Hi Craig, I guess the answer to your question boils down to: is it an absolute flat calm - no water motion at all; in which case you could go up to the shore in an M15 and step off. However, if there is any sort of wave action caused by wind; PWCs, motor boats; Canada geese taking off and landing; then the bow of the M15 is going to subject to unnecessary wear - to put it mildly - bouncing up an down on the shore. If it is a sandy shore; probably OK. If it is a rocky shore: No way Jose! .............unless you are willing to suffer gel coat and hull damage. If I anchor out. Boat can move all it wants, in it's element. I row ashore with dinghy, and then carry dinghy up the beach / or rocks / to get it away from the wave action. M15 doesn't get damaged / dinghy might get damaged, over time, but I built it, so I can fix it too. Connie