NEW Timber cove launch & use policy explained

That road aint going to last forever. Maybe, just maybe she is going to improve the place. We all know it needs it. So does anyone know just what the situation is as to why she is raising the rates or are you all just hard on people who run a business. I used to think that Albion was a rip off for 35 buck square of dirt until you get on the water.

Albion day use is $5.  Don't have a problem with that.  No extras for driving to the water and no extras for rolling the kayak to the water.  I would do business there any day. 

Not against business owners.  Just against those that have a reasonable fee more than double overnight.  If boats on trailers are causing damage then charge them more.  TC is not the only place raising prices for kayakers it's just the one being talked about right now and the one with the highest increase.  I understand kayak fishing can be an expensive sport but would always opt for more gear that huge use fees.  Many kayakers are budget wise and don't have a boat because of the extra cost with repairs and gas.  Injured vets on fixed incomes and retired folks who have to watch their monies will have to fish less or go to free spots.  I have been out with some who really try to be money wise.  I have paid their $5 or $8 fee so they could fish with me and never blinked an eye.  I am not dropping $46 for 2 so for me it doesn't make sense when there are better choices out there and I can buy lunch afterwards. 

If I was the 1 or 2 times a year fisherman it probably wouldn't bother me as much.  But I like to try new spots and fish often when my body allows.  I am just grateful this wasn't a close by spot that was one of my favorites. 

From the first to last time I was there not one single improvement was made to the place. Just sayin'.


Anyway, we bailed on TC a long time ago because we made the mistake of blowin' it up. Maybe now that everyone else is boycotting it I'll go back once in awhile.   

Ocean Cove is $18 to drive down. I don't know how the other things compare but for $5 extra I get a decent sandy beach, a decent spot to unload my stuff once I drive down, room to stage my stuff before and after fishing. Ocean Cove has no parking on the beach, tight conditions for unloading if it is at all busy. A "beach" that isn't very friendly for moving your kayak to get out of the way while you set up your gear. So is it worth the $5? Maybe, maybe not. At least I think we could agree that you do get something for the extra $5.

Ocean Cove is $18 to drive down. I don't know how the other things compare but for $5 extra I get a decent sandy beach, a decent spot to unload my stuff once I drive down, room to stage my stuff before and after fishing. Ocean Cove has no parking on the beach, tight conditions for unloading if it is at all busy. A "beach" that isn't very friendly for moving your kayak to get out of the way while you set up your gear. So is it worth the $5? Maybe, maybe not. At least I think we could agree that you do get something for the extra $5.

Agreed based on your scenario but compared to staying in Mendo where I can launch for free or pay a total of $5 it's not worth the drive and extra expense.  Have fun on your next adventure there. 

What is the camping rate up to now?

Ocean Cove is $18 to drive down. I don't know how the other things compare but for $5 extra I get a decent sandy beach, a decent spot to unload my stuff once I drive down, room to stage my stuff before and after fishing. Ocean Cove has no parking on the beach, tight conditions for unloading if it is at all busy. A "beach" that isn't very friendly for moving your kayak to get out of the way while you set up your gear. So is it worth the $5? Maybe, maybe not. At least I think we could agree that you do get something for the extra $5.

Agreed based on your scenario but compared to staying in Mendo where I can launch for free or pay a total of $5 it's not worth the drive and extra expense.  Have fun on your next adventure there.

I hope to on saturday. It sounds like TC is farther away for you and closer for me. I love free launching. Everywhere I've launched on the ocean costs money except HMB. I'd love to hear about the free options.

From memory since I haven't been up there yet this year,

There are choices, go where you want.

Stillwater Cove county park, 24hr access
Drop off and haul your gear to the beach say 100 yds, drop off is congested and limited especially on weekends, flat with a few rocky steps to beach level, FREE. change room and bathroom at the beach, nice little beach, if you can find parking on the hiway, iffy on weekends, or park in day use with dayuse fee ($6-8)?

Ft Ross,
day use fee per vehicle drop off near the beach, park up top and the walk, say realistically a bit of a hill and less than 10 min. nice beach, are there bathrooms or outhouses at the beach, I don't remember any. limited access early due to gate opening at ? oclock.

Salt Pt, 24hr access
day use fee per vehicle, fairly close drop off but IMHO a small pita getting to the water there, 50 yds back up to the big parking lot, bathrooms, spray off shower, change rooms. No beach nearby

Ocean Cove IDK anything about I don't go there.

Timber Cove, 24 hr access
15 per vehicle for drive down, drop off right on the beach,  park at the top, 5 minute walk back down, 8 per yak, small beach, not familiar with facilities besides the bathroom that are so-so unless updated since I was there last. Offers camping closer to the beach than any others, camping not so appealing but it is there. Lots of cleanup and improvements have been made in the last few years which speaks more to how bad it was then instead of nice/crappy (your opinion here)  it is now

After having used all these places for many years I'm still gonna use TC, years ago we always used Stillwater for the cost, still a great little beach and launch. 

My comments were not harsh or judgmental; just my opinion regarding the value or lack of value based upon what you actually get for your money.  Any business can charge whatever they like but all customers can decide if they want to pay the price or go to another business.  I'm sure repairing that road is not an easy or cheap project to undertake but raising prices may actually generate less revenue but that simply is not the "customer's" concern.  Brenda has always treated me very well and has been a gracious host.  Her pricing decisions and policies belong to her and I hope they work out well in the long run.  I won 't suggest or support a boycott but will likely make less trips based solely on the new pricing and lack of value.

I can't believe some of the comments here.  Way too harsh, especially the subject can't defend herself.   
I wish she would post a reply and tell her side.

Don't you know how NCKA reacts? We all start making sarcastic remarks only to find out the real truth then we make up.                

Ocean Cove is $18 to drive down. I don't know how the other things compare but for $5 extra I get a decent sandy beach, a decent spot to unload my stuff once I drive down, room to stage my stuff before and after fishing. Ocean Cove has no parking on the beach, tight conditions for unloading if it is at all busy. A "beach" that isn't very friendly for moving your kayak to get out of the way while you set up your gear. So is it worth the $5? Maybe, maybe not. At least I think we could agree that you do get something for the extra $5.

You raise an interesting point.  It seems plausible that she saw that OC beat her to the $18 mark with a lower quality put-in, so no matter what OC set their fees to, she needed to be $5 higher for the higher quality experience.  Seems like she would have done herself a favor to set it at $20, slightly easier to swallow, and now she surely will lose customers.

A question for the legal eagles:  The State of California holds that all waterways belong to the people of our great State, and therefore private landholders must provide a public right-of-way to any rivers or the Ocean that touch or cross their property -- the landowners cannot prevent us from accessing our State owned waters.  This is the same topic as in Malibu and at that surf beach on the SMC.  Does anyone know to what extent that law affects this launch?

Ocean Cove is $18 to drive down. I don't know how the other things compare but for $5 extra I get a decent sandy beach, a decent spot to unload my stuff once I drive down, room to stage my stuff before and after fishing. Ocean Cove has no parking on the beach, tight conditions for unloading if it is at all busy. A "beach" that isn't very friendly for moving your kayak to get out of the way while you set up your gear. So is it worth the $5? Maybe, maybe not. At least I think we could agree that you do get something for the extra $5.

You raise an interesting point.  It seems plausible that she saw that OC beat her to the $18 mark with a lower quality put-in, so no matter what OC set their fees to, she needed to be $5 higher for the higher quality experience.  Seems like she would have done herself a favor to set it at $20, slightly easier to swallow, and now she surely will lose customers.

A question for the legal eagles:  The State of California holds that all waterways belong to the people of our great State, and therefore private landholders must provide a public right-of-way to any rivers or the Ocean that touch or cross their property -- the landowners cannot prevent us from accessing our State owned waters.  This is the same topic as in Malibu and at that surf beach on the SMC.  Does anyone know to what extent that law affects this launch?

Do a google search on Martins Beach..

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=59137.msg667368#msg667368

I can understand the 15 buck launch fee but 8 bucks to "use" your own yak.....I think I'll look around for other options.

I just got off the phone with Brenda. God I love that woman! You can park up top and roll down and back up for 8 bucks. That also gives you all day use of the beach. For an extra 15 you can drive all your shit down( BBQ, Ice Chest, Food, Kids whatever) fish and hang out all day until sunset. Then you have had your full day of use. You can have a fire on the beach. For 23 bucks you guys that are bitching should just stay away. Buy a bottle of Whine and get some cheese and crackers. LOL !!!!!!!!!!!!! BTW business is good according to Brenda. Very brisk and a lot of happy folks. We launched there in the 70's to current.

Thanks Craig for getting to the source for direct info.
8 bucks is not bad for a roll job. TC is the easiest launch from the Fort to Salt Point. SWN is free but...longer roll thru rocks and sand and hilltop parking is limited.