Electronic Ship's log

[brimanst]

I am looking to start keeping my maintenance log on my laptop. Has anybody come across any useful programs that would do this for me? I know I could just use a spreadsheet, but I would rather be able to easily capture stuff like:

Part number of failed part
mfr and partno of the replacement part, as well as source and price.
Engine hours
Vendor with contact info
Preventative maintenance. I would actually like to be able to create a maintenance schedule, since now I have so many different systems. I keep trying to research each system, but would like an easy way to keep that knowledge as my memory is shorter than my hair (I am bald).

I would also like an inventory of my cruise kit, so I can keep it replentished after using it.

Thanks.

briman

 

[Dave M.]

it is hard for me to imagine a program that could be better at this than a spreadsheet. A spreadsheet can easily do all the things you mention. Different sheets can easily capture the different kinds of items.

One thing I do, though, is use a digital camera. If I buy a part, I take a picture of the part and te package with the part number. I don't normally keep track of the source. Then I file the pictures away on the computer under boating maintenance, with different directories for different items, such as outdrive, water system, fuel system, and so on.

A problem though with using the computer is that the data can unexpectedly go away in a myriad of ways. Especially if you keep your laptop on the swim platform! :smt101

I have used a big accounting pad and a pencil to track maintenance at work. That works very well. I have used a spreadsheet, and although quite a bit more work in predicting future schedules, also worked well. And I have used the $300M+ "Business Solution Package" that was a nightmare and a horror to use. I'd recommend the spreadsheet.

 

[Dave M.]

it is hard for me to imagine a program that could be better at this than a spreadsheet. A spreadsheet can easily do all the things you mention. Different sheets can easily capture the different kinds of items.

One thing I do, though, is use a digital camera. If I buy a part, I take a picture of the part and the package with the part number. I don't normally keep track of the source. Then I file the pictures away on the computer under boating maintenance, with different directories for different items, such as outdrive, water system, fuel system, and so on.

A problem though with using the computer is that the data can unexpectedly go away in a myriad of ways. Especially if you keep your laptop on the swim platform! :smt101

I have used a big accounting pad and a pencil to track maintenance at work. That works very well. I have used a spreadsheet, and although quite a bit more work in predicting future schedules, also worked well. And I have used the $300M+ "Business Solution Package" that was a nightmare and a horror to use. I'd recommend the spreadsheet.

 

[Dave M.]

One philosophy is the KISS method. Here is a way to implement that with certain items. First two, my tractor, third is obviously the boat. Install date, and engine hours. You don't need a computer to look at the filter and see when it was done. :thumbsup:

When one of the bolts holding in my starter motor broke off in the block, I got new bolts, like this.

And since I had the starter out anyway, it was a good time to look at it, its stamped on info, and look at how the Bendix teeth are doing.

Hard to beat photos for documenting things.