T&T: maintenance logs

[Gary Bell]

Last Monday Larry asked us for advice:

<snip>


...I need a log (device) that will record but also be predictive. Keep track of
what I've done but what do I do with the mains when the next 200 hours rolls
around? What has to be done the 1st of each month? <snip>

REPLY:

Your presence on this list implies that you have a computer handy.  I made my own spreadsheet with dates, engine hours, parts and materials used, comments or suggestions for next time, test results, etc. etc. etc. -- and with a tiny bit of spreadsheet magic it posts dates (or engine hours) this task is next due.  I have very little experience producing relational databases in software like Oracle, Access, or the like, but that should be a slam dunk for those platforms as well.  

I print the whole spreadsheet database section each time I make a new entry and replace the older copy aboard so I have a paper document handy that I can refer to without batteries or booting up.  

You could pretty easily make a paper system, a notebook for example.  

Either way simply list out what you want to know and create your own record format.  I had an inexpensive dedicated database program called Ship's Log, but I didn't like the way they set it up and the difficulty I found trying to make it do things my way...

Gary Bell