If you paddle in your local harbor do you have to pay a launch fee?

[1medic]

Our local (in Santa Cruz. Ca) harbor is going to be enforcing an old launch fee schedule of $10 per launch. It has been free for as long as I can remember to self launch your SUP. It's creating quite a controversy around here.

Anyone out there have to pay money (or not) to paddle in your local harbor ? If so how much do you pay?

[Ichabod Spoonbill]

I launch right next to a boat ramp in Peekskill, NY. If I use the ramp, the friendly attendants will charge me $15. However, there is a beach right next to the ramp where I can launch for free. The beach is strewn with sharp rocks and some industrial rubble, but it's fine if you have good footwear.

I've made friends with the attendants, and they make sure to look out for me. It's not so much of a concern now, but I was glad for it while I was learning windsurfing.

[1tuberider]

No, but we launch at a beach in the harbor. The boat ramp has a fee but I don't think you would have to pay as you are not using the ramp. For us it is still better to use the beach and stay out of the boat traffic. 

[stoneaxe]

Same kind of thing here in Plymouth....$10 to launch from the boat ramp....doesn't matter if you're in/on a kayak or SUP or a 35' sportfisher......walk 50 ' to the beach....free.

The harbor master and his crew are very cool here in Plymouth. They give us an escort for a few miles for the CCBC each year. I've always called them before going out in the winter months in the harbor/bay because they always get calls about a windsurfer who is stranded.... . They now ask callers if it looks like the person is paddling...

[Celeste]

Depends on where I go.  Colombia Island has no beach, but no fee to use the ramp if you do not have a trailer.

Bellehaven also on park land charges $3 a launch with your 10th free.

The water reservoirs all have a use fee.  Not a launch fee per say, but a fee to use the area.  $5 a day or $60 a year.

It is a real mixed bag around here, but if you look, there is usually no need to pay unless you are paddling with someone that wants to launch there.  In that case I usually find a free place and meet them on the water.  Just tie a red balloon to my ponytail and you can not miss me.

[pdxmike]

I always heard there was no such thing as a free launch.

Actually, the boat launch I use in winter when I don't want to get my feet wet is free.   You have to pay (at least in summer) if you park there, though. 

[supthecreek]

I would never pay a "user fee" when paddling in a naturally occurring waterway.
Like the Beatles song "Taxman"

If you drive a car, I'll tax the street,
If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat.
If you get too cold I'll tax the heat,
If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet.

Don't ask me what I want it for
If you don't want to pay some more
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman

I say NO.
If it becomes a financial decision to take the daily paddle... I'm out.
I'll buy the equipment... but I am pretty sure that the waterways are public property.

Think of the effect "user fees" could have on paddling in general.
I say refuse to pay any user fee... find another way in...
And fight the fees at city hall.

1medic --- get all those aging hippies in Santa Cruz to stage an old fashioned "launch in"

Say no.... they will just keep reaching for your wallet... till YOU stop them.

[upwinder]

Wow...

Between the fishos, sailors, SUPers, kayakers, jet ski hoons and other sundries there would be anarchy and blood in the water if our local authorities started charging for ramp access (when they're already charging like wounded bulls for car & trailer parking).

[Salish Salt]

At bigger complexes (w/ ramp, beach, & large park) we'll launch away from the ramp & not pay. 

However, on Puget Sound there are scores of smaller, less used ramps in areas with no nearby water access (due to tall bluffs or private property).  When these spots have facilities including a washdown hose or sometimes warm showers (Phil Simon Park, Possession Beach, Tulalip Bay, or in Winter Bowman Bay, Cornet Bay, CB RV, ...) or its a small local maintained access with a porta potty (English Boom, Cavalero) ~5 bucks is nearly always gladly given.

But mostly we launch nowhere near a boat ramp/fee station. 

Busy dedicated fishing/sporting boat launches with higher fees get avoided generally due to the many other options that avoid traffic.

[Old School]

This just makes me that much more thankful I live where I do.  I almost never use the ramps, as our parks have a beach or at least a opening the mangroves I can launch from, but all the ramps are free, as is parking. 

[bbqSUPer]

Thankfully NC has (usually) nice free public ramps.   When I leave the beach I drive past about five launch sites just for kayaks etc.  The one at the sound in Imerald Isle is really nice.