www.iFourWinns.com

Does anyone maintain a boating log? Can anyone recommend a brand of log book or what types of information do you track; maintenance, trips, notes, etc....

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David
240 Horizon
Swan Creek

I do (see, us 240 owners are *smart*).

I just use a spiral bound book of lined index cards. Across the top of each page I use these headers, and some example entries follow:

Boat/ Hrs/ Fuel
Date Trlr Miles Added Description
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10/15/06 Trlr 50 Towed to dealer for winterizing

10/17/06 Boat 26.3-27.1 Winterized, drive serviced
10/17/06 Boat 27.1 24

4/15/07 Trlr 75 Towed to lake & back
4/15/07 Boat 27.1-34.2 Boated at Perry Lake

etc........

that last entry is probably wishful thinking.

EDIT: I see that the column formatting isn't retained when I submit this message, so here's a screen shot of this page with the formatting I intended:



Anyway, this gives me a way to keep notes on what was done, and when, to both the boat and trailer. I've considered putting the data into one of the computer tools and may do that sometime, but for now at least I'm capturing the data.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

And I thought I was organized...just poking fun Mike...have to try and find something to get you back from the last time!

Not like this isn't a great idea though!

_________________
2007 200 Horizon- 4.3GXi/SX 225hp
2007 Tahoe LT

I know, I'm guilty of being pretty anal about vehicles, so I'll take the jabs

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

here are a few sample log books...
you can always make your own in excel.

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2005 Funship 214 5.0GXi/DP | 2006 Yamaha FJR1300

HA! Yeah we all are anal about something...talk to me after I have had the boat for a couple of months and we shall see how bad I have become.

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2007 200 Horizon- 4.3GXi/SX 225hp
2007 Tahoe LT

Mike and iFourWinns,
Thanks for the ideas. I am a computer person and never mixed boating and computers (except GPS). I think I am going to go with a manual accounting of boating. I would hate to be stranded somewhere for years with out being able to recharge a battery. I purchased a Norton's Boaters Log. It covers everything I have read or can think of recording. Have a great day.

_________________
David
240 Horizon
Swan Creek

I keep a water proof notebook (Rite-in-the-Rain) in the boat for recording the date, what lake or river we are at, who was with us, what fun things we did, maximum obtainable speed, miles traveled (GPS) and fuel use. It is fun to see how often we visit certain lakes and prove to my wife that we did not spend the entire summer boating. The technical data are tranfered to an Excel spread sheet to track miles per gallon. In the back of the book I keep track of maintenance, repairs, and added equipment. The data help me judge the optimal speed for best fuel effeciency at various elevations and water conditions. At some point in my life, reading the log book and remembering the day my daughters learned to ski, or the last boat trip with my parents, or I met a future son-in-law he met us for a picnic on the water will be the only boating I will be able to do. Boating is all about family and friends and fun. You will be glad you kept a record of the best of life.

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2006 Sundowner 255, 5.7 GXi, 320 hp
"Simply Irresistible"

I keep a separate journal for all the "good stuff" in life, boating and otherwise. I just use the note cards for maintenance data.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Nope... not ging to do it, keep a maintance log but that is it.

I am anal, but not on boats, drop it in the water and hit the throttle.

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2006 FW 203 FS
2005 Dodge Laramie 1500
2003 CRF 247F SuperMoto racer
2001 CBR1100XX

I can think of a better choice of words rather than using those in the same sentence

Good point. Er, oh, never mind...

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

A nice logbook to use is called "rite in the rain" There is a special ink pen that you use with it. The pages and ink are essentially waterproof. We use them all the time doing fieldwork. I'll likely keep one on my vista. They can be found here:
http://www.benmeadows.com/search/write+ ... ain/20593/