Email: Proof of cruising

I have recently read articles on your site which, as a continuous cruiser for nearly two years, I find alarming at the least.

I refer to articles pertaining to the use of a logging device on your boat. These say things like 'held in esteem by the courts', 'in court to convince a judge', 'any form of log is better than not having a log'. On reading these articles it dawns on me I have no log or any proof of my first two years cruising, if I was dragged into court I would be stuffed!

How many people

The only people who need a log are those in court. How many boaters have been to court for matters relative to the articles? If you have been a continuous cruiser for a month, a year or decades and have received no correspondence from CaRT regarding your movements why on earth would you fear going to court and having to show proof of your movements?

Further more, I entertained the notion of having one fitted, then when the cogs had turned for a bit, I thought to myself "right why would I be in court needing this log?" Because: I have not moved from place to place not staying more than 14 days or I have not navigated bona fide the system. So using my new tracker all I need to know now is:

1. What constitutes a place so I can show I do not stay in one.

2. How far I need to travel so I can show I have done that.

3. Do I just plod around recording my movements hoping they will provide the evidence I have followed the rules? Does my frustration of these repeated issues come through in black and white?

Will not worry about logs

It seems until I have reason to believe my movements are being frowned upon I will not worry about logs and trackers and enforcement officers, no matter how many articles I have to endure.

My conclusion is the only boats that need trackers are the ones who need to prove that they are conforming i.e on the CaRT list of boats who have received correspondence viz their movements. I can't imagine this number being too high that the resources will not stretch to solve such a major issue.

Then maybe we can be blessed with articles that we can relate to and find interesting because they are about things we enjoy. Hope to get some answers, seriously.

Carl Allen