T&T: maintenance logs

[Jeffrey Siegel]

> Does anyone know of such computer logs?  
>

I used to create maintenance logs with Excel spreadsheets to keep track of
when I needed to do things.  It's very helpful to go through the various
manuals for the different systems and record the things that are supposed to
be done based on time, engine hours, etc.

But when I moved up to a trawler-sized boat, I found that there was much
more information I wanted to keep track of.  I wanted to know what I had
done as well as what needed to be done.  I wanted a list of serial numbers,
contacts, part numbers, and notes about how to do certain things.  For
example, I can never remember how to check and change the "Power Share" mode
on my Link 2000.  I found that I would have to go grab the manual and flip
through the pages each time to find the series of buttons to press.

I also wanted to keep track of fuel costs and usage, a "project" list of
things I wanted to do, and an engine room log (mainly to remind me to check
everything that should be checked).  Combined with that was the realization
that ALL of that data shouldn't be tucked away on a laptop somewhere.
Instead, I wanted to have it all with me.  I wanted to know that wherever I
was, I could review the projects that I wanted to get done (sorted by
priority) along with all of the parts, serial numbers, etc that would be
required.

The obvious solution was to have all of the info on my mobile phone.  I know
that I appear to be a "carpenter" where everything is solved by a hammer
(but in my case it's a cell phone).  Some of that happened because of the
way having my maintenance, projects, parts, fuel, engine room log, and
captain's log databases worked.  It made me realize how powerful it is have
all of the info with me wherever I am without creating printouts or writing
down lists.  When I think of something that needs to be added to a
maintenance log somewhere, I can put it in immediately.  Things don't get
forgotten.

And now when I need to set the Power Share on the Link 2000, I tap, Parts >
Inverter > Notes, and it shows me the sequence of steps.  Since my phone is
always with me, I never have to go looking for the instructions.


My wife and I have put our series of 16 articles all about mobile phone onto
the ActiveCaptain web site.  They can all be found at:
http://www.activecaptain.com/GM/MobilePhones/Intro.php

The 10th article is about "Other Applications" and includes some examples of
this type of list handling with some screen shots showing what I use.  That
article can be found here:
http://www.activecaptain.com/GM/MobilePhones/OtherApps.php


These list databases are simple to create.  You can grab someone else's
lists (I've given mine to many people) or start with something simple and
grow it as you find things you need to add/change.  When I tried the
different PC-based maintenance programs, I found that there were some things
that just didn't fit for my needs not to mention that it needed a full PC to
run.  My lists have grown with my needs and fit them perfectly.  And when I
find something else that I want to track, it's simple to add it.

Having a list handler on your mobile phone is, in my opinion, one of the
biggest things that makes things simpler for maintaining your boat.


==================================
Jeffrey Siegel
M/V aCappella
DeFever 53PH
W1ACA/WDB4350
Castine, Maine

www.activecaptain.com
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