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Nautical logbooks, often called a captain’s log or ship’s logbook, have been a part of the boating scene for centuries. The term originated as an on-going account of a maritime vessel’s time on the water. Highlights, among other entries, include departure and destination ports, course, wind speed and direction, navigation notes, maintenance performed, and anomalies or new points of interest discovered along the way.
While keeping a logbook is required by law for most military ships and many seafaring commercial endeavors these days, recreational boaters are not bound to the task. Understand though that these tomes can be incredibly valuable tools. When used with consistency, many serious boaters find them highly worthwhile, interesting and even fun to maintain.
It Takes a Few Minutes
With just a few minutes invested each time you head out on the water or perform vessel maintenance, you can create reams of vital information. It will increase your boating pleasure, reduce frustration on the water, lessen the chances of navigational mishaps and mechanical failures, save time and money and, perhaps, even prevent injury or worse should disaster ever strike.
“I certainly think every boat owner should be keeping a logbook,” says Capt. Mike Vanadia, of The Nautical School of Maritime Licensing. “It’s great to have all that pertinent information you compile right at your fingertips. I include as much navigation information as possible. Say you found some new shoaling along a channel edge or discovered a submerged boulder a foot below the surface at low tide. You’ll want to log that info in case it jumps out at you the next time you’re headed in that direction.”
At minimum, Vanadia suggests recording
- Your trip date
- Your starting and departure points, and destination
- Your destination
- Weather conditions including wind speed and direction
- Start and end times
- Number of passengers on board
He also encourages captains to reset their GPS, fuel gages or whatever gauges are recording distance and fuel consumption to help compute fuel economy. A decrease in average speed or changes in fuel consumption can be early indicators of engine problems.
“I make log entries at a safe time when I stop, anchor or reach my destination,” Vanadia explains. “That ensures the facts are fresh in my mind and as accurate as possible. You can use a printed logbook or computer spread sheet. I enter my info as bullet points in a lined notebook, with added notes if necessary.” As an ardent angler, he also enters key fishing information.
sea tow captains weighed in
We recently checked in with several Sea Tow captains for their thoughts on nautical logbooks. With unanimous agreement, they agreed all boat owners should be on board. “The potential of a Captain’s log to improve your time and fun on the water is immense,” said Capt. Jon Geiss, from Sea Tow Wrightsville Beach. “You can use your logbook to make notes of an area you are visiting for the first time then preview them before making your next visit. Entries can cover navigational issues like shoaling or channels. Even comments on where to eat, buy fuel and fishing bait or drop the hook to catch a perfect sunset. You can share your info with boating friends, your home marina, or the boating public in general.”
Think about maintenance
Capt. Mike Rice at Sea Tow Delmarva stressed the importance of tracking potential maintenance problems that may come up. “Many boaters report noticing a small problem for the first time ‘two weeks ago’ but suspect it might have been longer. Sometimes, though, it turns out the problem started two months ago because time flies. That’s likely to make a big difference when it comes to needing repairs. The longer you wait, the more time you are likely to be out of the water and the more costly repairs will probably be. Writing things down provides a concrete date and explanation of what happened. It also reminds you to take action to investigate and repair every time you open the book.”
“Logbooks are also vital for tracking vessel maintenance and performance on a consistent basis,” continues Rice. “If you aren’t hitting those manufacturer recommended R.P.M.s, or start noticing inconsistent performance, you’ll know to start looking for answers. A logbook prompts you to be preemptive, which can ultimately increase your trouble-free time on the water and save a bunch of money. Recreational boaters aren’t running their motors as much as commercial boaters, so their motors are a more susceptible to corrosion. So, it’s a good idea to work up a maintenance plan, enter it into your log, and stick to it.”
From a fun standpoint, Rice also notes that it’s great to have a record of what you did, who was onboard, where you anchored, where you swam, and the dates of each trip. That way, you can easily repeat a good adventure or make adjustments to have an even better time on a future visit.
improve navigation
Having served eight years in the Coast Guard, you might expect Capt. Jeffrey Moder of Sea Tow Port Canaveral, to be supportive of logbook use by all boaters – and you would be right. “I think they are vital for staying on top of engine and vessel maintenance as well as safety on the water,” he states. I actually keep a stand-alone maintenance logbook plus captain’s logs for all my vessels.”
One note Moder suggests boaters record, especially when exploring new waters, is where to get fuel and provisions. “There’s a stretch at one point on the ICW near here with no fuel options for 20 miles. That’s the kind of info that can make a difference in your day.”
Big on boating safety, Moder also suggests every boater add a safety gear check list right in the front of their logbook. “At the very least, that list should prompt you to check there are properly fitted lifejackets for all on board, unexpired fire extinguishers, a working VHF radio, fresh medical kit, and an anchor rigged and ready to go at a moment’s notice.
“As always, everything on the water comes back to being prepared and putting safety first. Keeping a nautical log is part of that process – and adding a safety check list to it is just one more way to ensure you get off to a great start and return with everyone healthy and happy.”