(Stupid) Sea Year Question

nadofr8dog

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Does KP provide the mids with sometype of suitcase or sea bag for travel during sea year?? If so, is it adequate? If not or no, what is best.

Any thoughts/recommendations appreciated. Many thanks in advance!
 
Man, I know this has been discussed before, but for the life of me cannot find the thread. I even went back individually through about 20 of the forum pages without luck.

Short answer: no, they are not issued anything in regards to luggage. Suggestions in the past range from a heavy duty sea bag to rolling luggage.

Personally I recommend something that is very easy to travel with and you don't mind getting banged around. You need to be able to carry it up a narrow gangway and at the same time possibly travel a little bit of a distance while carrying it (sometimes the port gate is a little bit of a walk to the actual ship)

Hopefully some of the others will post their suggestions and anything they remember from the prior discussion.
 
I thought my DS got his seabag from the NEX... but he could have ordered it online, or gotten it from Army/Navy surplus... there was a lot of activity as he made his preparations. (Dang.. not a stupid question at ALL).

I hope some Mids w/sea year experience will chime in...
not only w/this answer, but also suggestions of the things the took that were great, and things they'd WISH they'd taken.
 
Watch Weight Limits

Our DS was pleased as punch; he filled his sea bag to about 80lbs and got it all in one shot. USAir (any of you as old as I and remember when it was Agony, I mean Allegheny Airlines?) charged him extra for the bag which was okay until he tried to get on the Delta flight and they told him they wouldn't take it all so he had to go buy a 2nd bag (for which they didn't charge extra)! Worked out okay, he and his 80 lbs of stuff (now in 2 bags) made it to their final destination.

Given these rules seem to change usually for the worse) almost randomly, I don't have much better advice than keep the bags around 50 lbs. I know they have books (and for engine folks, metal) to drag along so it doesn't leave too much for other things.

Hopefully, DS will have some advice to post when he returns in November.
 
DD 2 yrs at Sea

Sea Bag from NX can be carried like a back pack. Permanent Marker for name - USMMA

Carry your orders with you and you will NOT have to pay for extra pounds.

She had Sea Bag stuffed, 2 Back packs and one gym-type bag given to her by Pasha Ship: Jean Anne.

Everything she needed for 200 days.....OH Yes, she and sea partner divied up the books needed.
 
Our DS used two sea bags and his KP back pack. The sea bags were not completely full so he put two old pillows in the top just to expand them out.
 
Our DS used two sea bags and his KP back pack. The sea bags were not completely full so he put two old pillows in the top just to expand them out.

Wow! How did he carrry all that by himself? (And why did the seabags need to be "expanded ... out"?

I'm starting to think that a sea bag or backpack and a rolling bag is the way to go if everything cannot be put in one bag. Any feedback on rolling bags?
 
Rolling Bags

Our DS is in Yanitan, China as we speak. Before he left in June, for his first Sea Year experience, my husband and I researched all the travel bags. The best one for our "Deckie" was the largest rolling bag (measured in cubic inches) from REI. REI has the BEST return policy for their items. His computer and other small electronic items went in his backpack.
All his books, clothing, sextant and even his pillow fit into that bag. :thumb:
 
Deckies DO have the additional, bulky items... the sextant being top of that list.

For my DS engineer on his second sea term, his seabag was about 2/3-3/4 full, and he'd put everything in it he thought he'd need. We checked and checked. Apparently, boys can travel light. (Now, there WAS that one Electrical BOOK that should have made it into the bag too ;) )
 
Also IN the bag (expanding this , hopefully not too much off-topic):

Olympus SW-type camera (Shockproof, waterproof to 33 feet):
This one has survived, where several others have not.

Lights:
Pelican (Sealed, waterproof, won't make spark/can be used in hazardous areas)
Although DS really likes SureFire Tactical lights, also sealed/waterproof... The LED is incredibly bright and useful, and bulb can be interchanged with incandescent one... LED wavelength just hilights steam(think car High Beam headlights driving through fog), incandescent one cuts through steam.

Ear protection:
Find Fastenal in your phone book, and see their selection of hearing protection, or look around the internet. The little foam things you can shove in your ear are MOST handy if your sea partner snores :) Or if YOU do, and you want to make sure your sea partner can get some sleep.

And, although none of us smoke, if your Mid is traveling to lands where there is lots of sand or Cherry blossoms, you'd be stunned at how popular/valuable/sought after American cigarettes are... especially the red and white brand. :rolleyes:
 
You never give up the precision instrument, sextant, to an airlines or baggage handler. These are used by the deckies, then given back to KP. Our ds took his sextant on the airplaine in hand, his computer in the backpack with his important papers, passport, books, etc on his back and his ROLLING duffle bag went under the plane. Get the REI duffle bag that rolls. Sorry don't know which one b/c hubby bought it. Their return policy is superb. Rolling duffles and a backpack on the back is the way to go b/c you can be dropped off by a cab and have to walk up to 1 mile to get to the ship. And your ds or dd should NEVER lend out his/her flashlight to anyone on the crew. They should have their own. And you may not get it back or you mat be lost in the dark, literally. We also got our son a steri pen. Not on the list, but hubby and son thought it'd be a great idea to have a super water purifying system with him. It's about as big as a fat marker. Also, son says that the sea list doesn't include enough underwear (or perhaps he thought he'd be able to get away w/ less?). He and sea partner are changing underwear 3 times a day and in Japan one pair of mediocre underwear is $20! :eek3:
 
What never to give up

KP2013dramamama is ABSOLUTELY correct about what NOT to surrender to the airlines!! We live in CA (about 2 hours away from Oakland) and our DS made the decision to leave out of Oakland for his first Sea Year. When he left KP in June for Sea Year/home; the sextant, computer, papers, etc...were on his body for the flight. In fact, the TSA people were facinated with the whole sextant idea!! Who knew??? :shake:
 
Not to get down in the weeds, but REI has a large selection of roller dufflels. DS is a Deckie, how big of a bag do they need - 28" suffice? I know the bigger the bag the more junk one can put in it but at some point they become unmanageable wrt getting through passageways, up and down ladders, etc.

To piggy back on what dblomomkp2013 says, NEVER EVER put anything valuable in checked luggage! This includes prescription medicine. ALWAYS lock your checked suitcase with a TSA lock. True, this will not stop someone who is determined to get into your bag, but it will stop the basic baggage handler who is walking through luggage and looking for a bag that can be, with little or no effort, easily unzipped and quickly rummaged through!
 
"You never give up the precision instrument, sextant, to an airlines or baggage handler. These are used by the deckies, then given back to KP."

When did they start turning the sextant back in? I'm sure we paid for my sons. In fact it's up in his room now.
 
I'm sure we paid for my sons. In fact it's up in his room now.

Yep, it was the same for my son. Although he declined purchasing his and we got a credit after I gave him my old Cassens-Plath ‘sun gun’
 
DS had his duffel weighing 49 lbs after he was finished packing for 1st sea year, just in case the 50lb limit was imposed. Oh,and he used his sports/athletic bag from KP for his duffel.
He did not take the sextant with him, confident that every ship has one. He has passed through the port in our town twice and still insists that he doesn't need it. Thank goodness, he will pass by here 2 more times so he can get it if it turns out that he does need it.
 
sea year bag

DS is using the $30 Walmart bag along with his backpack. I looked online at other bags before choosing the Walmart version. The main reason he went with the Walmart bag is that it is fairly light weight. Also,the price is very attractive for something that will be at the mercy of the airlines.
 
Our son took a large soft sided roller duffle bag with a handle from Cabala’s. He used it for two years and it lasted, but is not in great shape now. The good thing is that it was big enough to carry all his stuff.
 
I don't know when KP started the "Return of the Sextant". I remember asking ds about how much it cost, and he said KP owns it. He's 2013. I don't know if he had the option to buy one or not.
 
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