BUOYS
IN THE
OCEAN
Drifter Buoy's
We released three buoys off Jacksonville, Florida's coast late Jaunary 2015. We are using refurbished waterproof GPS trackers attached with marine cement to 3 buoys of different stature. The three buoys are detailed below. Each buoy is depicted with a tracking number which is written first. This number can be used when viewing the buoys at http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/drifter/drift_jml_2015_1.html.
Crystal. Tracking Number: 152300813 (322120140308101)
Crystal has similarities to both of the other buoys. She is large like Big Boy, but flexible even more so than Wilson. Her canvas is hand sewn together with fishing line that has been reinforced with marine cement. Her middle can fill with water which acts as a weight to keep her upright while on her journey and her bottom has extra dive weights placed inside the center PVC pipe. Her large pink head is filled with compressed air and Great Stuff foam insulaton and sealant, which keeps her top more buoyant, and is the perfect flat surface for the GPS. Yes, Crystal can be a bit of an air head at times! I heard she told Big Boy and Wilson that she would be the first to loop around the Atlantic.
Credits: Jennifer Dougherty, Matthew Martin, Kevin Carr, Drew Allen, Mike Kurtz, Natalie Swaim, Amanda Graham
Big Boy. Tracking Number: 152300812 (752632140308102)
This buoy is a Big Boy. He is made with thick PVC pipe, which should be good for the rough weather he will soon be getting into. The canvas is threaded on with nylon rope. He has floats tied to his top and dive weights zip tied to the bottom. His bottom PVC pipes have small holes that fill with water and help weigh him down. Yes, even with how huge he his he still needs to be weighed down. His top PVC pipe is sealed off, acting as a floatation decive that keeps it upright in the water. On his top we added a planting pot that is filled it with Great Stuff, making the perfect surface for the GPS tracker that is marine cemented on top.
Credits: Ray Banister, McCauley Langston, Melissa Grant, Stephanie Fankhauser, Alison DeVivero
Wilson. Tracking Number: 152300811(ESN140308103)
Wilson is the lighest and smallest out of the three buoys. He is built like a lean marathon runner. He has an impaled volleyball filled with Great Stuff for a head, which helps him stay afloat in the rough waves. To keep his bottom down he has a one pound weight zip tied to each of his bottom PVC pipes and one attached to his center pipe. Since he is so light he also has holes at each end as center of his PVC that is an added weight when filled up with water. His finishing touch was marine cementing the GPS on top and surrounding it with Great Stuff because you can never have enough!
Credits: Tiffany Razo, Elanie Urban, Krystal Dannenhoffer, Courtney Burdick, Marni Willis, Shelby O'Brian, Sarah Schunter, Chelsea Boharty