Well ... as regards to kayaks and SUP ... first you have to understand that Santa Cruz, CA is a BIG board surfing town and that there is a lot of activity in the water by other users such as "vessels" and "bathers".

In CA ... legally ... a "swimmer" aka "bather" is defined as boards and other floating objects propelled by hands, feet or limbs and includes swimmers, waders and board surfers. If you are not a "swimmer" you are considered a "vessel" and that includes boats, dinghy’s, kayaks and SUP.

All beaches within the city limits are either private beaches, beaches run by the city or state beaches. There are no beaches within the city limits in which a kayak (a "vessel") can be lawfully launched or landed. This is written into the state laws and city ordinances. That isn't to say that it isn't sometimes done. When done it's usually on beaches without a lifeguard presence. At the state and city beaches it is also unlawful for a "vessel" to get within 1000 feet of the beach ... and this is rigorously enforced by the lifeguards ... most notably the beaches surrounding the Santa Cruz Pier.

So ... kayakers preferred to launch from the Santa Cruz Harbor ... where there was paid parking, free launch facilities, easy access ... and was legal.

All was fine until 2012 when SUP took off. Due to the easy access and presence of SUP outfitters at the harbor ... SUP use of the harbor became a problem. Boaters and slip renters complained that SUP folk were impeding boat traffic, weren't obeying rules of the waterway and harbor, were using private docks, obstructing access, launching without a permit or at locations other than ramps in which launching was prohibited etc.

The end result is that the harbor and Coast Guard cracked down on both SUP, kayakers and outfitters. They're basically following the law and treating SUP and kayakers as they do all other vessels and they're putting some enforcement effort into it. Among other requirements SUP folk now have to have a PFD available, use a leash, carry a sound producing device, be accomplished by an adult if under 18, follow rules of the water way and launch rules etc.

None of this was a big deal to kayakers because we already do the stuff that applies to us. What was a big deal was that the harbor now charges launch fees for all human powered craft.

So ... before SUP there already was no place to legally launch or land a kayak within the city limits except within the harbor ... and now the harbor charges a fee to do it. The bottom line for kayakers is that these days we tend to stay away from Santa Cruz all together.

See this for more info: http://www.santacruzharbor.org/documents/SantaCruzHarborPaddlingPresentation_021913.pdf

Ken Blanton

Can you elaborate on the regulations?