The Boiler Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s be real about this one. It’s going to be a long, quiet stretch. The Boiler is an inconsistent reef setup, and over the next 16 days, there’s barely a pulse. The water’s sitting at about average for the time of year, which is small comfort when there’s nothing to ride.

We’re looking at a big gap of nothing. From Friday the 24th of July right through to Sunday the 2nd of August, the surf is basically flat or tiny. Swell heights mostly below 3 feet, with a weak, short-period windswell from the west that just doesn’t have any push. The wind is messy too – mostly cross or cross-on, with moderate breezes. The energy is pathetic, often under 100 (like 1 to 28) for days on end. There’s a little bump on Sunday the 26th of July, with chest-high 4 to 5ft waves from the west, but the period is a short 6 to 7 seconds and the wind is a fresh 18 mph cross-off. It’s a clean-looking surface, but the wave quality is poor. It’s just not going to be any fun.

The only real chance in the whole outlook comes on Monday the 3rd of August. The morning session shows some promise. Swell is a solid 5ft out of the southwest, with a period of 9 seconds and a combined energy of 393 (moderate). That’s enough to get the Boiler’s reef working. The wind is a light 6 mph cross-off from the WNW, which will keep the surface clean. The guidance says the optimum swell direction is southwest, and that’s exactly what’s showing. It’s the one standout – a window of clean, manageable surf for intermediate surfers. Keep in mind this is a reef break, so pay attention to the tide. Crowds are only sometimes an issue here, so you might get a few waves to yourself. After that, the energy drops again.

Then, on Thursday the 6th of August, the morning brings another decent window. We’ve got 4ft swell from the southwest, period of 8 seconds, and a combined energy of 405 (moderate). The wind is a light 9 mph cross-off from the northwest, keeping things clean. Again, the swell direction is right on the money. It’s a repeat of the same kind of setup – a few hours of decent, surfable waves before the afternoon wind picks up and messes it up.

So, bottom line: the first week and a half is a write-off. The only two windows worth paddling out for are the mornings of Monday the 3rd and Thursday the 6th of August. Keep your expectations low, but those mornings could be a little treat.

Rusty.

Read more