Log Book and Harbor Report Submissions Guide
Web
1. Be sure to check the Harbor Reports carefully to see whether your observations have already been noted.
2. If not, please post a comment or make a direct correction/addition to the particular Harbor Report on this GLCC Web site—there is a "post comment" box at the end of every harbor report. As has always been the club’s practice, the Harbor Report Committee will review your submission. We suggest you type in your material to avoid any potential formatting issues—if you "paste" long passages of text, please try to use "text only" format.
Please note that this system is our preferred method for submissions to the reports, because it significantly shortens the time between when your observation is submitted and when the update is viewable by all members. In most cases, your comments will be viewable immediately. You may also utilize the Check List for Harbor Report Updates.
3. Concise, objective information on the characteristics of harbors is what's needed for our harbor reports. Subjective commentary on cruising experiences is welcome but should be posted on the web-page discussion boards or directed to the editor of the Lifeline.
4. It's crucial that you note in your report whether soundings are referenced to chart datum. The weekly mean water level, for adjusting soundings, can be ascertained for Canadian waters by listening to the Coast Guard's weather broadcasts on VHF channels 21B or 83B (Wx Channels 8 or 9), depending on cruising area. The same data is available on the Weekly Water Level Bulletin at
http://www.meds-sdmm.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/ALPHAPRO/TWL/e_pt_wlb.htm
For American waters, daily historical data are available on the Internet at http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/Missions/GreatLakesInformation/GreatLakesWaterLevels/CurrentConditions.aspx .
5. Your digital photos and sketches can also be attached directly to the individual report. They should be in the jpg format. We suggest the file size of the individual image be kept under 200 kb. If possible, set the resolution to 72 DPI. It may be easiest to post the photos in the members' Photo Gallery on the web page (include some text description of each photo) and then e-mail the Log Book Committee that the photos are posted there.
E-mail or mail
1. Of course, you are welcome to send Harbor Report updates to the GLCC Office by e-mail or on paper, flash drive or cd-rom. We always value all your submissions, regardless of the format they are received in. Paper updates will be generally reviewed during the offseason, and their information uploaded to the Web site before the new boating season.
2. Note that lengthy text changes are best forwarded on a flash drive or CD/DVD (in any contemporary word processing format). In order to publish your corrections, we need to know exactly what's changed. Word-by-word comparison of a rewrite against the current edition is needlessly time-consuming for the editors. Relate any new text written separately to the old report using key numbers or letters.
3. Send information on each harbor on a separate sheet or word processing file, so it can be filed with that harbor report. Be sure to put the date of observation and your name on each one.
4. Photos should not be annotated directly, but on a copy of the photo or on tracing paper overlaying the photo. Digital pictures should be in the jpg format and at 72 DPI resolution, if possible.
5. You can send your contributions either by email to glccharborreports@gmail.com or by mail to the Log Book Editor via the Great Lakes Cruising Club, Suite 202, 405 Water Street, Port Huron, MI, 48060, USA.
And Thanks for Your Contributions—all members tend to feel not only obliged but also honored to contribute.
05/17/2021 JM