Gage Deployment Pentwater, MI April 7-11, 2003

Who cares about wave data with a lake this calm?

Because sometimes it does this…

…or this.

Our day started at the boat launch

The R/V Laurentian was in position offshore.

The pod was on the big boat ready to be loaded and deployed.

John readied the Civiltek and worked on the pinger while conducting a pressure test on the gage.

Pressure sensors were installed in the three colored pots.

The directional Civiltek gage was strapped in the cradle in the center of the pod with the pinger.

At last, the gages and sensors were tied down and ready to go in the water.

The pod was placed in Lake Michigan.

The lake was so clear we could see the pod sitting on the bottom.

The dive boat stands by to jet in the legs and take compass reading.

Gage location in Lake Michigan.

The wind picked up and rippled the water surface as we motored back to the channel after deployment.

Non-directional gages were mounted at either ends of the pocket wave absorbers in the channel.

Pat drilled holes for the channel mounted gages.

John took the Seapacs apart…..

..and got them ready for deployment.

Pressure sensors were put into pots….

..the Seapac gage was put in another pot..

…and both were mounted on angle aluminum.

The finished mounts ready for deployment.

Mount and payload were slid over the side into the channel….

…and bolted to the concrete. Aluminum was sawed off flush with pier after bolting.

Two additional gages were deployed in the same manner for a total of three non- directional gages in the channel.

A call from the harbor master revealed that one of the channel gages and mount had been stolen so locks were installed by the Grand Haven Area office folks.

Many thanks to the following people: Jim Selegean, Detroit District Dave Foster and Tom O’Bryan, Grand Haven Area Office Earl Raczkowski, Pentwater Marina Manager Captain and crew of R/V Laurentian Edward Post (photo of Grand Haven storm)