Cracked Kayaks get Second Chance at Life: From Paddle Power to Plant Power

Ever wonder what happens to our clear kayaks once they’re no longer seaworthy? Instead of heading to the landfill, we’ve partnered with the BLM at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area to give these kayaks a creative second life – as tiny greenhouses for mangrove saplings! Sunlight floods their transparent hulls, providing the perfect environment for baby mangroves to grow strong before they’re ready to take root along the shoreline.

Mangroves are the ultimate coastal superheroes. Their twisting roots anchor soil, slow waves and buffer storms, even help create new patches of land that give the coastline extra breathing room. Our JILONA launch site is currently undergoing a major conservation effort called the Shoreline Stabilization Project whose main goal is aimed at reducing erosion while enhancing both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. By repurposing our kayaks into mangrove nurseries, we’re turning our old gear into living eco champions, helping to build a greener, more resilient coastline for many generations to come.