Maintenance Log

[Kerry Alexander]

Does anyone have a good type of maintenance log?
I would like one for the eng/gen and one for the other maintenance on the boat.

 

[Passages]

West Marine has fancy cruising logs bound in teak with all sorts sections - However, I use a steno pad and keep a chronological record of trips, fuel/oil use and maint activities. Works for me.

I did the same on my Wellcraft and the buyer said it helped sell the boat.

 

[Freebird]

Yep, maintenance logs and ship's logs are a definite plus regardless of how fancy they are contained. I wish I had one for the 58. The PO of my 41 is a walking talking log who owned the boat for 13 years prior to selling it to me. Luckily, he and I have become good friends, and he's always ready, willing, and able to help me with any questions.

Carl Guzman's boat has a ship's log from the PO that is simply amazing. His boat has been everywhere! Aside from interesting reading, it should provide the next owner with proof this boat can go anywhere. The PO's penmanship was excellent as were his descriptions of ports of call. I would love to sit down and read it from cover to cover some day.

Carl, you should publish that thing and post it for all to see. I hope we get the opportunity to make significant additions to it.

 

[REBrueckner]

The simplest type of maintenance log is one that lists activities in chronological order as you have performed them. But finding the last time you replace,say, a water pump impeller on your genny may not be so easy.

A more convenient style maintenance log is by major type of equipment, and under each heading a chronological activity list. Equipment might be broken down by port engine, starboard engine, genny, autopilot, watermaker, water system (heater,pumps, fawcets,etc), electronics, electrical system (bonding, fuses, electric panel,windlass), air conditioning, autopilot and hydraulic steeringetc. This makes it easier to find when, for example, hoses on your port engine were changed. Batteries, for example, in the above structure could be with either port or starboard engine or under electrical. But you have to remember where an item is catelogued. And it takes more room in your book as you need to leave space for each item...unless you use a looseleaf notebook.

I use a spiral notebook which is inexpensive and easy to flip thru.

 

[SeaEric]

I must preface this by saying that I usually change boats every three or four years, during which I perform a complete re-fit. As a record of my ownership, I create a book. I use a loose leaf binder with those clear pocket sheet protectors. I put surveys, photos, receipts and paperwork for repairs and purchases in there in chronological order. A written log is great, but there's usually associated documentation that comes in handy for warranties etc. This way it all stays together. The next owners of my boats always seem happy with my big book of info and corresponding paper trail.

 

[REBrueckner]

I second SeaEric comments and do the same. I use a metal box with Pendaflex hanging folders. It's bulging to it's limit!

I have printed and filed some discussions from Sam's here as a reminder of some tips/tricks/products/sources/websites, etc.

 

[Angela]

I have printed and filed some discussions from Sam's here as a reminder of some tips/tricks/products/sources/websites, etc.

I have that same kind of file, but my is labeled "Hatteras Gods". That came in handy when I was boat shopping, and it still helps me today. When Ed and I would go see a boat, the brokers would know they were going to be there all day when I whipped out my Hatteras Gods folder and a screw driver and said, "I need to though all of the recommendations in here....starting with Genesis's cold start test."

 

[Maynard Rupp]

Because I am an aircraft mechanic, I would be totally lost without maintainence logs. I have a complete set for Unity as well as a 100 hour inspection form that lists all tasks that need to be performed at those intervals. I also have an annual list that includes things that are done each year regardless of hours, such as bottom inspection and re-coating. If you keep records like that you won't have too many pop up surprises. When you do have a failure, decide why and how often that item needs to be serviced to prevent the failure. Add that to your list and press on. Eventually your little darling will only need planned periodic service.

 

[Mike36c]

Details! Details! Details! My day job airplane has EVERYTHING logged including galley light replacement, added oil, even wiper change. Likewise for my boat I keep two separate engine logs, a genny log, and a ship's log. The engines/genny logs keep the the usual items like oil changes, belts, zincs, valve adjustments, etc. The ship's log contains all fuelings w/hrs plus all other items including head overhauls, electronics installs, helm overhauls, control cables, etc. Anyone can BS boat history but the log tells all. Just try selling an airplane without complete logs

 

[Nonchalant1]

I have an Excel spreadsheet with pages. There's one for "Maintenance & Repair", one for "Trips and Hours Run", one for "Upgrades & New" and one for "Other" (stuff like charts, tools or cruising guides). Except for the Trips & Hours page, they just list the date, item, comments and price. I put a red checkoff on the receipts as I enter them in the logbook and just keep the recripts in a folder by year. For some items, like new impellers last week, I enter the engine hours, but I can match engine hours to the date the item was completed since I have engine hours by date on the trips and hours page.

Going back and adding up ALL the dollars is scary, but since it's Excel, it's easy.

Doug Shuman

 

[luckydave215]

I have plastic hanging file boxes (4 of them, all full!) in the boat with all the manuals, service records, and maintanance logs, so I don't have to remember where I put the darn things. They're all in one locker, easy to find. It's so much easier to work on things when you have all the manuals, and the dates and notes about when you last serviced that system at your fingertips, right on the boat.

 

[SeaEric]

I have an Excel spreadsheet with pages. Going back and adding up ALL the dollars is scary, but since it's Excel, it's easy.

Doug Shuman

I did this a few weeks ago. I have to tell you that the numbers, when totalled up, scared the heck out of me. When I divide in the number of days that I spend aboard, to arrive at my "cost per day" - I could save a lot of money by chartering a yacht.

Going forward, I need to avoid doing the math. It truly made me think about selling my boat!

 

[OldHatt45]

Don't want to be viewed as advertising, but several years ago I had the same problem. I created my own solution which is now for sale on the internet. If you are interested, please email me at OldHatt45@yahoo.com and I'll give you the website and some additional info.

OldHatt45

 

[Boatsb]

I have a simple log and its free. I put some extra pages in the ring binders for the engines and everything that is associated with them is written down and dated. Filter numbers and part numbers too. I also Highlight anything in the manuals that was important to make it easier the next time.