Specifications

5.3.2 Packing frame

For protection and handling the buoy should always be shipped in a packing frame. The packing

frame holds the complete buoy and the stabilizing chain including anodes (anodes only on

stainless steel buoys). Small option inserts, such as the GPS antenna, Argos and Orbcomm

antennas, are packed in the hull during transport. Only the long HF/LED whip antenna and the

anti-spin triangle must be packed separately for transport. Figure 5.3.3 depicts the packing

frame with a buoy in it.

The pyramid-like top should prevent upside-down handling and storage. Although this is

only of importance for the sensor based buoys, GPS buoys use the same packing frame. The

small 0.4 m GPS buoy has no packing frame.

Figure 5.3.3. Datawell packing frame.

5.3.3 Hull

On the outside of the hull you will find, again from the bottom up: the mooring eye, fender

fitted with anti-spin triangle or not, handles and flange with groove and rubber sealing ring and

forward ship (FS) reference. The FS reference corresponds to zero orientation or compass north

and is in fact a small planed face on the side of the flange with the hull serial number engraved.

See Figure 5.3.4(a).

Although large parts overlap there are some marginal differences on the inside. In general

the hull contains a ring of batteries surrounding an aluminium can, in case of a solar panel a

package of Boostcaps (Power Storage Pack), an aluminium lid clamped with four fasteners,

plywood boards fixed with wing nuts to keep everything in place, bags of drying agent, a test

box for testing each battery section, and finally a main hatchcover cable with plug, the

hatchcover connector, to connect to the electronics unit. Sometimes the cable is attached to the

hatchcover electronics unit instead of the hull. DWR-MkIII buoys have 19-pin connectors,

while DWR-G and WR-SG buoys have 14-pin connectors. Only the DWR-MkIII 0.9 m buoy

offers the possibility of testing the motion sensors individually. Drying agent bags are fixed

with Velcro straps, see Figure 5.3.4(b). In case of a DWR-G 0.4 m buoy, the hull merely

contains 4 batteries kept in place with a foam mat and plywood. Drying agent bags and a step-

up converter with power plug and battery testpoint are fixed on the plywood.