Annual Crews maintenance Oct 2015

Greetings From the Crews project in Little Cayman. During the month of October we completed the annual maintenance of our Crews buoy. The buoy has now been successfully deployed for 2 years and is holding up well given the rigors of an open ocean environment. The running gear and attachment system is in excellent condition.
             The team at NOAA and AOML continue to support our staff with the various issues that pop up when sophisticated ocean and meteorological instruments are deployed. Below is a list of the procedures followed to keep the buoy in optimal condition for the coming year.

1. New bottom paint and general spruce up.

2. Install WXT520, replace WXT520 power and comms cable, configure WXT520 and test. OK

3. Install re-calibrated Surface Bic. 

4. Install re-calibrated U/W Bic.

5. Make new instrument mount for CTD, Program and install and test re-calibrated CTD. OK

6. Inspect battery junction box, found to be dry, no need to wipe with cloth although desiccant was shot. Replace desiccant, new 'O'ring and pressure test vessel to -5psi for 20 mins. OK

7. Current RH in the Met junction box is around 25% so deemed to be good. This was repaired extensively  on my last trip in July so should be good until Oct 2016

8. Check solar junction box. OK

9. Check RF comms. OK

10. Check Cel comms (Mike J)