Can I build my own reef??

[parrysurf]

I am sure it is a bad idea, and also sure I could get a heavy fine......

BUT HYPOTHETICALLY for conversation do you think this could be done....without going to federal pen.

Objective: Rebuild a surf spot that was destroyed when a pier was removed.

Plan: Biodegradable sand bags brought to location with a group of 10+ like minded surfers who casually fill these bags with a mixture of sand and portland cement. A marker is set and the bags are paddled out to the location.
Each weekend sink 100+ bags, and before you know it you will have quite a pile of bags. As a part of this plan some scuba diving to check and adjust placement. I would expect the sand to start naturally gathering on the pile, increasing their effect.

The location in mind is mired in coastal commission denial/limbo, and with the budget crunches we will never see this spot.......unless we rally and go renegade


How stoned is this idea????

[TReMoR]

well.. i have no idea if it would work or not.. but if you never get caught.. then.... you never get caught.. haha. maybe if you have a really discreet way to drag those bags out.. and those 10 surfers keep it all a secret


but actually... is putting sandbags in the ocean a crime in the first place?

[Hang11]

Surely the sandbags would just sink into the sand over time and the reef would disappear?

[the.ronin]

Between this and the "zero gravity bong" I patented sophomore year of college, I think we've got sure winners!

[scsurf]

So I wasn't crazy when I thought I saw a bong float'n by the other day

[tree4]

well good luck with that mate. Bournemouth has had a 'professional' company, experienced 'professional divers' , £2.3 million, 2 years and we still got diddly squat to show for it..

[surfaMIKE]

That is actually a brilliant idea! It will take a crap load of work and you are gonna shed alotta sweat, but it will work, and provided that you are willing to put in the "maintainence" hours every weekend for a while, it will work! Eventually coral and stuff will grow on the cement and you then have a permanent reef!

Why dont you dive at the best breaks in your area and see how those reefs are structured? Just to give you an idea how your reef should look...

Oh by the way, why is it illegal? I would hate to live in your country (especially the USA) because you guys have such stupid laws. I mean please, no pissing on the side of the road? No running around naked on the beach? At my home break there are always people showering naked in the wide open in the showers that are meant for washing off your boards...

[oldgrom]

F that!!!! Go snag some crappy barge,ship,boats and??? and sink em at night where you want a reef to be,,, Or hell hijack one of the many China frieght ships loaded with tons of crap in those cargo containers and dump cargo containers by the butt load then sink the ship deeper,,,, wholah . finaly a good use for all the crapy china import shizz.....

[parrysurf]

Zero gravity bong......brilliant!!

Why would they sink into surrounding sand....I would assume they would only add sand if there was some junk on the bottom!

I am not sure why it is illegal to dump random stuff in the ocean.....? Obvious.

I think making this wave would be a slap at the coastal commission who has been dangling on this project for 10 years.

Oil piers in Ventura is the location I want to do this at...it was a great spot until Mobile took the piers down....they were for sale, but no one would pony up the 100k to keep them around....maintenance/insurance.

The spot had a wave....if we lay the sand bags down the line where the old pier was, it should return the wave. Just not sure of the dynamics the pylons add to the mix. I know 20 people who are into this idea...just need to organize them.

Maybe this is my calling......my way to leave a mark on the community...in a good way.

If I spearhead the rebuild will that make me local??

[brukuns]

Maybe this is my calling......my way to leave a mark on the community...in a good way.

If I spearhead the rebuild will that make me local??

I guess this would be the first stance in history when you can really say "MY WAVE!!".

the idea is awesome, but you have to consider the possibility that it may not work. I will definitely surf the spot if it's done before 6 months from now.

[parrysurf]

I can only hope to put down a bag before then.....no chance of surfing it for a long time. I am gonna source out some bags, and test some portland/sand mixes to see how little cement I can get away with.
R and D phase


mention and some pics from long ago
http://www.surfcrazy.com/stanleys/

good photo and the story of the pier
http://www.surfline.com/surf-report/oil ... 61/travel/

[brukuns]

I can only hope to put down a bag before then.....no chance of surfing it for a long time. I am gonna source out some bags, and test some portland/sand mixes to see how little cement I can get away with.
R and D phase


mention and some pics from long ago
http://www.surfcrazy.com/stanleys/

good photo and the story of the pier
http://www.surfline.com/surf-report/oil ... 61/travel/

dude, what a wonderful break! too bad it's gone.

c'mon man, go ahead with your crazy idea and bring it back to us!

[scars91]

if it goes wrong atleast you tried and plus you will have ten other guys keep you company in the cell.now i read somewhere that some company i think in florida makes artificial reefs out of concrete/cement i dont remember, but they kind of look like a sphere with holes on it

ithttp://www.howtopedia.org/en/How_to_Build_an_Artificial_Reef
i had some crazy ideas for bongs also, also thought of making my closet like smoke proof and making some kind of electric bong that makes all the puff puff for me and getting the room full with THC, its like a futuristic hotbox.but my idea went down hill when my mate told me about vaporizers or whatever you call them

[oldgrom]

Ya tryin to tell me ya guy's don't toke sitin in the line up??? Just cause you don't have a floating bong??

[parrysurf]

we are gonna have a meeting....or a smoke out....call it what you want.

I think I should add some random trash instead of just sand bags....sand bags will not offer the fish much refuge. =]

Those reef balls in florida are more just for fish and coral.....I am more concerned with getting some bottom contour that will stick, and not get trashed by storms. The reefs in that article are more for fish in deeper water....The deep spot for my reef is about 10 feet...about 4 foot pile of junk ought to get the wave popping back up.

The big discussions in our meeting will be materials and shape...I am pushing for an open L shape much like the old pier..it worked once.


Would old tires be a bio-hazard..duh....they would fill with sand and hold nice...and provide nice habitat. A few trucks full of tires and we could have a reef in a week!! How is that littering, when they sink ships for reef material...it is only littering if you do it without a purpose.

[scars91]

yeah i think the tire would be a good idea, or find a way to drive the truck and tire into the spot. and if the cops ask just say you are under the influence of marijuana and there us more if he wants to get high.=]hell im doing more research into this than i have done for school.only if school had subjects on surfing and weedology.

oh by the way after i wrote that comment i did some more reasearch and the whole tire reef thing bad idea.
http://www.sprol.com/?p=362

i think there is a few marine biologists on this forums im sure they could come up with better answers or something.

and i dont get high in the line up at all. for some reason I and high dont do well at any sport that needs a board under my feet.you ever tried riding a mini half pipe after taking some serious hits out of a gas mask, maybe me feel like i lost the strength in my legs

[parrysurf]

Would old tires be a bio-hazard..duh....

Yeah, by my "duh" comment I was stating the obvious, thanks for the link.
....not to mention that hauling tires into the sea might attract some negative attention.

Might have to do late evening, or pre dawn reef building...to stay out of jail something to do on the flat days.

[scars91]

yeah i couldnt exactly make up what the duh was doing in a middle of a sentence. anyways i would totaly offer my hands but i live no where close.hey if you dont live far from the beach you could build a catapult and lunch stuff out of your back yard....

[parrysurf]

It is close to the highway...I could launch them from my truck.

[scars91]

a catapult on the bed of a truck.. its like old/morden age tank.tell me how that goes from prison.=]
dont drop the soap,
not personal experience.