Why eboatlog?

Here are three reasons for you to use eboatlog.com. 

  1.  Have you ever hit an "unidentified submerged object" while cruising in unfamiliar waters? 

Your transmission shatters, the boat is taking on water, and you need help.  You call your towing service and endure one of the worst experiences of your boating life.  A two to three day repair takes eight weeks and is done incorrectly.  A better repair shop was just five miles away - If you had only known, you could have saved thousands of dollars and almost an entire boating season. 

eboatlog gives you:

•   a toll-free number answered by a person who tells or texts you the services information you need.
•   reviews written by satisfied and dissatisfied customers.  You get to choose the provider that's best for you. 
•   a forum to tell everybody else about the great service providers and those who need to improve.

  2.  You need to have some minor repairs done to the boat. 

You pay the engine manufacturer's service department more than $600 just to come out and tell you that their service technician can't fit in behind the engine and can't fix it.  You spend the next two days trying to find someone who can.  A thirty minute repair takes two days to fix, all because you are unfamiliar with the area and can't find who to call.

•   search a directory of service providers by location and specialty.
•   read reviews written by satisfied and dissatisfied customers.
•   add your own review and ranking

  3.  Have you ever wanted to know weather and cruise conditions up ahead, just beyond radio range, but well within cruising range?

Airplane pilots get real-time conditions updates as they fly.  Pilots report conditions on route so other pilots know what to expect.  It could save you from a grounding to hear from another captain that there is a dredge in the channel at buoy 73 and the depth is next to the dredge.

  eboatlog gives:

•   captains a forum to report conditions realtime
•   you the opportunity to find out what you are facing right now
  •  weather
  •  buoy reports
  •  cruise hazards.

   

eboatlog On-line Directory

The on-line eboatlog service directory lists, without any charge to the service provider, all of the boating services we can find in the continental US. 

As a member you can:

•  search the On-line Directory by location and specialty or by business name.  
•  list a new service provider and provide information about the types of work that service provider performs. 
•  add your reviews of the work performed by the service provider and rank the experience.

Click here to see the kind of information you can find in the on-line directory.

We may not have a service provider listed in your specific area.  Where we do not have a provider in a specific area, members can complete a simple form to have us find a nearby provider. We will make reasonable attempts to find a service provider in the location you specify.  However, not all locations have service providers and not all locations have good service providers.  We cannot be responsible for a lack of service providers in a specialty in an area. 

Toll-free Urgent Service

When things go to hell on the boat, you usually don't have the time and resources to find the best, nearest service. 

•  You can call the toll free number for a list of nearby service providers (up to three) with rankings and a summary of the reviews available.
•  You can call to find any type of service listed in our specialties.  Currently, we have slightly more than 70 specialties listed.  For example, you can call for a diver in Charleston, SC or a detailing firm in Guntersville, AL.
•  You can call if you are too seasick to read the  buoy reports on the computer.
•  We do not recommend any service provider
•  We do not guarantee or make any other provision for suitability.  You must use all reasonable caution when choosing any service provider. 
•  Members pay $14.95 and non-members pay $29.95 for this personalized phone service. You will be asked for your member telephone number, your credit card number, and permission for the charge before submitting your inquiry.
•  If we do not find a service provider for you in the location specified, there is no charge for the call. 

We also encourage captains to call us with updates to current conditions at no charge.  Is a bridge closed?  Call it in.  Same for other, short-term conditions that may impact boating operations.  We make this information available to members at no charge and to non-members at the fee listed above.  Information is limited to reports received.

Inventory of Boat Systems (optional)

Members who would like to keep information about their boat(s) can add an optional feature that lets you keep an inventory of boat systems on-line. 

•  You can list the equipment installed on your boat, such as engines, radios, batteries, and so on.
•  Adding the equipment
  • lets you keep a maintenance history for the piece of equipment. For example, you can track your fuel economy by listing a fuel tank and entering how much fuel you purchased for each outing.
  • lets you track warranty information and repairs.
  • lets you add detailed information about each piece of equipment, such as make, model, serial number, and in-service date.  This information is used to track warranty information.  For example, some automatic bilge pump switches fail at a high rate, but have a great warranty.  You can use the Component Vital Statistics to track the last time you replaced that switch.  
•  The system will remind you of needed services for equipment you list.  For example, changing the oil or exercising the sea cocks.
•  You can add equipment definitions to your boat from a list that contains equipment not currently defined.  Click here to see a sample.

Keeping the boat in excellent condition and having a complete, accurate maintenance history significantly increases the value of the boat at resale.

On-Line Service History and Expenses

eboatlog provides reports of routine maintenance and service work performed and yearly usage reports based on the inventory of Systems and Maintenance Log.  Click here to see a sample.

The cost for using eboatlog is about $2.00 per month.  We require an one year contract.  That is, if you purchase in November of this year, your participation expires no later than the end of November the following year.