
	The Practical Oceanographer

Title Page
Contents
Introduction
The At-Sea
Experience
Planning
Safety
Test Conduct
Instrumentation
Data Acquisition
and Analysis
People
Other Resources
References
Acknowledgments
APL Safety Manual
Nautical Terms
Packing Lists
Knots

Annotated Packing Lists

Within this appendix are typical lists of items that I would pack for a two-week cruise. On such a cruise I have three lists: instrumentation and support equipment, general-purpose tools and test equipment, and expendables. I have not included here a list of instrumentation and support equipment because that list is specific to each individual cruise. I hope that you'll find the general purpose lists useful though when making up your own lists.

General Purpose Tools and Test Equipment

Qty	Item	Description
97	Computer system with monitor, keyboard, mouse, external disk drives, networking boards	Actually I very rarely take 97 computers into the field for one experiment, but it usually seems like it. Remember to bag and label all cables, mice, etc. to ease the set up of each system.
2	Laser printers	For larger experiments I prefer to take 2 printers, in case one fails. On smaller experiments, I'll use an older dot matrix printer as the backup.
1 2	SA-10 Stereo Amplifier Radio Shack speakers	My amplifier and speakers are high on my list because I love listening to music while I work. Just remember to bring along a pair of headphones so that you can listen to your music without disturbing others. My rule is that if anyone in the lab objects to either the choice or the existence of music in the lab, I switch to headphones. After all, how would you like it if someone brought along a stereo but just wanted to listen to, and here I will coin the world's most redundant phrase, bad disco music.
1	Heat gun	These are great for heat shrink tubing, but I find the 500° setting a bit harsh for drying my hair.
1	Spare IC case	I have a case with a bunch of drawers that contains a wide assortment of useful integrated circuits. It contains specific spares for my systems along with some generally useful parts for jury rigging new systems. In a separate binder I take data sheets for the ICs in my case, preferring the data sheets to whole data books due to their smaller size.
2	Clipboards	Handy when working with checklists.
1	Machinist vise	Useful for holding smaller pieces when drilling.
1 1	Wire wrap gun Wire wrap assortment	If you don't use wire wrap, don't bother.
2	Hardware cabinets	It's a good idea to pack an assortment of nuts, bolts, standoffs and washers.
1	Complete set of manuals for all instruments, computers, programming languages and systems	Very important! If something breaks, whether it is hardware or software, you want to be able to fix it.
1	500' of 3/4" polypropylene braided line	A spool of line is always handy, if for no other reason than lashing a difficult colleague to the foreward crane.
2	Flashing warning lights	Every buoy should have a flashing warning light attached to it. I usually try to pack 1 or 2 extras. I have been on cruises where other scientists forget theirs and I have also been out where we threw together a complete mooring, which we had not planned, from spare parts lying around the ship.
1	Battery charger	If you use lead acid batteries, take a charger. This will allow you to work on your system on deck prior to deployment without wearing down the batteries.
2	Adjustable power supply	My experience has been that power supplies are the most common thing to fail on board ship, and so an extra adjustable supply which can be wired into a piece of equipment can be a life saver.
1	RS232 Breakout Box	The RS232 serial communications standard is anything but. There are so many variations of connectors, handshaking schemes, and pin placements that its a wonder anyone can get it to work. An RS232 breakout box, allowing you to visualize individual signals on LEDs and swap pin connections around, is the Rosetta stone for this modern Tower of Babel. (How's that for a mixed historical reference.)
1	Oscilloscope Tektronix 465	I once went on an experiment without an oscilloscope, and it turned out to be a big mistake. Usually, when I take it, I don't need it, but when you do need it nothing else will do.
1	Capacitance Meter	Ever since my tussle with the out-of-spec CTD cable, I pack a capacitance meter.

2	Fluke Multimeter	I like the Fluke, but a good multimeter is a must for troubleshooting simple problems.

1	Receiver ICM IC-R7000	A broadband communications receiver can be great for checking out transmitters and modems on telemetry systems. In coastal areas its also good for FM radio.
1 4	Parka Rainwear Sets (2M,2XL Overalls + 1M,3L Jackets)	While I have listed this elsewhere as clothing, parkas and rain gear are usually bulky enough that I ship them in with the rest of my equipment, instead of hand carrying them in my sea bag. The only problem with this approach is that you may need your gear immediately if it is cold or raining when you perform your onload.
1	DC voltage standard AN3100
1	Sweep Function Generator, Model 3020

1 ea.	Sling Psychrometer Handheld Hygrometer Handheld Wind Sensor Optical Range Finder Glass thermometer Handheld digital compass	Even though we deploy expensive electronic equipment to measure temperature and humidity I like the backup of handheld instruments in case all else fails.
2	Deck Chairs	I like my deck chairs, but only take a luxury item like this if you're sure there is room. My chairs fold up and so they can be easily stowed when not in use. Don't take large bulky items that will be in the way of others trying to do their work.
1	Coax Connector Crimp Tool RG-58 & RG-59
3	Power Drill
1	Caliper
1	Jigsaw
1	Cutter
1	Micropress Tool
1	Cordless Screwdriver Set
1	Winch
1	Nikon F3 Camera with motor drive, data back, and lens assortment WITH film	I prefer to take a lab camera on cruises. I feel that documenting the cruise activities is a legitimate expense. Furthermore I have found that the salt air is tough on cameras, making me reluctant to risk my personal camera.
1	Tool Chest, Roll-away
1	Shipping Container	If you have enough equipment to ship to the on load site, consider buying an entire 20- to 40-foot shipping container. They protect your equipment during shipping, can provide an enclosed working area during on load, and are handy for storage while you are at sea.
2	Carrying Case
1	Honda AC Generator	In some cases, a small generator is handy for getting power on deck. Just be sure to check with the crew first, as it is likely there are strict regulations on gasoline storage on board.
1	Tape measure, 30 m metric
2	Tape measure, 3 m

Expandables

Qty	Item	Description
300 400 600 400	Tie wraps giant Tie wraps large Tie wraps medium Tie wraps small	Without tie wraps and duct tape, oceanography as we know it would cease to exist. Tie wraps are useful for securing and dressing cables around a ship or buoy. We also use them to secure the bit in a shackle as well as backups to instrument mounting flanges. The medium size is most useful for securing cables, the large are best for securing large objects. A major problem with the use of tie wraps is that a relatively sharp portion protrudes out from the cable bundle making handling of the cable bundle difficult. Don't use tie wraps to secure bundles you'll be working with by hand.
300	Tie wraps medium with tabs	These tie wraps are secured to the end of individual cables. The name of the cable is then written on the tab with a permanent marker to identify the cable.
1 20	Bungee Cord, Roll Bungee Cord Ends, Assorted	Bungee cord is used to tie computers and lab equipment down to the tables within the lab so they don't shift in heavy seas. Bungee is also useful for a poor man's shock absorber.
4 2	Masking tape 2 in Masking tape 1 in	We use tapes of all varieties at sea. Masking tape is handy for temporary labeling of cables and boxes.
14	Duct tape	Duct tape is a generic cloth-covered wide tape that is used for taping together cable bundles and securing wires. When one of my buoys is deployed it is usually covered with this stuff. My colleagues tell me its unprofessional, but my cables don't strum and securing the cables minimizes strain on connectors.
2	Rolls colored tape	Colored tapes can be useful for marking instruments, making them easier to identify at a distance. They can also be used to mark cable lengths, with a black mark every 50 m, a yellow mark every 250 m, and so on.
9	Filament tape 3/4" Scotch 880	Filament tape is extremely strong and useful for packing boxes at the end of an experiment.
10	Tape vinyl Scotch 88	Vinyl electrical tape is used to insulate exposed electrical connectors. It does not hold up well when exposed to the environment and can become brittle after several weeks of exposure to the sun.
12	Tape rubber splicing Scotch 23	Rubber splicing tape is amazing. It is applied by first removing the plastic mesh on one side of the tape. The tape is then stretched to 50% of its original length, and wrapped about the connection tightly. After a few hours the tape bonds to itself forming a solid rubber seal. Attention should be paid to the end of the tape to insure that it doesn't unravel prior to the tape bonding. While this tape cannot withstand direct exposure to sunlight, it can form a watertight seal. I use this, followed by a coating of Scotchkote 3M, for sealing underwater connections. For weathertight connections that will be exposed to the sun I include an outerwrap of vinyl or duct tape, just to protect the rubber tape. This tape must be removed with a sharp knife and some patience after the rubber has sealed.
1	Tape coax-seal	This tape is handy for sealing coaxial connectors to the weather, although the rubber splicing tapes can also do a good job.
3	Copper tape 1"	I often find that the electromagnetic interference from the ship's radars or communication systems get into my signals from shipborne instruments. For this reason I prefer to use shielded cables for long data runs around the ship with the cable shield grounded at one end. (Grounding both ends often sets up ground loops due to potential differences between various points on the ship. The currents induced in the shield by these potentials can cause more noise than in an unshielded cable.) The copper tape is handy for shielding non-metallic junction boxes and the like.
1 1	Teflon tape 3/4" Teflon tape 1/2"	Teflon tape is used by plumbers on pipe threads to insure a good seal to keep water from leaking out. This tape is what mathematicians call commutative, meaning that it will also keep water out. This is handy for oceanographic applications because salt water and electronics do not mix.
1	Collection of heat shrink tubing	Heat shrink tubing is good for insulating connections, although due to topological contraints you should be sure to apply the tubing prior to making the solder connection.
??	Battery D-cells Battery C-cells Battery AA-cells Battery AAA-cells Battery 9-volt Battery, button cells	A collection of batteries comes in handy. The D- and C-cells are useful for flashlights. The AA- and AAA-cells are used in various hand-held instruments and personal entertainment devices. Take an inventory of all of your battery-powered devices to determine the quantities that you might need. Remember to take on a few extra of each type, in case someone else on board forgets. Also check your instruments, cameras and computers for mercury button cells or specialized lithium cells that might go bad on a cruise.
10	Work Gloves, Pair (large)	Work gloves get left all over the ship, so I always take extra pairs so that I can always find some when I need them.
6 10	Bragbox towels Kimwipes	We take an assortment of paper towels. The Bragbox towels are extra thick towels sturdy enough to clean wet instruments. The Kimwipes are thinner paper towels useful for cleaning spills around the lab.
3	Scotchkote 3M	Scotchkote is a thick, gooey, smelly, brown liquid that hardens into plastic coat when exposed to air. We use it to coat rubber splicing tape for underwater connectors. It's quite messy so be careful when applying it (see towels above).
6	AC Power strip with surge protection	I always pay the extra money and get surge suppressors for each computer system on board a ship. Remember though that these do burn out when subjected to surges, so you should open up old units to check them out prior to each cruise. Burnt out parts within the units that we use (Isobar) are usually easily identified from their discoloration. If bad parts are discovered then toss the whole unit out and buy a new one. Also remember that these units can be burnt out by running them from square wave power inverters, as one of our engineers once discovered.
4	AC power strip	Standard power strips are handy for use with power tools and the like, but should not be used with computers or other sensitive electronic equipment.
2	AC Cube Tap	An electrician's nightmare, these can be handy when working with power tools on deck using an extension cord back to the lab.
6 6	AC Male connectors AC Female connectors	Combined with wire, these make good extension cords. We can also use them to fix broken equipment. If you are on a non-U.S. vessel, be sure to carry along some plugs suitable for that countries electrical system.
2 10	AC extension cords 100 ft AC extension cords 10 ft	AC outlets are never located where you want one, so take along an assortment of extension cords.
500	3 Conductor #14 AC cord, neoprene (ft)	If you need to make an even longer extension cord, or need to provide power to a distant instrument.
200	AC zip cord	Standard 16 or 18 gauge two-conductor zip (or lamp) cord can be handy for cheap wiring of a low-frequency signal or power from one place to another.
5	AC equipment cords	I always pack cords with the equipment, but one or two always seems to get lost.
1 1	500' 4-conductor 18 gauge wire 500' 6-conductor 20 gauge wire	Extra wire comes in handy for sending signals from one lab to the next or testing instruments on the fantail be connecting to computers in the lab.
500 1500 1700 500 100	Coax cable RG-214 (ft) Coax cable RG-59 (ft) Coax cable RG-58 50 ohm (ft) Coax cable RG-62 93 ohm (ft) 1/4" Heliax	On board ship, we typically install video cameras and recording equipment, RF telemetry systems and other RF communications gear with remote antennas, and thin-wire Ethernet networks. All of these systems require coax cable. We typically just take a roll or two of each cable type, depending on our needs and the size of the ship, and make the cables to meet our needs on board. Heliax is a low-loss coax we use for RF modems that operate at 900 MHz.
50 90 2	RG59 BNC Coax connectors RG58 BNC Coax connectors Andrews 1/4" Heliax Connector	To make the cables on board, we use a variety of coaxial connectors. I prefer to use crimp on connectors as they are quite convenient. If you decide to use the same, just remember to bring along the proper trimming and crimping tools.
5	Coax adaptor assortment, each	At last count there are approximately 27.46 zillion types of coax adaptors. We try to take along a handy assortment for BNC, N, UHF, SMA, and RCA connectors, along with a few more specialized types. The assortment contains barrels, T's and type adaptors of both sexes. These little suckers are expensive so it pays to invest in some plastic trays to keep them sorted and together. In this way we just refill the trays prior to each cruise.
6 2	Epoxy 5 min Super glue	When things break, its nice to have glue.
8	RTV	RTV comes out of the tube like toothpaste, but turns into a rubber after a few hours of expsoure to air or water. Its good for sealing instruments and junction boxes exposed to the elements. Be sure to use the more expensive non-corrosive variety when sealing electronic equipment.
3	DC-4 compound	DC-4 is a silicone grease that is applied to o-rings to insure a good seal.
2	Never-seez	Never-seez can be applied to nuts and bolts prior assembly to insure that the hardware will not bind when exposed to the elements. We regularly use this on buoy parts prior to deployment so that we can get the hardware apart again after recovery. This stuff stains so use it sparingly and be careful.
2 1	Krylon ultra flat black spray paint Krylon glossy white spray paint	A can or two of spray paint comes in handy for marking boxes, touching up buoy parts, and general marking of objects about the ship.
10	Swish	Swish is the tradename for an electrical contact cleaner that also displaces water. It is handy for cleaning connectors before mating. It is also one of the only known substances that Never-seez while dissolve in.
3 2	WD-40 Liquid Wrench	A penetrating oil is handy for those nuts and bolts that you forget to put Never-seez on. As an alternative I always try to use stainless hardware where I can, but some non-stainless hardware always seems to get mixed in.
4	Lacing cord	Lacing cord is handy for tying cable bundles and is just generally useful as a strong string. We typically use it for tying off meteorological balloons and attaching the radiosonde. While one roll of this would suffice, we normally take several because after two weeks at sea you can never find the one you are looking for.
3	Q-tips, pkg	These are great for cleaning things like your ears, the heads on tape drives and small parts.
10	Acid brushes	I use these for brushing on Scotchkote or for cleaning small parts.
60	Scotch pads (1 box)	These rough, yet non-abrasive, scouring pads are good for cleaning off sea crud from instruments and buoys after an extended deployment.
16	Pen marking Markal Sharpie	We use these indelible fine-tip marking pens for marking any surface, including plastics.
1	Alcohol, gallon	We use alcohol for cleaning connectors and instruments. We never use an entire gallon, but that is the size container that our stockroom has. A quart should be more than sufficient for purposes other than chemical analyses.
1	Wire markers pkg.	A package of printed wire marking labels is handy for those cases where tie wrap cable markers are inconvenient.
10	Plastic sheet 9x12	Generic clear plastic sheets are good for weatherproofing boxes or equipment left on deck or out in the open.
4 1	Microduster refill Microduster nozzle	These small cans of compressed air are useful for blowing dust off of lenses and cleaning out connectors. As with any high pressure air, you should use eye protection during use.
100 50 150	Zip-loc bags large 9x12 Zip-loc bags small 5x8 Zip-loc bags 8x10	Zip-loc plastic bags are one of those other universally useful things to have on a cruise. I use them for storing small parts. I use them as a tool pouch. I bag everything when going out on a zodiac or other small boat to protect it from sea water. Sheets of paper can be encapsulated in the large bags for protection from the weather. Cable ends can be protected from the weather by placing them in a zip loc bag and wrapping with duct tape.
8 5 5 2	Floppy diskettes 3.5" high density,10/pk 3.5" double sided,10/pk 5.25" high density,10/pk 5.25" 360K,10/pkg	Floppy disks are handy and cheap media for the exchange of data. We take along a few boxes on each cruise for just such exchange, even though we actually acquire data on larger capacity media such as hard disks, Bernoulli disks and Exabyte tape.
10	5-1/4" Bernoulli disks, 90 MB, 3/pkg	We utilize Bernoulli disks for removable storage on our PCs and Macintosh computers. Syquest drives are a slightly less expensive alternative, but are not as reliable or as rugged, so I don't use them in the field.
	Nails assorted	Nails are handy for building things out of wood at sea AND we usually need them to nail the lids back onto the shipping boxes during the off-load. Since we usually begin packing on the way back to port, it is handy to bring the nails with you.
20 20 20	Crimp lugs for #22 wire (red) Crimp lugs for #18 wire (blue) Crimp lugs for #16 wire (yellow)	Crimp lugs are useful for terminating electrical cables for connection to terminal strips.
50	Lowel clips	Odds are that you have seen a lowel clip but don't know it by name. These are plastic strips with ribbing on one side and a griping attachment on one end that are used to secure a roll of cable. The clips are reusable and come with a handy eye on one end for hanging cables.
2	Solder	I usually pack at least two rolls, one fine for circuit board work and one thicker for attaching connectors and splicing cables.
1	Bus wire #22 roll	Some plain bare wire always comes in handy when trying to repair or rig a new circuit board.
6	Mousepads	Each computer these days needs a mousepad. I take along a few extras as replacements for those that get coffee spilled on them. They also make nice gifts to crew members with computers.
5 7 2	3 ring binders, 1" 3 ring dividers 3 hole paper punch	I like using three ring binders to organize the collection of daily on board data analysis products. I also include the typed log notes and any other papers that might even conceivably be useful in the post test analysis and interpretation of the data. I use the dividers to set up different sections in the book, typically organizing things chronologically. I used to take along just one 3 hole punch, but I could never find it when I needed it. Now I take along two. I still have difficulty finding either one of them, but at least I have doubled my chances of running across one when I need it.
12	Erasers	See pencils, pens and mistakes elsewhere.
1	Labels, box	A box of mailing labels is handy for labeling shipping boxes after packing during the offload. They are also handy for labeling the contents of storage boxes and drawers during the cruise. Just be sure that you can remove the labels easily before affixing them to anything permanently attached to the ship.
1	Box laser paper	On at least two cruises that I have been on, I have seen scientists bring a laser printer but forget to bring any paper. While this is always worth a laugh, I don't advise it.
2	Laser printer toner cartridge	Don't forget spare toner cartridges, just in case you run out or toner at sea.
1	3x3 post it notes, 12 per pack	The use of post it notes, those yellow square pads of paper with a weak adhesive on the back, on a cruise has its pros and cons. The pros are that its handy to have reminder notes stuck up around the lab. The con is that by the end of a typical cruise you may not be able to see any of your computer screens for the sea of post it notes. I think there is some genetic failing in humans that make it nearly impossible to remove post it notes. This trait was likely selected for in caveman times. Archeologists have found small slabs of rock with directions to the hunt attached to the walls of caves with mastodon glue.
3	Lab notebooks	I talked before about taking careful notes in a bound log book. Be sure to pack some.
1	Notepads, 12 per pkg	If you are going to take pens and pencils, you should take some pads of paper to write on. The napkins in the galley will do in a pinch, but will definitely slow down your work. While I prefer to maintain my cruise log in a bound workbook, notepads are handy for quick calculations and can be used like a chalkboard when working with other scientists.
5	Indelible marker (wide)	Great for marking boxes during the offload.
5	Highlighter	Yellow highlighters are great for marking up important portions of logs or on board analysis results.
4	Razor tip pens, 12 per box (1 box red, 3 black)	Be sure to get the kind whose ink doesn't run when the page gets wet.
1 1	Stapler Staples, box
3	Transparent tape, self-dispenser, 1/2" wide	3M makes a clear tape which has a weaker adhesive than normal tape making it removable. This stuff is great for affixing schedules and notices to the lab walls. Regular tape is best for affixing plots and tables into your cruise log.
2	Architects ruler	I often have the need for drawing a straight line or measuring distances. If navigation is important, you may also want to take your own dividers and other implements of the trade.
12 3 3	0.5 mm Pentel Pencil 0.5 mm 2B lead 0.5 mm 2H lead	If you are like me and never make mistakes, take pens. Those among us that are fallible, should pack some pencils. (Note erasers, elsewhere.)
2	Scissors	The use of scissors will be left as an exercise to the reader.
1	Manilla Folders, box	I like my paperwork neat and organized. It never is, but that is the way I like it. I always take folders along on the off chance that I might actually get organized one of these days. And when that day comes, I want to be prepared.
20	8mm Exabyte/ Sony video tape	We use Exabyte 8 mm digital tape drives for recording raw data and for system backups in the field. It is also a handy media for the exchange of large amounts of data, especially because a $7 tape can hold 5 gigabytes of data. While we use these systems on IBMs, Macs and UNIX boxes, they are almost universally software compatible on UNIX systems when using tar backup format. These tapes are also useful as 8 mm video tapes, although the video grade tapes are less expensive than data grade. (Don't try to use video tapes in your data recorders, several years ago it used to work, but they changed the formulation of the tape so this no longer works.)
9 9 18	25-pin D connector, solder, male 25-pin D connector, solder, female 25 pin connector shell	I always take along an assortment of RS232 connectors for creating cables in the field. These are handy to replace failed cables as well as creating new cables to link your computers with those of other scientists.
9 9 18	9-pin D connector, solder, male 9-pin D connector, solder, female 9 pin connector shell	While as a Mac person, I usually stick to 25 pin connectors, some obscure computers, known as IBM PC compatibles, use 9-pin connectors. Although I'm sure you'll never run across such primitive machines in your work, it is still good to be prepared.
2 2 2	RS232 gender changer, male RS232 gender changer, female RS232 null modem	RS232 connectors come in several flavors. A corollary of the Law of RS232 Connector Transmutation, first discovered by an obscure computer scientist in the early 1950's, states that whatever connector you have at the end of a cable will not match the device you want to plug into. Thus the need for an assortment of adaptors.
3	Mini DIN-8 to DB25 cable, Mac	Modem cable for connecting Apple Macintosh computers to modems, serial devices or IBM-compatible computers. These are useful even if you don't have a Mac, because it is likely that someone else on board will. I take several along because I use Macs instead of IBMs.
2	Loctite (blue)
6	Solder wick 3/32	This copper braid is used with a soldering iron for removing solder from solder pad on a circuit board. Removing an IC from a board without damaging the board is almost impossible without this.
1	Desoldering supplies
1	Hook up wire assortment
15 15 15 15	DB-25S crimped pin DB-25P crimped pin DB-9S crimped pin DB-9P crimped pin