Jack of all Trades

A Coast Guard buoytender has many features such as a large working deck and a heavy lift crane that make it suitable for various jobs on the water. Often these jobs will be piggybacked on each other for a given geographic area such as Lake Ontario.

The working deck above has weather and navigation buoys recovered for the winter as well as a small davit arm and science winch for taking samples around the lake.

The term 'Gales of November' is a cliche but no less true. The rule of thumb in the late fall is to take advantage of good weather when you get it be it daytime or night. A calm period is called for when doing buoywork in tight quarters such as Oswego Harbour.

With the sun going down, but the wind cooperating we headed out into the lake again to lift another weather buoy. It was fortunate that the weather was with us because as we brought the cement anchor to the surface there was another anchor wrapped around it!

By the time the anchors were stowed on deck and the chain unraveled  the wind was starting to pick up strength. Just in time to start a night of water sampling.

And so it goes...