Parking near Cowels in SC

I've been tempted to launch at Cowels beach to cut a bit of length off the trip out to the mile buoy and beyond.  I know there are metered spots right next to it in a couple lots by the Dream Inn, by the rail road tracks and some other spots not far away along the main drag or up behind the taco shop from looking around on google earth.  Could even park at the pier, although a bit of a walk later.  The meters accept some sort of electronic app that I can use for payment, and say they are enforced from 8a-8p.  Would that mean that I can launch at 6, turn on my payment on an app at 8, and be saved a fine?  Or is there something else I'm not aware of, like a 4-hour limit someone said over by Capitola?  Thanks for the advice in advance! 

If it’s the ParkMobile App, it works well for me 👍👍
Can start paying when you need and extend time as well if you’re in range
Careful reading the signs, the LARGE PRINT GIVETH  and the small print taketh away

Park on the wharf and use the public floating dock.  It's even closer to the Mile buoy than Cowell's Beach.  Just past the kayak rental shop n the lerft.

Bushy

Park on the wharf and use the public floating dock.  It's even closer to the Mile buoy than Cowell's Beach.  Just past the kayak rental shop n the lerft.

Bushy

I've been tempted to launch at Cowells beach to cut a bit of length off the trip out to the mile buoy and beyond.  I know there are metered spots right next to it in a couple lots by the Dream Inn, by the rail road tracks and some other spots not far away along the main drag or up behind the taco shop from looking around on google earth.  Could even park at the pier, although a bit of a walk later.  The meters accept some sort of electronic app that I can use for payment, and say they are enforced from 8a-8p.  Would that mean that I can launch at 6, turn on my payment on an app at 8, and be saved a fine?  Or is there something else I'm not aware of, like a 4-hour limit someone said over by Capitola?  Thanks for the advice in advance! 

I can try that, but I recall my Wheeleez being too big to go down to the dock.  I'll go check it out soon and see if my memory was incorrect.  Thanks guys!!!

I can try that, but I recall my Wheeleez being too big to go down to the dock.  I'll go check it out soon and see if my memory was incorrect.  Thanks guys!!!

The ramp down to the floating dock is probably about 6' wide.  Not sure if it's new (I'm a noob)... but it's plenty wide for any cart you can dream up.

Could have been Capitola, memory is fuzzy it's been too long.  But that sounds like a good option, and can have some nice lunch to look forward to afterwards 

TEdski you must be thinking of the SC harbor ramp.  SC Wharf has stairs, not a ramp.  Al, you are right, it's the capitola ramp to floating dock thats super narrow.  Also fyi thinking about it, I believe it's not 'legal' to launch kayaks from cowell's beach.  I think you'd probly get away with it if you tried, but years past that was the word.

bushy

TEdski you must be thinking of the SC harbor ramp.  SC Wharf has stairs, not a ramp.  Al, you are right, it's the capitola ramp to floating dock thats super narrow.  Also fyi thinking about it, I believe it's not 'legal' to launch kayaks from cowell's beach.  I think you'd probly get away with it if you tried, but years past that was the word.

bushy

I sure am!  Thanks for the correction.  Told ya I was noob

Thanks Bushy!  I can carry my X-factor down some stairs pretty easily, not so much the OB or AI.  So I will plan on giving it a shot.  Otherwise i'll go further north when I'm ready for some shore launching.

... I believe it's not 'legal' to launch kayaks from cowell's beach.  I think you'd probly get away with it if you tried, but years past that was the word.

bushy

I've heard that too, but this official-looking site claims it is a "kayak access point"...

https://montereybay.noaa.gov/visitor/kayakaccesspts.html

I've used the floating dock on the Santa Cruz wharf a few times. My two cents are: it is harder to get your kayak up/down at low tide when the floating dock is way lower than the platform at the bottom of the stairs. Sometimes there are sea lions on the dock that you need to contend with.

   If you have help, or are really strong and can lift your kayak over your head (I watched in wonder as someone who once posted on this board did it with a Prowler 15, then came back up and took mine down the same way - and back up with both!), you could use the stairs at the sewer pipe concrete structure at the far west end of Mitchell's cove.  It has a turn or two in it, with handrails that you have to lift your yak high enough to get around the turn.  A couple of flights of stairs.  And you need to check the tides, because the beach below can disappear.   
    Year ago, someone else, who I believe was later banned from this board, posted that he launched off the rocks from near the only house on West Cliff on the ocean side.  Every time I've been by there I can't see how I could safely do it.  Maybe with a small light kayak and minimal gear.
   

I launched from Mitchell’s Cove once. That was one of only 2 times that I have been able to con my older son into hauling my kayak to the launch site—the other time, I launched at 4 mile beach and landed at the harbor. As FT says, the stairs at Mitchell’s Cove are no joke.

Wonder if that also means kayaks and sups...