Boat maintenance log template — what to record, and a free printable version
28 September 2026 · 6 min read
A maintenance log is worth more than a receipt folder. Here is exactly what to record for every service, a free printable template you can use today, and how to keep it up to date when the boat is in use.
Why a maintenance log matters more than the receipts
A boat with a clean service history sells faster and for more, gets through surveys with fewer questions, and hands over to a new captain or engineer without a week of guesswork. The receipts prove money was spent; the log proves what was done, when, at what hours, and what was found. Insurers and warranty claims ask for the log, not the receipts.
Most boats start one and stop within a season, because the notebook is in the wrong place, or the spreadsheet is on a laptop that is not on board. The fix is to record less, more consistently: seven fields per entry, filled in the same day.
The seven fields every entry needs
- Date — the day the work was done, not the day you write it up.
- Engine or system hours — main engines and generators at the time of the service. Hours are what the next interval is calculated from.
- Item — what was serviced or repaired (port engine oil and filter, watermaker membranes, windlass).
- Work done — one or two lines. "Oil and filter changed" is enough; "checked engine" is not.
- Parts and consumables — part numbers and quantities, so the next order is a copy-paste.
- Who — the crew member, yard or contractor, so questions can be asked later.
- Next due — hours or date, whichever comes first, worked out from the manufacturer's interval.
The free template
The table below is the log as a printable sheet. Print a page per engine or system, keep them in the engine-room folder, and copy them up monthly.
| Date | Hours | Item | Work done | Parts / qty | Who | Next due |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-14 | 1,240 | Port engine | Oil and filter changed; belts inspected | Filter 129150-35170 ×1; 15W-40 ×9 L | J. Ruiz | 1,490 h / Mar 2027 |
| 2026-03-14 | 1,240 | Stbd engine | Oil and filter changed; raw-water impeller replaced | Filter ×1; impeller 105-1051 ×1 | J. Ruiz | 1,490 h / Mar 2027 |
| 2026-03-20 | 612 | Generator | Fuel filters primary and secondary | Racor 2010PM ×1; sec. filter ×1 | Marina yard | 862 h / Mar 2027 |
| 2026-04-02 | — | Liferaft | Annual service and recertification | — | Ocean Safety | Apr 2027 |
| 2026-04-02 | — | Watermaker | Membranes flushed; pre-filters changed | 5 µm ×2; 20 µm ×1 | K. Osei | Jul 2026 |
Download the same table as a spreadsheet (CSV)
Keeping it up to date when the boat is in use
- Record the same day. A log written up at the end of the trip loses the hours and the part numbers.
- Put the log where the work happens — engine room, not the chart table.
- Read the hours into the log every time the engines are shut down, even when nothing was serviced. It makes "next due" real.
- One entry per item. "Both engines serviced" hides which filter went where.
- Photograph the old part and the new one side by side. Two years later that photo answers most questions.
When a paper log stops being enough
A paper or spreadsheet log works for one boat and one person. It breaks when there are two engineers, a shore manager who wants to see it, or a second boat. At that point the log needs to live somewhere everyone can update from the phone, calculate next-due from the hours automatically, and remind you before it is overdue — which is what iVessel's servicing schedule does. Your first boat is free for 30 days.
Do all of this in iVessel — and keep it
Everything on this page is built into iVessel, so nothing lives in a notebook that can go overboard.
- Log a service from your phone with the hours, the work done and a photo — it is saved to the boat, not to a person's device, and cannot be lost when crew change.
- Parts and consumables are deducted from the boat's spares inventory as you log the service, so stock levels and reorder lists stay true.
- Every entry records who did it and when; a manager ashore sees the same history the engineer sees on board.
- Next-due is calculated automatically from the interval and the running hours, with reminders before it is overdue.
- Works offline at sea and syncs when you are back in range. iOS, Android and web.
Your first boat is free for 30 days.
Frequently asked
What should a boat maintenance log include?
Date, engine or system hours, the item serviced, the work done, parts and quantities used, who did the work, and when it is next due. Photos of the old and new parts are worth adding.
How often should I update the maintenance log?
The same day as the work, and read the engine hours in every time the engines are shut down so "next due" stays accurate.
Does a maintenance log add value when selling a boat?
Yes. A complete, dated service history with hours is one of the first things a surveyor and a serious buyer ask for, and a boat that has it commands a better price and a quicker sale.
Track this in iVessel — free 30-day trial
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