Frequently Asked Questions

Not at all! VesselVault is designed to be intuitive for boat owners of all experience levels. The interface uses familiar Windows-style design patterns, and most actions can be completed with just a few clicks. We also provide comprehensive help guides and support.

The only required field is your boat's name, but the more detail you include, the more valuable VesselVault becomes. At minimum, we recommend adding vessel type, builder, year, dimensions, and a photo. This information helps with maintenance tracking, resale value, and marketplace features.

Yes! VesselVault is designed to handle multiple vessels efficiently. You can switch between boats using the tabs on your dashboard, and each boat maintains its own separate maintenance history, scheduled tasks, and information. There's no limit to the number of boats you can add.

Everything in VesselVault can be edited later! Go to your boat's detail page and click "Edit Vessel Details" to modify any information. For maintenance logs, you can edit or delete entries as needed. We believe in giving you full control over your data.

Absolutely! Adding historical maintenance helps build a complete picture of your boat's care. Focus on major services, repairs, and upgrades from the past 2-3 years. This historical data improves your maintenance quality score and provides valuable documentation for insurance or resale.

Quick maintenance is perfect for routine tasks - one click logs common jobs like battery checks, oil changes, and cleaning. Detailed logging is for complex work where you want to add descriptions, costs, photos, or receipts. Use quick logging for routine tasks and detailed logging for major work or custom jobs.

Scheduled tasks appear on your dashboard with their next due date. You can set up time-based schedules (every 6 months) or usage-based schedules (every 100 engine hours). When you complete a scheduled task, VesselVault automatically calculates the next due date and creates a maintenance log entry.

Yes! When using detailed maintenance logging, you can attach receipts, invoices, photos, and other documents. This creates a complete record of your maintenance work and is particularly valuable for warranty claims, insurance, and proving maintenance quality when selling your boat.

The Captain's Log is a digital sailing journal that lets you document your voyages, weather conditions, technical data, and observations. It combines traditional log keeping with modern technology, including speech-to-text recording for hands-free entry creation while sailing.

The voice recording uses your browser's built-in speech recognition to convert your speech into text in real-time. Simply click "Start Recording," speak clearly, and your words will appear as text. This works best in Chrome, Edge, and Safari browsers with a stable internet connection.

Yes! The voice recording feature is designed for use while actively sailing. However, always prioritize safety first. Use voice recording when it's safe to do so, such as when you're at anchor, on autopilot in clear conditions, or have crew handling the boat. You can also wait until you're back at dock.

Include departure and arrival locations, weather conditions, wind speed and direction, sea state, crew information, any incidents or observations, navigation notes, engine hours, fuel consumption, and distance sailed. The more detail you include, the more valuable your log becomes for future reference.

No problem! You can still create comprehensive captain's log entries by typing manually. All the same fields are available for voyage information, weather data, and technical details. The voice recording is an optional convenience feature that enhances the traditional typing experience.

VesselVault's marketplace showcases complete maintenance histories, not just seller claims. Buyers can see exactly what maintenance has been performed, when, and by whom. This transparency builds trust and helps boats with good maintenance records stand out from the crowd.

Absolutely not! Public boat listings are completely isolated from your private account. Buyers can only see the specific boat you're selling, its maintenance history, and the contact information you choose to provide. They cannot access your other boats, personal details, or any private areas of VesselVault.

Public listings can be viewed by anyone and appear in search engines, giving maximum exposure. Members-only listings are only visible to VesselVault users, providing more privacy while still reaching quality-conscious boat buyers who value maintenance records.

The maintenance quality score considers factors like the number of maintenance records, consistency of care, scheduled maintenance completion, and documentation quality. A higher score indicates a well-maintained boat with good records, which is valuable information for potential buyers.