FAQ

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE LOGBOOKS?

Cruising Logbook:

A practical logbook for day sails and short coastal trips. Printed on thick, heavy-weight paper (not waterproof), it includes 68 trip log pages, reusable checklists, and dedicated logs for maintenance, refueling, pump-outs, safety equipment, and trip planning.

All‑Weather Logbook:

Contains the same layout and content as the Cruising Logbook but printed on Rite in the Rain® waterproof paper with a rugged cover. Ideal for wet, on-deck use during coastal cruising.

A5 All‑Weather Logbook:

A compact version of the full-size All‑Weather Logbook. Same waterproof construction and log page layout, in a smaller A5 format—perfect for grab bags, dinghies, and minimalist setups.

Offshore Logbook:

Designed for overnight and offshore sailing, this logbook uses a 24-hour layout and includes space to record heading, speed, log, true wind speed and direction, barometric pressure, latitude/longitude, sky conditions, and notes. Built with waterproof paper and durable materials for extended time at sea.

Passage Logbook:

A spiral-bound logbook made for multi-day coastal or offshore trips. Includes route summaries, weather tracking, crew logs, and longer-form journal entries—ideal for sailors who want to document longer voyages in depth.

One Ocean Logbook:

A special edition of the All‑Weather Logbook, featuring an expedition-inspired cover and a revised internal layout. The log pages include added space and a barometric pressure field. The pump-out log has been replaced with an expanded maintenance section, making this version better suited for extended offshore use.

Maintenance Logbooks:

  • Single Engine: Designed for tracking maintenance on vessels with one engine. Includes sections for oil changes, system checks, repairs, inspections, and parts.
  • Multiple Engine: For boats with two or more engines, this version provides dedicated space to log service records for each engine individually.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ALL-WEATHER LOGBOOK AND THE OFFSHORE LOGBOOK?

The All-Weather Logbook is ideal for coastal cruising, featuring a 16-hour format with key fields like time, GPS, course, speed, engine hours, notes, crew, and weather. It also includes reusable checklists and a reference guide to support coastal trips.

The Offshore Logbook, designed for long-distance sailing, uses a 24-hour format and tracks information like heading, speed, log, true wind speed, wind direction, barometer, latitude, longitude, sky coverage, and notes.

WHICH LOGBOOK IS BETTER SUITED FOR OFFSHORE SAILING?

The Backstay Offshore Logbook is the ultimate choice for offshore sailing and extended cruising days. Designed and tested by seasoned marine experts Julie & Gio Cappelli of Pelagic Blue Cruising, along with their students, the Offshore Logbook is tailored specifically for 24-hour sailing. Each log page includes the following key information:

  • Heading
  • Speed
  • Log
  • True wind speed
  • True wind direction
  • Barometer
  • Latitude
  • Longitude
  • Sky coverage
  • Notes

ARE THE LOGBOOKS WATERPROOF?

Waterproof Logbooks

These logbooks are made with Rite in the Rain® waterproof paper and durable covers, ideal for use on deck or in wet, marine environments:

  • All‑Weather Logbook – for coastal cruising.
  • A5 All‑Weather Logbook – compact, waterproof version of the above.
  • Offshore Logbook – designed for extended offshore sailing.
  • One Ocean Logbook – expedition edition with an updated layout.
  • Passage Logbook – spiral-bound and waterproof, great for longer texts. 
  • Maintenance Logbooks (Single & Multiple Engine) – rugged and waterproof for engine room use.

Not Waterproof

Cruising Logbook is printed on heavy-duty paper but is not water-resistant. It’s best kept below deck, in a protected cockpit, or in dry conditions.

WHAT PENS WORK BEST WITH RITE IN THE RAIN PAPER?

For dry pages: a standard ballpoint, felt-tip pen, or pencil work well; their ink stays put even if the pages get wet later.

For wet pages: use a Rite in the Rain pen or a regular pencil. Avoid water-based pens like gel pens and highlighters as their ink can wash away.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY ALL-WEATHER AND OFFSHORE LOGBOOKS GET WET?

No need to worry—simply hang the logbook to dry, and your records will remain safe.

WHAT CAN I USE WITH REUSABLE CHECKLISTS?

A dry-erase marker is ideal. Avoid using permanent markers.

WHAT IS IN THE REFERENCE GUIDE OF THE ALL-WEATHER AND THE CRUISING LOGBOOK?

The reference guide covers:

  • Rules of the road
  • Navigation sounds
  • Navigation lights
  • International flags and pennants
  • Be whale wise
  • Distress calls scripts
  • Knots

WHAT ELSE IS IN THE ALL-WEATHER AND THE CRUISING LOGBOOK?

These logbooks include a trip planner, project planner, maintenance log, refuel log, pump-out log, safety equipment log, and reusable pre-departure and arrival checklists.

WHAT IS THE SIZE OF THE LOGBOOKS?

  • The Cruising Logbook: 8.5” x 11”. 96 pages.
  • The All‑Weather Logbook: 8.5” x 11”. 96 pages.
  • The A5 All‑Weather Logbook: 6” x 9”. 96 pages.
  • The Offshore Logbook: 8.5” x 11”. 80 pages.
  • The Passage Logbook: 8.5” x 11”. 80 pages. 
  • The One Ocean Logbook: 8.5” x 11”. 96 pages.
  • The Maintenance Logbook (Single Engine): 9” x 6”. 80 pages.
  • The Maintenance Logbook (Multiple Engine): 9” x 6”. 80 pages.

WHERE ARE THE LOGBOOKS PRINTED?

All Backstay logbooks are printed locally in Seattle, WA, using materials sourced from U.S. companies. This ensures quality, reduces shipping footprint, and supports domestic manufacturing.

HOW DO I CHOOSE THE RIGHT LOGBOOK FOR MY TYPE OF BOATING?

It depends on how and where you sail:

Day sails or coastal cruising? Choose the Cruising Logbook, All‑Weather Logbook, or the One Ocean Logbook. All three include trip logs, checklists, and planning tools. The All‑Weather and One Ocean editions are printed on waterproof Rite in the Rain® paper. The One Ocean Logbook also features an expedition-inspired cover and a slightly updated layout with barometric tracking and an expanded maintenance section.

Longer voyages or offshore trips? The Offshore Logbook is ideal for extended passages, with a 24-hour format and detailed fields for wind, barometric pressure, and position tracking.

Want to document your journey in more detail? The Passage Logbook is perfect for sailors who enjoy writing longer entries. It’s spiral-bound and designed for multi-day or personal storytelling during extended trips.

Need something waterproof and compact? The A5 All‑Weather Logbook is a smaller version of our full-size waterproof log, great for grab bags or small boats.

Looking to track engine care? Add a Maintenance Logbook (Single or Multiple Engine) to keep service records organized and resale-ready.

DO I NEED MORE THAN ONE LOGBOOK?

Often, yes — as a prudent sailor, you’ll likely carry:

  1. An All‑Weather or Offshore Logbook to record your trips, weather, and navigation.
  2. A Maintenance Logbook (Single or Multiple Engine) to keep track of service, repairs, oil changes, and parts.

HOW LONG WILL ONE LOGBOOK LAST ME?

It depends on how often you sail and how detailed your entries are. Here’s a general idea based on actual log page counts:

  • All‑Weather, One Ocean, and Cruising Logbooks each include 68 sailing log pages, plus sections for maintenance, safety, refueling, planning, and checklists. If you use one log page per trip, expect the logbook to last around one to three seasons or 68 outings.
  • Offshore Logbook includes 80 log pages in a 24-hour format. Ideal for offshore passages, it typically covers 80 sailing days offshore, assuming one page per watch or day.
  • Passage Logbook has 80 total waterproof pages, including 66 journal-style log pages with 29 lines each—great for longer reflections or combining several days on one page.
  • Maintenance Logbooks (Single or Multiple Engine) will typically last many years, depending on how frequently you log inspections, repairs, and system checks.

DO YOU SHIP INTERNATIONALLY?

Absolutely—we ship worldwide! Shipping rates and delivery times vary by location. If you do not see your location, contact us directly.

CAN I INCLUDE A GIFT MESSAGE?

Yes! You can add a personalized message to any order. Just email us after placing your order.

DO YOUR LOGBOOKS WORK FOR BOTH SAILBOATS AND POWERBOATS?

Yes. All logbooks use general-purpose layouts that apply to both sail and power vessels. Simply fill in the fields that apply to your specific boat and voyage.

HAVE QUESTIONS? CONTACT US