BajaNomad

Rip Rap Revisted

Santiago - 4-7-2010 at 01:57 PM

Back in the "flood of '08" I lost my line of small rocks that simply sat on the sand. This winter I had 2 dump truck loads of large rocks/small boulders dumped and a trench dug 16" deep and then the rocks piled up. Well, to be honest the trench started off at 16" but I suspect by the end of the day ended up about 12" deep.
The first photo is from the direction of the water; it hits the green bush and follows the rocks on out to sea.

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The second photo is the downstream end looking upstream. There is still about 4 or 5 feet of wall to build to finish off the curve.
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The water seems to come about 2 times each decade is is not a major wash; maybe about 30-45 minutes of flow,12" deep with enough force to roll rocks that old guys can carry out to the beach. For those of you with more experience in these things, do you think it will hold? Does back filling with smaller rocks, broken concrete/cinder blocks do any good or is sand/dirt OK?

longlegsinlapaz - 4-7-2010 at 02:21 PM

Santiago, if I was building that cute little wall to divert water, I'd be putting cement in between all the rocks from the trench up. Any water meandering it's way past is going to wash the sand/dirt out from under & I believe you're still going to have to be retrieving your rocks off the beach. There are ways to "frost" the the upper rocks together, so that the cement isn't totally obvious.

Just my dos centavos!:saint:

Santiago - 4-7-2010 at 03:02 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by longlegsinlapaz
Santiago, if I was building


"If I were building......."
Sheesh, where's SS when we need her?

I guess my real question is this; if you keep using bigger and bigger rocks, at some point the rocks will be big enough to withstand this sort of flow. I'm wondering if I've reached this yet. I'm guessing by your response you don't think so. Is there a way of grouting from behind (Dennis, please try to control yourself here) so I don't have to remove the upper layers? That ain't happening.

Martyman - 4-7-2010 at 03:23 PM

Damn Santiago;
You're place is starting to look like a mansion. We won't be able to call it "Camp Ghetto" anymore.
Is that big 'ol trimaran still there? Maybe you can incorporate that in the wall.

oladulce - 4-7-2010 at 04:02 PM

I don't know anything about erosion control, but is that the window you were asking "how to cut a hole in a block wall" a while back? Looks good if it is.

longlegsinlapaz - 4-7-2010 at 04:05 PM

I'm afraid to ask....SS?? Super She?;) :lol::lol:

By "if you keep using bigger and bigger rocks, at some point the rocks will be big enough to withstand this sort of flow", did you mean EACH TIME you rebuilt the wall from scratch?:lol: Or did you mean smaller rocks at the base & bigger up top? IMO (did ya notice there was no "H" in there?;)) anything small or loose is going to be washed out from under & you know what a heavy rock does with no visible means of support?? It starts doing this :yes: & before you know it, it does this :tumble:!

Yes, there is a way to grout it from behind....first you hire someone with a stronger back then brain, hand him a shovel & tell him you want the dirt dug out from behind it. Then mix a thinner-than- normal slurry to pour into all the crevices so that it solidifies the base down in the trench. Have a cerveza....just one! Then mix a thicker batch to shove into all the upper crevices. Maybe stronger-back-then-brains could lift a few upper boulders for you to slap some cement under to tie it to the rock below!!:bounce: If a cerveza doesn't entice stronger-back-then-brains, then figure out something that'll get the cement into every crevice you can see....something along the lines of a giant turkey baster!:lol:

Wallah!! You'll have a stronger wall than is currently standing there, it still shouldn't look cemented together & you'll have most of it after the next 100 year flood!:biggrin:

And NO! I'm busy that week-end!:smug:

Santiago - 4-7-2010 at 07:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by oladulce
I don't know anything about erosion control, but is that the window you were asking "how to cut a hole in a block wall" a while back? Looks good if it is.


Yes - this is it. We cut the hole using a 4" grinder on each side of the wall and simply knocked the blocks out. The window is a retro-fit with a very thick 'Brick Mold' frame and worked out really well.

LL: SS = Senior Senora aka O.L. My mother's spirit will not let me say the actual word.

longlegsinlapaz - 4-7-2010 at 07:23 PM

Oh yeah....HER!....I had a senior moment & forgot! I know SS/OL....please don't sic the grammar police on me!:( I was in such a hurry to help you that I blew off all typical proofreading in my rush to hit the post button!!!:saint:

Santiago - 4-7-2010 at 07:37 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by soulpatch
Hey Santiago,
not that I know anything about anything but when water hits a wall and it is not laminar flow it will eddy. Which means it will undercut.


Dude - I got your laminar flow right here.
Maybe some long ladders in front, gunited to the rocks would do it. I think I know where some are.
The problem with the machine is that once started - you couldn't stop it.

Doug/Vamonos - 4-7-2010 at 10:51 PM

Maybe bend that wall a little to the east and take out the lime shed during the next storm. :light:

[Edited on 4-8-2010 by Doug/Vamonos]

Doug/Vamonos - 4-7-2010 at 10:54 PM

I'm heading down in the morning. We'll see how much energy I have...

durrelllrobert - 4-8-2010 at 09:21 AM

Quote:
Maybe some long ladders in front, gunited to the rocks would do it. I think I know where some are.


Wrapping the rocks together, front and rear, with chain link fence would be better. Just like they build walls in rockslide areas on the MX highways:yes::yes: