WatchKeeper™
 The WatchKeeper™ Buoy is a 1.7 meter diameter buoy ideally suited for monitoring in large lakes, rivers, and coastal waters. The hull used by AXYS Technologies Inc. (AXYS) was designed by Tideland Signal Corporation as a low maintenance, rugged navigation buoy. It is assembled from two main components that are bolted together: the Hull and Superstructure. This design allows the buoy to be easily dismantled for transportation on land or by ship, although the assembled buoy was also designed to fit in a standard shipping container.
The hull and superstructure are yellow in accordance with international standards. The hull is rotationally molded from UV-stabilized polyethelene. Colour is added during the molding process. The buoy is resistant to marine growth, does not corrode and requires no painting. Two stainless steel lifting eyes make it easy to handle during deployment and recovery. The two mooring eyes are also made of stainless steel with a replaceable stainless steel bushings. Reinforced concrete ballast inside the buoy provides stability. Since it is filled with fused polystyrene beads, this buoy is impossible to sink. It is made of non-magnetic materials so that compasses are not affected and it is simple to modify.
AXYS has made some minor modifications in order to accommodate sensors, electronics, and transmitters. The electronics payload and internal sensors are mounted on a watertight drawer in the superstructure allowing easy access during servicing. Batteries are located in the top part of the hull. The buoy, however, still maintains all requirements and features of an internationally-accepted navigation aid.
Many smaller buoy systems are on the market and have been proposed for ODAS use; however, they have proven to be unreliable, under-powered and too small to stand up to nominal wave environments. By contrast, the WatchKeeper™ buoy has the advantages of ample reserve buoyancy, significant power, proven ODAS performance, and high reliability. It is well suited to long term operational use which explains its choice for use in the large Canadian and other Weather Buoy Networks.
The distinct advantages of utilizing a WatchKeeper™ design are:
- Documented Performance as an ODAS buoy
- Meets or exceeds WMO standards
- Navigation light is IALA compliant
- Wave sensor applicable to 0-20m range
- Hundreds of the SB 138 hulls have been installed worldwide
- Excellent cost-effective performance
- Easy to modify as future needs evolve (easily accommodates new sensor payloads)
- Easy to service (modular system design)
- Long serviceable life
- Easily disassembled for transport by truck
- Rugged
- Reserve capacity
- Excellent system component support and service support from established company
Product Documentation
 WatchKeeper™ (PDF,
849 Kb)
For complete details on this product please contact us.
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