It depends.
The type of beach and difficulty of access to it makes the boat ramp a much better launch point at two places I go. The dirt “beach” is filled with zillions of other users and, worst of all, the paths to reach it are on switchbacking, narrow foot paths with steel rails on both sides. The entire thing must have been designed to discourage anything but foot traffic with, at most, extremely short boats. I mean WW and similar length. It would be literally impossible to cart or carry even a moderate-length crossover boat on those.
Two years ago I had a run-in with an officious seasonal worker. This guy was telling all paddlers (kayak, canoe, SUP) they were not allowed to use the boat ramp, which was not true. I knew those rules very well, as did other users. I talked to another paddler, whose first words were, “That guy’s an asshole! We had trouble with him last time, too.”
I noticed the same officious know-nothing ignoring people with dogs playing fetch on the ramp (not allowed, and the sign there explicitly stated that), and dogs running loose in the parking lot. Meanwhile, Know Nothing was kissing butt welcoming all the powerboaters. A Good For Nothing, too.
How I dealt with it: Contacted the Parks director and confirmed (in writing) that paddlers were, in fact, allowed to launch from either the ramp or the beach. Our choice, and the ramp was easier for most of us. I said the guy did not know the rules he was supposed to enforce. The director said they had heard complaints about him and would have a general staff meeting to make sure all knew the rules. They probably didn’t want to single out this jerk.
But whatever they did, it worked. That guy avoided eye contact with me from then on, and I never heard or saw him kicking paddlers out of the ramp area again.
BTW, I know what precipitated the guy’s misinformed actions. The previous year (2020, a.k.a. COVID hell), massive hordes of people from more states than I had ever seen there before descended. Some had powerboats, and the big crowds of SUPers tended to come in clusters and hog the ramp. Like taking 20 minutes to put their stuff ON the ramp, chitchat, futilely call their loose dogs, go to the bathroom AFTER putting gear on ramp instead of before, wait for their running-late friends. It was annoying to me but I didn’t complain. The entire year in this tourist-mobbed region was a giant ClFu matter what, so live with it. However, some of the powerboaters certainly complained.
BTW 2: I actually timed how long it took a typical powerboater to launch and how long it took me with my surf ski. Both times were similar. Mr. Know Nothing had claimed that paddlers took longer than powerboats, and I told him during our confrontation that I was just as quick as any powerboater and often faster. I also told the Park director the same thing.
Defend your reasonable use whenever and however you can! But don’t hog any place when it is crowded.
