The Boiler Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this stretch is looking pretty grim for a proper paddle. We’ve got The Boiler, a reef setup that’s inconsistent at the best of times, and unfortunately, it’s living up to that reputation over the next 16 days.

The water temp is sitting about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

We kick off on Friday, 21 August, with a small 2ft WSW swell but the wind is a moderate offshore from the NNW. The combined wave energy is weak (75), and the swell period is short at 9 seconds, so the waves will be weak and a bit gutless. It’s clean but very ordinary.

After that, we hit a long dry spell. From Friday afternoon all the way through to Thursday, 27 August, there’s just nothing on offer. The swell drops to tiny, the wind is all over the shop – cross-shore, onshore, and even some strong breezes – and the energy is pitiful. There’s a period of glassy mornings on the 22nd and 23rd, but with swell heights of 1ft and 0.3ft, you’re better off looking at a lake.

The conditions get messy with moderate rain, thunderstorms, and strong cross-onshore winds from the 25th to the 27th. The swell direction is swinging around, but it’s mostly short-period, weak junk.

The one glimmer in this whole outlook is Friday morning, 28 August. A moderate offshore from the NNE sets up, and the swell bumps up to 4ft from the WSW with a modest 7-second period. The combined energy jumps to moderate (277), and the wave comment says "expect good surf conditions." It’s not a monster, but it’s the only time the stars align for a clean session. It’s a stand-out, but it’s a one-hit wonder.

From Saturday, 29 August, the swell gets bigger – up to 7ft – but the wind goes terrible. Strong cross-shore and cross-onshore winds ruin it, and the energy is high (450-489) but the quality is poor. This is more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle-surfing one.

After that, the wind stays ugly, the swell drops back to nothing, and we’re back to tiny, short-period dribble through to the end of the first week of September. The long period swells (14 seconds) on 4 September are there, but at 0.3ft, it’s a non-event.

So, bottom line: if you’re desperate, Friday morning 28 August at The Boiler is your only real shot. The rest of the 16 days? A whole lot of nothing. That’s the way it goes sometimes – forecasts can change, but right now, this is a blank run.

Rusty.

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