BoatNotes Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 4, 2026 · Draft version 2026-10-04-draft

Draft policy: We are still verifying some third-party retention practices and beta account-deletion behavior. These sections identify the remaining uncertainties, and we will update this policy when verification is complete.

This policy explains how BoatNotes handles information when you use our app and website. For privacy questions, contact privacy@boatnotes.ai.

Information we collect

BoatNotes collects information you provide to create an account and use the app, including:

• Your email address and account information.
• Boat profiles, BoatCards, equipment, maintenance records, and other boat information.
• Trip details, notes, photos, videos, recordings, transcripts, documents, and AI-generated content.
• Contacts and Float Plan information you choose to enter.
• Location information used by enabled trip and conditions features.
• Technical information needed to operate, troubleshoot, and protect the service.

Some information is stored on your phone, including sign-in information, drafts, and pending uploads. Account records and saved content are also stored on BoatNotes’ servers using Amazon Web Services.

How we use information

We use this information to provide your account, save and display your boat records, support sharing you choose, process enabled AI features, retrieve conditions, and maintain the service.

BoatNotes requests camera, microphone, photo, and location access for features that need it. You can manage these permissions in your device settings. Declining access may limit the corresponding feature.

AI processing

BoatNotes uses OpenAI for features such as interpreting images, transcribing recordings, assisting with notes, generating trip stories, and producing spoken replies.

Before processing your content with AI, BoatNotes checks your AI consent. Depending on the feature, eligible text, images, audio, and related context are sent to OpenAI.

You can decline AI processing or withdraw consent through Privacy & AI in the app. Withdrawal stops future processing of your content; it does not undo information already sent or automatically delete previous results.

For shared trips, BoatNotes can generate a story from eligible content supplied by consenting contributors. Content from nonconsenting or unidentified contributors is excluded.

We have disabled OpenAI's optional sharing of API inputs and outputs for model improvement and training. This setting applies to future processing; changing it does not erase information previously shared. OpenAI may retain information under its applicable endpoint-specific safety and service policies.

We are still verifying the retention rules and exceptions for each OpenAI feature we use. We have not verified special zero-retention controls and do not promise that information sent to OpenAI is immediately erased.

Weather and tide services

When you use conditions features, BoatNotes may send coordinates, dates, or station-query information to Visual Crossing or NOAA to retrieve weather, tide, or current information.

These providers handle requests under their own applicable policies. Deleting a BoatNotes account does not establish that every provider-held request record has been erased.

We are still verifying which weather and tide integrations are enabled in beta and their request-record retention practices. We do not currently promise a specific provider retention or erasure period.

Sharing with other people

Information you share through BoatNotes may become available to authorized boat members or people who receive your BoatCards. Information you send through your device’s messaging apps is also handled by those apps and recipients.

BoatCards saved by other people become independent copies in their accounts, including copied card photos and their private notes.

Keeping and deleting information

BoatNotes keeps account records and saved content to support your use of the service. Expiration of a download link does not delete the underlying file.

The account-deletion process described below reflects the planned beta behavior and is still being verified in the deployed beta. Where the feature is available, you can start it from your profile in the app, and the deletion review explains the affected information before you confirm. If it is unavailable, contact privacy@boatnotes.ai about your deletion request.

Account deletion removes your account and the records and media covered by that review. Your contributed content is removed from shared boats, including AI summaries derived from that content. Boats for which you are the sole owner are deleted with their remaining records. Other members’ unrelated information remains.

BoatCards already saved in other people’s accounts remain in those accounts.

Deletion may take time. BoatNotes reports completion after server cleanup and cleanup of the initiating phone are verified. A minimal de-identified security record remains to prevent a deleted identity from regaining access.

This cleanup does not remotely erase copies on other phones, original media in your photo library, downloaded exports, or operating-system and provider backups.

We are still verifying technical-log retention and database backup/export practices, including retained-copy exceptions. Account cleanup should not be understood as proof that every log, backup, export, or provider-held copy has been erased.

Early-access website

If you join the early-access mailing list, we collect your email address to contact you about availability and product updates.

Questions and changes

Contact privacy@boatnotes.ai with privacy questions.

We may update this policy as BoatNotes changes. The date above identifies the latest published version.