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Ship's log -- Champipple

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/08/2008 : 22:38:15

Duane,

A few months back you mentioned that you might attempt a Word file for use as a ship's log. Get anywhere with that?

John Russell
1999 C250 SR/WK #410
Bay Village, Ohio
Sailing Lake Erie
Don't Postpone Joy!

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2008 : 14:35:26

Short answer - NO

Long answer - Still working on it in the back of my mind. Here are my mental ramblings thus far.

I've had a number of ideas regarding what should be in it over and above the standard log available at the local chandlery. Most of the ones I've seen have Basic vessel info, a cruising log, fuel log, maintenance log, radio log inventory etc. Each has their own nuances and different data fields collected but there isn't anything that over time becomes cumulative without having to look at each page or do a running count along the way.

I'd like to add a racing log that would include course diagrams or the ability to import a chart based on coordinates, sails used in what conditions. Tactical decisions that went south or paid off.

Overall sail inventory log to track usage. Pointability in different weather conditions etc.

What I'd like to do, but haven't gotten around to it is create a form in HTML that would feed a sql database that would have a number of standard queries that would keep a PDF of the log. You could, if you wanted print that out page by page or in its entirety. All calculations would be automatic.

If I really get crazy, the inventory section would have actual pictures of the items, and you would be able to set up locations on the boat where you store them within the DB.

Crazier still, the ability to export the data from a Nexus/KVH/TacTic or other device from each sail to the ships computer or to a handheld to grab additional information.

Insane would be a bar code reader that scans each beer as it leaves the cooler and keeps track of your ice box inventory.

Now I just have to find a way to put the water cooled blade server rack in the boat to store all the information I get along the way.

Edited by - Champipple on 02/11/2008 14:50:57

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2008 : 14:47:18

Yeah, it's still in the back of mind too. Maybe I'll take a shot at something this evening.

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wmeinert@kconline.com
Past Commodore

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USA
353 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2008 : 15:19:10

I would definitely like to see something like this come around. For years I have tried to keep some kind of log for my memoirs :-} but all I am able to keep track of are my underway annual mileage which includes races and cruising both, last year was 972 water miles as compared to 2800 towing miles. I go so many places I forget what I did when I get home and want to make plans to go back! So something like what you guys are talking about would be great, especially if I could keep it as a file on my computer.

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2008 : 15:36:03

Since I don't race, I'd imagine my idea of a log will have considerable less than Duane's but, I'll toss up a strawman and the group can make contributions to its revisions.

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2008 : 19:01:51

Duane, sent you an e-mail. I have a draft of a log page. I haven't a clue as to uploading a Word document to the forum.

Edited by - John Russell on 02/11/2008 19:27:07

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5378 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2008 : 20:47:08

I see a section of this site called "Manuals and Brochures". I noticed several HTML documents are linked there, as well as several PDFs.

I wonder, can you just upload your stuff right there, or do you need to find your own web site or FTP site, and then place a URL or weblink on the "Manuals and Brochures" page. Seems like it would fit right in.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2008 : 21:17:49

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Voyager
 I see a section of this site called "Manuals and Brochures". I noticed several HTML documents are linked there, as well as several PDFs.

I wonder, can you just upload your stuff right there, or do you need to find your own web site or FTP site, and then place a URL or weblink on the "Manuals and Brochures" page. Seems like it would fit right in.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Yeah, I have 2 degrees from colleges of liberal arts. That means, I can spell computer on most days correctly.

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2008 : 12:20:36

Guys,
I'd be willing to contribute to this project, theoretically I'm an MCP in SQL 2005 (which just means I can take tests well), and I have a year of C# instruction (but haven't taken the test yet). Take all this with a grain of salt, I haven't written a single query or a line of C# code since I finished either class (over a year ago), but I'd like to. At work I write lots of VBA & AutoLISP, but not much else, the occasional batchfile (which I'm really good at BTW). I'm working on a SQL based project for work right now, but it's all in my head so far. I'm doing it on my own time, and I'd rather spend my own time on fun things than work things I'm not getting paid for.

What about a CE interface? Rita always carries her PDA with her, and a lot of phones have CE as their OS. Just a thought.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2008 : 12:38:58

Huh? Do you attach all that to the rudder or something?

I'm thinking more along the lines of a form that has the details of the day and a space to write if I had a good time or not and maybe a few lessons learned. I actually made one I'd love to share. Just can't figure out how to get it here.

Did you know that NASA spent millions developing a pen that will srite in space? The Russians used a pencil. I'm a pencil kinda guy.

Edited by - John Russell on 02/12/2008 12:46:06

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2008 : 15:50:38

John - sent you an email with a little more detail - 4 year old Crisis was going on when I sent the last one.

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Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2008 : 16:29:29

Centralization vs Decentralization

There may be some merit to having everything in one place, but I haven't found a book that'd do that yet. Part of the reason is that each visit to the boat is different: some are maintenance driven, some are sailing, some are just kicking back. One form fits all just doesn't work.

So, after pondering this for many years, here's what we do:

1. Find a good log book you like and keep using it. We like John Rousmariere's Dolphin Book Club logbook, and have five or six of them going back to 1987, with a few new ones for the years to come. I hope they still keep making them. We printout courses from our GPS and insert pictures. It's not three-holed, so we have to be careful of stuff falling out, but that helps me keep my balance. :)

2. Start an engine and/or maintenance log. Date, time, engine hours (if it applies), fuel fills and a BIG remarks column. I keep note of when I did the last "fixit" and based on that interval, when I have to do the next one. I keep other maintenance stuff in here, too, like how-to-do articles, and special wiring diagrams for simple stuff (bilge pump, solenoids) and the overall boat wiring diagram. 3 hole ring binder.

3. Navigation log: because I only have a simple numerical only GPS, I kept my old Loran Log which is on a spreadsheet with waypoint numbers, description, lat/lon and remarks. Other nav stuff goes in here, too. 3 hole ring binder.

4. My main basic boat books are at home. These include the manual that came with the boat (I've memorized it all by now:)), and other binders for special projects I've done, like major electrical stuff and research I'm doing on the "next" project.

Since each of these is smaller than a combined one, I've found that they're easier to store and get to.

Your boat, your choice, just my experience to share.

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