1st Time at Sea - Page 2

zonker · 04-23-2009, 03:08 PM

Camera:
Waterproof camera is great. We DIDN'T to that initially (DS had one of those pocket cameras that telescope in/out when you turn them on). Dropped. Now, no more telescoping

SECOND camera IS the waterproof one (just like SuzanneGra and JRH have recommended). NO complaints in the least. PS. Taking underwater pics is fun too!

Flashlight:
SureFire makes great tactical lights as well. Get the incandescent head, since it cuts through steam and smoke. LEDs, while more lumens, get bounced back more in that environment. DS has added the LED one for regular use. EVERYONE on the ship really like it. (drawback.. little special high-discharge batteries.. but inexpensive and quite long lasting). Pelican flashlight, previously discussed, takes standard sized batts--AA, I think.

Clothing:
Ever ship is different, but less uniforms and more Work clothes. Plan on discarding them when your Mid returns. You can't get them clean. And you WON'T want them to even TOUCH your washing machine.
Same with the Engineering Mid, although discarding is not an option.. He WON'T be 'clean' for about 7-10 days, no matter how much he scrubs. It's just ground-in stuff. He's not so much dirty as just... stained.

And from the Engineering group, they universally suggest that the Deckies bring more crayons for coloring up there, in case they run out

(ok. that last one I sorta made up)

zonker · 04-23-2009, 03:19 PM

Laundry bags (net/mesh), various sizes..
They are great for 'organizing' piles, and are also really good for keeping 'gifts' together in one place, and easy to grab/pack.

DS ran out of laundry detergent.. I dunno. But that was his story, and he's sticking to it

Baby wipes are a quick way to freshen up without taking a shower, when a little something extra is needed. Works really well for Indoc as well.

Shaving kit (be real, pack LESS in there that you expect to use. you won't )
Deodorant kit (be real, pack MORE in there than you expect to use. It's HOT in the engine room).

KP13Mom · 04-23-2009, 03:36 PM

I was at Costco today and they have the Olympus WP, FP, SP camera in stock.

somerandommid · 04-23-2009, 04:00 PM

For engine i would recommend a pair of good ear muffs (like what you would use at a shooting range). I loved the pair I got and cant believe no one had mentioned them in the sea year lectures that we had every Monday morning.
A good flashlight is a must. I had a surefire G2 (polymer incandescent). If you decide on this flashlight then make sure you have spare batteries.
A leatherman or other type of multi-tool is perfect. It has knife, pliers, and other random things. The engineers really liked the fact that I had one.

KPdadw? · 04-23-2009, 08:07 PM

Which model number on the Olympus water proof camera? Thanks, by the way, son will be a decke!

suzannegra · 04-23-2009, 10:59 PM

This is one model of the camera but there are others:
Olympus Stylus 1030 SW (Silver) Digital camera reviews - CNET Reviews

Re the laundry detergent, my sons ship had plenty of laundry stuff for use in both the officer and crew laundry.

Oh yea, and if he's a deckie, make sure he takes plenty of crayons and knows how to make coffee

Jamzmom · 04-24-2009, 08:58 AM

......and the copy machine...... Deepdraft once sent mine to make copies for kicks.
Poor deckies. They catch it from all sides. Jamz only ever used the blue crayon. No need for a whole box.

deepdraft1 · 04-24-2009, 10:53 AM

snipes.....

Dilbert - The Knack - Engineer

Actually, as I recall the young Jamz was assisting me with that new fangled, confounded machine.. he was good help too.

suzannegra · 04-24-2009, 10:58 AM

deepdraft1---loved the cartoon! Sending it to son, who has "the knack."

KSMarinerdad · 04-24-2009, 10:30 PM

Reagarding flashligts, we opted for a Pelican light that's rechargeable. That way he won't have to carry as many batteries.

KarenLouise · 06-08-2009, 02:00 PM

Can't see where anyone mentioned money....this is on the list I received...any thoughts on how much they NEED, and, how best to carry...I favor no cash of course, but would love to hear thoughts on this.

by the way, I am not really so NEW, as haven't posted in quite a while! glad to be back.

kp2001 · 06-08-2009, 11:13 PM

To be honest you don't need to take that much money. The big key is to have a credit card and to inform the company that your mid will be going to some strange lands.

If they need cash on the ship they can take an advance on their paycheck from the Captain. The officer's on the ship will usually slip the midshipmen a little extra money here and there if they work hard. The only real cash type money I would take is enough to get you to the ship and a few extra days worth for incidentals.

The two things they need for money are: 1)working credit card with billing address the parent's house (and possibly paying the bill too? no? maybe?

) and 2) an ATM card to their bank account.

The reason for billing address being the home is so the bills don't sit there and stack up at school accruing interest while your mid doesn't have access to them. My credit card was plainly told to me to be for "Emergency Use" only.

weski · 06-09-2009, 10:45 PM

Hmm. Is it an emergency when he buys a round at the bar in Guam? That was repaid from his personal account later...

An international phone card is useful, too. They can buy them locally.

suzannegra · 06-10-2009, 11:15 AM

They don't really need much cash, other then for taxi rides to and from airport/ship/etc. As KP2001 said, the cadets can get a cash advance from their ship pay, and I know for a fact my son was given at a minimum $100 at each port from the chief engineer. Re calling card, if you can get their cell phones unlocked so they can buy sim cards in the various countries. They work great and are very cheap and can be used on the ship while in port.

USMMA2009 · 06-11-2009, 12:47 PM

I would definitely have at least a couple hundred dollars on you at all times. Sometimes the ports you travel too are in some really obscure places. For example, I paid about $150 for a cab from Houston to some port on Beaumont to catch a ship. Also, definitely have a credit card as a back up. There were several times when the company (or KP) flew me out to a ship, and it had either left or not arrived yet. Most of the times, the shipping companies will pay up front for the hotel and food, but you never know. They might not pay upfront, or want they will reimburse you either.

Out at sea, you can always get a cash advance from the Captain. Usually the day before pulling into port, the Captain will announce it. And as some people have said before, a lot of times the officers will give you some cash as a "tip", and if you go out with them, 99% of the time the night is on them.