requiem

Sometime back when looking for a decent logbook app I found this one:

https://logbook-app.com/

It offers the ability to create log entries at predefined intervals, either by distance (1/8 mile, 1/4 mile, ... 1 mile) or time (10, 15, 30, 60 minutes) and I believe GPX export.

It was almost overkill for my needs, but I'm thinking of giving it another attempt this weekend.

I would like to thank everyone who gave me recommendations.

Looking at this logbook app it may do the job.
It has an autorecording feature where you can select distance or time (1 hour is an option) to automatically log your position, COG and SOG.
https://logbook-app.com/manual/

It also has the ability to log maintenance and other items.

I have 2 business where I want to do the following
1. Boat deliveries
a. log the pre trip inspection with pictures.
b. log any work performed and expenses that will be charged to the
customer
c. log the trip every hour.
d. End of trip log reviewing the condition of the boat with pictures.

2. 2 hour Sunset cruises on my sailboat
a. log the pre trip checks
cleaning, safety items inspection, passenger safety briefing with
pictures of them wearing their PFDs.
(They can take them off during the cruise)
b. log weather conditions
c. log the trip every 15 mins
d. End of trip log with a pic of the happy passengers

[MC2019]

I just run a log book, give me and the crew something to do writing in the log book. Able to scan the log book when insurance called me about damage to a boat, that was owners fault ultimately.

Also run an AIS transponder on vessels that don't have a transponder, and an iridium go for trans ocean.

8 year delivery captain, 200 ton moving to my 500 ton

[Icarus]

Originally Posted by Captain Graham

I would like to thank everyone who gave me recommendations.



Looking at this logbook app it may do the job.

It has an autorecording feature where you can select distance or time (1 hour is an option) to automatically log your position, COG and SOG.

https://logbook-app.com/manual/



It also has the ability to log maintenance and other items.



I have 2 business where I want to do the following

1. Boat deliveries

a. log the pre trip inspection with pictures.

b. log any work performed and expenses that will be charged to the

customer

c. log the trip every hour.

d. End of trip log reviewing the condition of the boat with pictures.



2. 2 hour Sunset cruises on my sailboat

a. log the pre trip checks

cleaning, safety items inspection, passenger safety briefing with

pictures of them wearing their PFDs.

(They can take them off during the cruise)

b. log weather conditions

c. log the trip every 15 mins

d. End of trip log with a pic of the happy passengers

Picture them wearing PFDs?

[Captain Graham]

Originally Posted by Icarus

Picture them wearing PFDs?

I want to document with a photo of he customers wearing their life vests (PFDs).
This way I can prove I do safety training just in case someone wants to sue me.

The most likely reason for getting sued is getting hurt.
So I may also save/load a video of them getting on the sailboat and then off.

[Icarus]

Originally Posted by Captain Graham

Hello All,
I am looking for a way to log my GPS location once an hour using my iPhone.
The features I would like
1. Log the GPS location every hour not every 1 seconds.
2. Export out the log file so I can put it into google maps or some other map app on my computer.
3. I also would like the app to use very little power so my Iphone will last a few days.

I want to log my 2-3 day sailing trip.

Get out your paper charts and plot your position, all you need is a pencil
Or, get a log book and log relevant data.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Icarus

Get out your paper charts and plot your position, all you need is a pencil
Or, get a log book and log relevant data.

I recently did an Ardunio project to add a paper printout to my NASA Marine NAVTEX

This also has the ability to print gps , lat Lon , SOG , COG , AWS and TWS.