Santa Cruz harbor parking and launching fees

Sorry if this topic has already been discussed - I searched but was unable to find an answer.  I'm thinking about launching from SC harbor early in the morning but not sure how to pay for the launch.  Do they have unmanned pay stations now?  I have used their parking pay stations before but back then they did not have an option to pay for the launch.  I've also heard about their launch coupons and wonder how one uses it - Perhaps give it to an attendant or drop it off at the harbor office once returning to the harbor?

Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Davefish

pretty laid back there. sometimes there are parking attendants there early or just launch , park and when you return. there will be a reminder to pay. you can pay directly across from the launch. there is an office there. good luck

Find the harbor master and buy a permit. He is usually driving around or at the office which is next to the main launch. Watch where you park they are natzi if you ask me.   

On the west side (what some non-locals call the north, or opposite side from the concrete PB ramp) there is a kiosk as you come down the hill into the harbor right near the new stop sign.  Next to it is a self-pay box, about 1' square and 4' high, light colored.  It has envelopes and a slot to slide them into the box.   $5 to launch, another $5 to park in one of the metered spaces (don't park in the Slip Permit Only spaces marked in white). I asked the attendant, and she said you can park in the metered spaces reserved for Aldo's customers, but there are some others nearby in case there are differing interpretations.  If you pay only the launch fee, you will need to either use one of the two "15 min loading zone" spaces near the kiosk (a bad spot to be pulling your yak out beyond the back of your vehicle, with the traffic coming down a hill and turning -maybe they'll stop and maybe they won't, maybe they'll be gazing at the boats in the harbor or be lost) or just roll your yak a few more yards and feed the meter a couple of quarters or risk getting a ticket while you retrieve your wheels and yak.  I overheard some 6- pack skippers talking and it sounded like the harbormaster (west side near concrete ramp) might relent if you get a ticket and have a reasonable story why you shouldn't have, such as confusing signage, etc., and they sometimes reduce it from $40 to $15.
  Some people roll their kayak down/up the sidewalk to the street where Aldo's is, but it's a confined space around noon and on a weekend full of people, and the exit at the top is iffy -cars can block your way to the street. 
   The harbor rules require you to  pay for launch, and I think they also require to to be able to show proof, by way of the envelope stub, that you have.   One time, the Kiosk woman hiked up the hill after I rolled my yak up the sidewalk after landing  to see if I had paid.
  Remember to have cash for the self-pay, and bring a pencil or pen.  If you're a regular, pick up an extra envelope to be filled out and ready for the next trip, or check out the season passes or other deals to pay for multiple launches.
    I think I'll just count on paying $10 to park and launch on the Kayak Connection Derby day, because street and loading zone parking is going to be busy.
    I don't like having to pay for what we used to get free - and although the Port says it is not supported by tax dollars, I have paid property taxes to them in years past, and my fed and state taxes have helped with tsunami repairs, etc.  But I've mostly put that behind me.   I've found the harbor staff, including the parking
meter man I met the other day, to be reasonable people - I saw him tear up a ticket he was about to put on a car when the people showed up just in the nick of time.  Your experience may vary.
    Another harbor parking note:  parking on the side streets on the east side is by permit only on the weekends and holidays, after 11 am.  Daily and yearly Permits are available, but from the County, not the Harbor, which sells them from an office not near the harbor or from a scooter parked near 16th Ave and the beach after 11 am.

It's $10 to park $5 to launch= $15 total. But if you carpool it's $10 to park and launch. At least that's what I've payed this year.

Thanks Tom for the details.....

Bushy

I paid $15 with my trailer.

Two weeks ago it was $10 parking at the tackle shop and the attendant hit me for another $10 for launching. guess if you have multiple kayaks, like Rob did, its $5 per kayak

Thank you all for the replies, especially Tom for the very detailed info - I can almost picture those situations happening inside my head, although I have never been to the north (west  ) side.  It's good to know there is a self pay box as I prefer to pay before launching if possible.  I can always count on a self pay box as it never closes.  Now if I can only remember to carry exact change with me...

The "light colored box" is dark blue, and there's one at each of the west launches.   
The attendant told me that if all you want to do is park for the whole day, it's $10.  If you have one or two car top vessels, it's $10 to park all day and to launch them.  If you want to feed the meter or park on the street and only launch, it's $5 for one vessel.   The envelope permits cash or check payment.  Today, she said the Aldo's only meters are o.k. to park in with a parking/parking-launch permit.  Yearly and monthly passes are available, I think she said $100 for yearly, $25 monthly.

I think that should sum it all up.....

Super!  Thanks a bunch Tom.