Captain's
Blog
This is the place for news and casual rants from your webmaster...
RECENT NEWS:
PortKY Rivercast!
For
all you Podcasters, the PortKY.com RiverCast! We'd
like to especially welcome our Anchor, Kendra Redfield.
iTunes users can directly subscribe to the podcast
using this link: SUBSCRIBE
Otherwise, click here to see the video in the QuickTime
format: link
The 4th Episode (November) was posted
on November 13th, 2009.
2010 True Course
Captain's School* :
- OUPV (6-Pack) 56 hours course
Feb 27-28 Sat/Sun 9-6
March 1-5 Mon/Fri 6-10
March 6-7 Sat/Sun 9-6
- OUPV Test
March 10 Wed 5-10
- Towing Endorsement (4 hour course including test)
March 11 Thurs 6-10
- Upgrade to
Masters (24 hour course including test)
March 12-14 Fri-Sun 9-6
- Renewal of
License (8 hour course including test,
in lieu of vessel hours)
March 10 Wed 8-5
Drug testing and a light physical (required
for Renewal as well) will be conducted during the week
of the OUPV classes. The classroom is located at the
St. Mathews Fire Station, 240 Sears St, 40207.
True Course supports the PortKY.com
site, and we welcome them back this year! Here is a link to
an article on this site describing last year's class. For
more information, contact Captain Ron Getter 937-478-1947
or CaptainGetter@TrueCourses.com
We Need Your
Help! The community is very thankful for the
letters some of you wrote supporting the efforts
concerning the no-wake zone for Twelve Mile Island
(below). As of August, we need more! To make it simple,
please download the following form, pass it around
your boating friends and return it via mail (address
on form): UPDATE: Several of us are meeting the first
week of February, 2010 to discuss future efforts--check
back for details.
12_Mile_Petition.pdf (31k)
Miscellaneous Comments
March, 2010
7th: Spring is here, if only for a
few days! We helped celebrate the conclusion of the
PortKY-sponsored Captain's Class (OUPV Portion). These
guys test in a few days, and should all do just fine.
Here is a picture from Captain's Quarters:
February, 2010
28th: I had a chance to meet the Louisville
Captain's Class of 2010 yesterday. Looks like a good
group, and I hope they have as much fun as we did last
year. It was also good to catch up with Capts. Ron
Getter and Dick Devoe from True Courses. This year's
class featured folks from the Louisville/Southern Indiana
area and one student who drove up from Lexington.
26th: Now available: Shirts! See
the "Apparel" link to the left.
19th: Feeling too warm? Take the Polar
Plunge on the 27th! (see Events link to left).
14th: Our last 6" of snow
is melting, and there is another 4" in tomorrow's
forecast. I suspect the river will be up for a while
when all the snow from PA, OH, WV, and IN starts to
melt. With only two months until "Thunder," I've
been asked for suggestions--I decided to type all kinds
of Thunder information into a new "Featured Article" (see
link at left)
13th: Like anything else, this site
has gotten a little expensive. Check out the "Sponsors"
link at left for information on boaters who have helped
us and what you can do. Also, find out how to win a
free hat!
2nd: Time is rapidly closing to reserve
your spot in the 2010 True Courses Captain's School.
If you're sitting on the fence, please commit, as it
is possible the class could cancel. Capt. Ron reports
that their classes to the south of here have been full,
so we're not sure what's different in Louisville this
year.
1st: What better time of year to do
some big tweaks to the site. I'm going to go with the
best of 2009 and make some changes. Gone will be "Advertise
Here", "Slips for Sale/Lease", and "Local Brokers/Services."
When you get right down to it, I started this site
for fun and I have no desire to pursue business interests
within it. Less overhead means more time to see you
on the water! BTW, if you have a slip to lease out
or sell, I'd suggest you go with Craiglist or an ad
in your marina.
January, 2010
23rd: What happened to all the big
boats at the boat show?
10th: A Picture from the Louisville
Yacht Club. Brrrrrrrrrrrr.
6th: I sent notices today
to our Forum members with information on "Party
Cove" and
recent public notices describing the proposed activity.
Please see the Forum for details!
December, 2009
25th: We hope everybody enjoys a Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year!
20th: Pretty quiet this time of year.
Don't forget to check your boat occasionally to make
sure it's OK. If it's in the water, remember to check
the security of your lines and take a peek in the bilge
area to make sure you don't have any small problems
that could turn into big ones!
November, 2009
13th: What perfect weather again: high
60s for the weekend! The "RiverCast" has been updated
for November. link
9th: Wow, what's wrong with this picture?
The bright side is only 158 days until Thunder!
October, 2009
16th: Only 183 days until Thunder Over
Louisville! If you just winterized, you've got something
to look forward to!
6th: I was fortunate to get a
great picture of "Sea Smoke," or steam fog
this morning at the marina as a cool, stable air mass
settled over the warm river waters. I put it on the
front page of the site.
3rd: Recent discussions between
a few tow captains and visitors to our site has generated
a lot of discussion on how to interpret the "Sailing
Lines" on the charts and where to expect commercial
traffic. See the forum and "Local Knowledge" for
updated and more accurate information.
September, 2009
20th: It was a rainy day, but I got
some updates done on the website. Check out "Ask the
Captains" for some new information from the Forum.
Check out "Featured
Articles" for some new additions. After the tragic
explosion and fire at Green Turtle Bay Marina last
week, William Glass had tips for fueling procedures
that we added. I would recommend a refresher for even
our most seasoned boaters.
(Picture attributed to Bob DeGroot,
D.C.H., M/V Spirit Dancer, Seabrook TX)
13th: What a great weekend! Perfect
weather, good company, good boating. I met up with
a few boats from the PortKY River Forum. If you're
not on there, check it out! Also, the RiverCast was
updated today with the 2nd episode. Thanks to LMPD's
Sgt. Glaser for the interview.
4th: Looks like it's shaping-up
to be a nice holiday weekend!
3rd: We filmed the 2nd Edition of the
"PortKY RiverCast" today. Look for it in a few weeks!
August, 2009
26th: I stopped by the Rivercrest Marina
in Madison today. They wanted me to pass along that
their reservations for the Chautauqua are filling up,
so if you'd like a slip please call them ASAP, definitely
before September 10th. Also, they wanted me to pass
along that they are under new ownership (Mike Biles),
and are working hard to improve upon the whole facility.
Gas pumps are 24 hours, and price was $3.19 today for
Regular Unleaded. Their new number is 812-273-9080
or email: rivercrestmarina@verizon.net
16th: Man, talk about a lot of boats!
The river was packed up by 12-Mile Island. Hope everybody
had a good weekend and a good time at the Poker Run.
Who was the idiot who buzzed Cutter's Wharf on Sunday
night going about 60 only 10' off the dock? Call me
conservative, but the rest of us shouldn't have to
share the waterways with such recklessness. I hope
that guy gets a BUI and goes to jail before somebody
gets hurt.
July, 2009
24th: Letters are in the mail--apparently
a certain property owner is suing boaters who have
violated the "No Trespass" area otherwise known as
"Party Cove" at the tip of Six Mile Island. I would
not recommend going in there unless you are in somebody
else's boat. Just kidding, I would stay clear until
the dust settles from this one.
12th: Do you support a local business
that you learned about here? Let them know where
you heard about them and ask them to help support us!
For example, one of our fans just heard about River's
Edge for the first time and went up there and spent
$500. Your comments will help us keep growing! Thank
you.
10th: Did you get your "PortKY.com
River Card"? They've been flying off the shelves!
Thank you for the great response.
5th: Looking forward to hearing
how Madison turned out this year. I was off the 4th
and made it downtown. Rain into the evening kept
most of the boats away, but we had a good ride down
and back and a wonderful view of the fireworks right
off the back of the concert stage.
June, 2009
30th: In case you're not going to Madison
this weekend, the Louisville Waterfront will have fireworks
on the 3rd and 4th. link
29th: George East mentioned that things
have been very busy over at Paradigm Yacht Sales. That
is consistent with reports that the ecomony is showing
signs of a bottom combined with the time of year. Sounds
like people are finally coming off the sidelines.
27th: Lots of boats out for Riverfest!
22nd: Heard that people were chased
out of the cove again as it got a little crazy on Sunday.
Stuff changes quickly...that's where the Forum comes
in handy! Speaking of things changing quickly, a teen
wrote in that we need to update more frequently, as
the above picture has been there almost two weeks.
Sorry, but I'm in my 40's and once a month plus the
little extras when they pop up is about how fast we'll
stay updated for now. And no, I'm not on Twitter yet,
either, but thanks for asking.
17th: We need your help! See the "home"
page for information on making the area behind Twelve
Mile Island a special anchorage no-wake zone.
16th: It appears "Party Cove" is still
in full swing. See Local Knowledge for the latest.
10th: Is your boat ready for the
DTV conversion scheduled for June 12th? I found lots
of new channels when I hooked up my converter box.
Read more: link
1st: How about Genmar, who filed for
bankruptcy protection today. They are the privately
held owners of Aquasport, Carver, Crestliner, Glastron,
Larson, Logic Marine, Lund; Nova, Ranger, Trojan, Wellcraft,
Four Winns, Hydra-Sports, Javelin, Lowe, Seaswirl,
and Stratos. (link)
Holy cow! Followup: They make 20% of all new recreational
boats, and filed due to issues obtaining their flow
of credit. They predict business as usual.
May, 2009
31st: Had a nice day on the water,
but what ever happened to courtesy and wakes. Here's
a picture of a boater operating with little regard
to the guy at anchor he was passing:
29th: I had the opportunity to
talk to a tow boat captain who frequents the Louisville
area in a 150' tow. He had a very interesting perspective
on the interaction between recreational and commercial
vessels in Louisville, and I'm going to incorporate
his advice into the site over the summer. For a preview,
see the Forum.
24th: I jumped in the water on a dare
on Memorial Day. It was 66 degrees! Can't wait 'til
August.
21st: New for the summer! "The Port
KY River Forum." See the home page for info, and
the link is to the left.
20th: Went down to the boat today after
work (10 am) to do some misc. chores. It was perfect
weather with no winds, so you can guess how much
I got done. Debris was light and sporatic, but I did
see a freezer go by with PA registration numbers.
I made it up to River's Edge Marina
for some BBQ wings at their dock. Aaron is the newest
helper there. Also, there are a lot of changes to report
up there. It's much easier to see with their new colors.
They have new 24 hr. fuel pumps, and are installing
carpet and flowerpots on the deck. They still sell
beer and ice (for when you beach), and have an expanded
menu. Tell them what frequency you're calling on when
you radio them. I called them on Ch. 68 about 5 minutes
out, and the wings were almost ready when I got up
there. Expect fuel prices of about $2.80 for the holiday
weekend.
16th: Are you familiar with "Local
Notices (and Special Notices) to Mariners"? These are
put out by the USCG weekly to inform mariners of things
like river closures (think Thunder) and lock repairs.
We have added the link to the "Links/Resources" page,
and would recommending visiting them before your next
voyage: link
13th: Our heavy rains moved up
the Ohio River Valley to West Virginia, where the
news channel showed houses and cars getting washed
into the river. Be careful this weekend, as these items
can foul your running gear.
7th: With the river up 5' from
the heavy rains, this weekend may be a bust on the
river. Stop by the Captain's Quarters for a Mother's
Day brunch and "Art on the River." link
April, 2009
29th: We enjoyed perfect weather for
the Great Steamboat Race! I think the forecast scared
everybody off, but the rain missed us. We arrived just
north of Harrod's Creek a few minutes before the Belle
of Cincinnati, and followed it back to Mile 597 where
it caught up with the Belle of Louisville. The Belle
of Cincinnati looks good, but lacks real steam from
the stacks. No wonder they lost!
21st: Hope you had a good time at Thunder
Over Louisville. The USCG reported on the news that
there were 560 boats anchored out, and we heard a count
of 260 on the radio. Either way, there were a lot of
boats! The weather was incredible. For all the well-equipped
and educated boaters out there, we were again amazed
by how many people were unprepared for the current.
This isn't a lake people!!! I got some good pictures
for my older "Tips
on Anchoring" Featured Article. link
9th: Rick Schal, USCG Aux, just did
a couple Vessel Safety Checks at our marina. He wanted
me to get the word out that the 2009 stickers are in
and that you can call him to get one. link
8th: I've been reading about the tight
lending these days. Banks are getting money to lend,
but are more selective in how they distribute the funds.
With typical lenders, you will find higher rates and
more restrictions regarding age and down payments than
a year ago, even with a great credit store. The good
news is that credit unions are still a good place to
check for a used boat loan, especially under $25,000.
Some of the leading marine lenders are still good for
larger loans. Also, home equity rates are awesome these
days if you decide to go that route. With sales down
a little, this is a great time to find your next boat!
7th: I found a neat boating coffee-table
type book at a local book store (rhymes with "orders").
They had the book "SHIP, Epic Story of Maritime" by
the Smithsonian for $9.99 on sale, buy two get one
free. These are large books full of color pictures
and would make great presents for your nautical friends.
6th: Jerry Hay of Indiana Waterways
tells me that he's made a ton of upgrades to his site,
and he has also added a link to his new site, Illinois
Waterways. You will enjoy his site here: link
5th: Sources from RIYC tell me that
Cutter's Wharf will be open April 23rd. See you there!
March, 2009
26th: Do you plan to trailer your boat
between the Ohio River and other local lakes? Remember
that Zebra muscles are a problem in the Ohio, and authorities
are concerned that they may spread. There are numerous
sources out there that describe actions you should
take. Here is a neat video I came across showing their
effects: Link
25th: Just saw on the news today
a confirmation that the Great Steamboat Race is set
for April 29th. Link
23rd: A few items:
- Coming Soon: Harrods Creek Boat
Harbor. Boat ramp and ship's store next to the Captain's
Quarters Marina. See the Home Page for details.
- Also, It was nice to see public docks
installed at Westport. Saw them on a cruise up
there yesterday.
22nd: Some craziness at the boat ramp
today inspired me to finish the Featured Article "Boating
Courtesy" that I was saving for later.
19th: Do you visit Northern Mississippi
lakes? There is a 3-year trial requiring PFDs for
all boaters in vessels under 26'. Also, PFDs are required
when swimming. The following lakes are under the
new rules: Arkabutla Lake, Sardis Lake, Enid Lake,
and Grenada Lake. Sounds like another opportunity for
over-regulation. Link
18th: I got my Halon Fire Extinguisher
inspected and weighed this morning. I was going downtown
anyway, and was pleasantly surprised to find that it
only cost $2 for the service without the mileage fee.
Do you claim your automatic extinguisher on your insurance
for a deduction? Is so, remember to keep it properly
maintained and inspected so that you don't find yourself
crosswise with your insurance company in the event
of a claim.
14th: Barely a month left until Thunder
Over Lousiville!
13th: I received an email from my 4th-District
Congressman describing in detail how the President's "Cap
and Tax" Energy Tax as part of the 2010 budget
blueprint would affect us. Politics and family finances
aside, the question becomes, "How will this affect
me as a boater?" According to the letter, "The
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Energy Information
Agency (EIA) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT) confirm that the President's "cap and tax" proposal
could increase the price of gasoline by $1.27, bringing
the cost of a gallon to more than three dollars." At
1.0 mpg in a cruiser, that's a direct cost increase
of $1.27 cents per mile. Maybe we could get a tax credit
if we buy a sailboat? Is that in the budget?
February, 2009
22nd: There will soon be eleven new
Captains navigating our local waters! Today was the
last day of testing for the Louisville group attending
the True
Course OUPV/Masters Upgrade Class, with everybody
getting their OUPV and the majority finishing with
the Masters Upgrade and Towing classes. Click here to
see some information about getting the OUPV from a
student's perspective.
Below, a picture of
the "I think we'll all pass the Master's test
tomorrow" celebration.
18th: Only two months until Thunder
Over Louisville 2009. Link
1st: Spring will be here before you
know it. To get you through the final weeks of winter,
consider the Louisville Sail and Power Squadron's "America's
Public Boating Course," starting March 9th. Also,
don't forget about the National Houseboat Expo, which
will be held right here in Louisville Feb. 20-22 (see
Events).
January, 2009
31st: Do you keep your boat in the
water? Just a reminder to check on it occasionally
to make sure the thru-hulls and sea strainers still
have good integrity.
24th: We had a good time at the boat
show Saturday. We saw some old friends, and made some
new ones, too. Pictured below is one of our young fans,
who was the proud recipient of one of our new hats.
This young mariner claims to be the youngest person
in Louisville to have us bookmarked!
23rd: The boat show starts tomorrow--See
you there!
22nd: Keep the sun out of your eyes,
and expand your river wardrobe! Now available are PortKY.com
ballcaps. Here is the link for
instructions on getting one...
17th: I received infomation on the
Louisville Sail and Power Squadron's Boating Safety
class in March. See the Home page for information.
 9th:
People requested a way to hold discussions and post
pictures. Rather than reinvent the wheel, we
have enabled this capability through a Facebook.com Group.
Don't be afraid to join, as you can control your
privacy settings. Log in, create your account, then
come join the "Friends of Port KY" group!
(*See Disclaimer on Home Page)
8th: Have you read about AIS yet?
Long story short: Large commercial vessels transmit
their ID, position, speed vector, destination and other
information. Very cool! You can see live ships in Louisville
here: MarineTraffic.com
7th: The "Captain's Course" starts
a month from today. The beauty of the class is that
it'll take place right in our home town. As of today,
there are nine confirmed attendees with a few more
waiting to confirm their schedules. For more information,
see the home page of this site.
5th: One of my favorite brokers tells
me that the yacht I purchased in '07 for $15,000 under
survey and put $10,000 into is now worth less than
I initially paid for it. I suppose that is consistant
with other investments. If you are concerned that the
value of your boat has decreased, take comfort in the
fact that you are by no means alone. Now is the time
to enjoy your boat and not worry about the numbers.
1st: Happy New Year! Do you have any
New-Years resolutions? I hereby resolve to enjoy the
boat, double-up the payments, and not worry what it's
really worth this year.
If you are looking for boating things
to do during the winter months, remember the Louisville
Boat Show January 24-February 1st. Also, check "Local
Events" (left) for other not-so-local boat shows
(eighteen in all). For our snowbirds, I have included
several Florida and Gulf Coast locations.
December, 2008
25th: Hope Santa treated you well
with some boat stuff! I got a Garmin hat and a pen
that writes underwater. I suppose the pen would come
in handy for plotting a position while going down with
the ship or something.
16th: The temperatures are dropping,
and so goes the river temperature. Do you know how
cold the water is? Even if your only river activity
is to check the power cord at the dock, do you know
what to do if somebody falls in? See the new Feature
on "Hypothermia" under the "Featured
Articles" link to the left. Also, see the "Weather
Info" link for river temps, as provided by the
US Army Corps of Engineers.
15th: RIYC sources indicate that Cutter's
Wharf has closed for the season. See you in the spring!
Still need last minute Christmas ideas? Check the front
page for a small list...
1st: Do you have any really good winter
boating pictures? For December, I'd like to post one
with a boat with Christmas lights. If you have one
you'd like to share, send it in, and I'll let the admiral
pick her favorite for the homepage of this site. Thanks!
November, 2008
30th: I hope you enjoyed a good Thanksgiving!
In the past few weeks, we got the boat winterized and
shrunk-wrapped. I can't help thinking that before we
know it, we'll be at the boat shows then getting ready
for the spring.
As we wrap-up the end of PortKY.com's
first seaon online, I'm happy that this site has grown
to where it is today. The hit-count is up, we have
several regulars and I've met many new people out there
as I've looked for information to help our boaters.
I look forward to your suggestions for the future,
so feel free to use the "Feedback" link above
with your ideas. I'll report back over the winter with
your suggestions...
I recently read an interesting analysis
on aircraft sales. I wish I could remember where I
saw it, but the point was that in the past 30 years,
we have seen a shift from single-income families with
the husbands making the financial decisions to more
of a team approach. In today's times, we have spouses
earning half or more of the family income, so it may
be a much tougher sell for the average middle-class
father to go out and spend or finance a load of money
on a large and expensive toy like an airplane. I can't
help but wonder if the same has happened with boating
and the middle class? I always wonder why we don't
see more families out there.
5th: After Ike finished off what was
left of my old canvas, I was referred to Lee Shultz
of "Yacht 2B Covered" for a canvas job. Lee
did a nice job, so I wanted to put a plug here for
him. He's listed under "Brokers/Services" to
the left.
4th: Found out the hard way that the "underground" place
I keep my runabout jacked their rates by about 10%
effective December 1st. The fact that I had a reservation,
had been quoted a price, and already paid the 1st month's
rent didn't make a difference; I still got hit with
the increase. I wish I had known in time to make other
arrangements.
1st: It was a great day on the water
with the fall colors at their best! Fuel was reported
to be $2.45 upriver on the Indiana side. What a difference
a few months makes! I'm still enjoying the $4.35 stuff
that I last added.
Have you checked your batteries lately?
Here is a picture of one that exploded while cranking
a Crusader 454 block at Rose Island today. The owner
reported that it was a lead/acid type battery that
was hooked up to a converter system. He planned to
top off the water levels later that day, and planned
to replace the ship's batteries next spring, as he
was not complelely sure of the age of the batteries
when he purchased the vessel. Fortunately, the explosion
was contained within the battery box and nobody was
injured.
October, 2008
15th: I came across a great article
written by Rob, the webmaster of Palm Beach Boating
called "Why Boat?" See the Features link
to the left...
12th: The site has seen an average
of 500 unique visitors each month this summer...not
a bad start! I have doubled the number of businesses
listed under "Brokers/Services," and put
an asterisk next to my favorites. This is not a rating
system or paid advertising, but rather an indication
of good customer service that I have experienced.
11th: The meltdown on Wall Street
wasn't the end of the world after all, as was indicated
by a multitude of boats on the water this weekend.
We had a good time out, and were glad to see so many
people enjoying the water.
Sometimes you wonder why the river
gets a bad rap, then there are the times it doesn't
take too much imagination. Below are two pictures taken
at a downtown restaurant today. The water was as nice
as we've seen it--that is, with the exception of the
debris field at the docks at the restaurant--yuck!
September, 2008
27th: We anchored out at Mile 584.
It was a little cool out today, so the delivery pizza
from River's Edge Marina was a hit. The kids had fun
with binoculars trying to spot the "pizza boat," and
Bob showed up in his jet-boat with hot pizzas right
on schedule. Bob wanted me to pass on that they are
very close to getting approval to sell alcohol, and
they plan to offer beers and local wines. Also, you'll
be glad to know that they plan to stay open for the
winter months.
26th: Details are firming up for the
OUPV (6-Pack) Course in Louisville, see the "Home" link
for more information.
22nd: Now we know what happens when
a warm air mass, a cold air mass, and the remnants
of hurricane IKE mix together. Locally, the max wind
was 50 kts. steady with a 74 kt. gust. At least five
boats sank on the Ohio River as a result of the waves
from the winds swamping moored boats, and there is
a lot of bent stainless and ripped canvas that will
require repairs. The Fleur de Lis Regatta for sailors
was cancelled on Sunday morning, and I got a first
hand account from a sailor who had the pleasure of
returning in 40 kt. winds. He reported that the wind
was making spray off the top of the waves. Meanwhile,
our marina filled with boaters whose homes were without
power.
Below is a chart showing the winds
on Sunday the 14th:
2nd: Saw tons of boats out there for
the Labor Day weekend. Hope everybody had a great time!
If you are reading this, you're a serious river boater,
and will be glad to see all the extra boats from the
lakes get winterized next week. Just kidding.
On a more serious note, several salts
out there agree with me that there has been a pretty
good degree of craziness out there. The next Featured
Article will focus on courtesy and how to work with
your fellow boaters. Meanwhile, stay safe, and don't
do anything that would invite a "Courtesy Inspection" from
our friends in uniform.
Lake Cumberland saw a weekend fataility
involving alcohol, a landmass and a fast-moving boat.
Tragic.
August, 2008
18th: There was a drowning in "The
Cove" by Six Mile Island this past weekend. This
is very tragic, and our thoughts and prayers will be
with the families involved.
15th: I got to meet the Conrads, who
purchased River's Edge Marina (Mile 584.6). They have
a nice store set up with their fuel dock with everything
from groceries, snacks, ice cream, pizza, hotdogs and
hot wings to newspapers, marine supplies and bait.
Their information is included under "Marinas & Fuel."
14th: The "Ask the Captains" section
has been updated to reflect the questions we've been
getting in. Send us your questions and we'll see what
we can find out...
12th: George East put together a great
set of tips for operating at night. Check it out under "Featured
Articles "
9th: I stopped for fuel at a Fast-Pay
pump on the river recently, and had the pump shut off
after $75. I needed about 100 gallons, so I swiped
the card every time I reached the 17 gallon limit.
It worked for the first 5 times, then the pump froze.
The work-around at a normal gas station would be to
have an attendent swipe the card inside (or pay cash),
which eliminates the limit. The guy in the boat next
to us was complaining about the $75 limit, also. Following
are some tidbits I have learned about this issue...
- The $75 is a standard credit card
limit, and is equal to the amount a bank will pay
a retailer for fraud. I was lucky to get five hits
off the card before it froze (pump limit), as some
banks freeze the cards after two hits as an anti-fraud
measure.
- Heather's (Mile 589.9) has 24-hour
pumps and is attended 10am-dusk, and an attendent
can override the limit. You'll need to get their
attention if they are launching boats from their
lot.
- Another fuel option is Juniper
Beach (Mile 597.0) at the entrance to Goose Creek.
I spoke to Andy down there today, who told me that
they are affiliated with BP and have much higher
limits for boaters.
7th: Thanks to the two young men who
ran over to help us dock at Heather's today! They appeared
from nowhere, helped us tie off in the gusty wind,
then disappeared. It was much appreciated. A cold front
from the north rushed in some cool, dry air, making
for a great night on the hook.
July, 2008
31st: I just received a copy of Jerry
Hay's "Ohio River Guide Book," which was
updated for 2008. If you plan to do any traveling,
I would highly recommend it as an addition to the government
charts. Jerry has cruised the river many times, and
has provided exactly the kind of information one would
need for planning a trip. See "Links/Resources" to
the left. If you don't know Jerry, he lives locally
and worked for years on the Delta Queen.
31st: See "Local Knowledge" for
updated information on "The Cove" at Six
Mile Island.
29th: Check out the new "Events" link
located to the left. It's pretty myopic as of today,
but I plan to grow the section as I learn of upcoming
events.
28th: We enjoyed a few pizzas at the
dock tonight from "Snappy Tomato" in Prospect.
The driver said they deliver to the Louisville Yacht
Club, Rose Island Yacht Club and Tartan's Landing.
Send me your favorite delivery restaurant and I'll
put it up here.
24th: Both the
House and Senate passed S. 2766, "The Clean
Boating Act of 2008." This restores a long-standing
exemption for recreational boats from permitting
requirements under the Clean Water Act. (Update:
this was signed into law on the 30th.)
10th: We tried Cutter's Wharf (next
to Rose Island and Heather's) last night. Grilled Salmon
was yummy!
5th: Are you familiar with the Federal
Emergency Mooring Buoys as depicted on the charts at
Six Mile Island? Two weekends in a row now, houseboats
on the island have been very close to mooring barges,
and in one case, a houseboat was forced to relocate.
Thirty years of houseboats using the island, and now
this... See the "Local Knowledge" link to
the left for more information.
June, 2008
15th: Father's Day--we went boating,
of course. While parallel parking, I had a breeze off
the dock that necessitated a missed-approach--I'm still
ruined from driving the Axius-equipped Sundancer last
week! A person on the bow would have saved us, but
we didn't plan for the breeze.
9th: I spent a day at the Inner Harbor
in Baltimore. After eating a few crabcakes at Phillips,
I spent $9 for an all day pass for the water taxi.
They run until 11 p.m., and will take you all over
the harbor. While riding to Fell's Point, I ran into
a friend of a friend who was taking their kids for
the same boat ride--small world. If you're down there,
I'd recommend the Aquarium, Fell's Point and Fort McHenry
for an afternoon of sightseeing.
I got to test drive a new Axius-equipped
Sea Ray 330 Sundancer. See my report under "Ask
the Captains" (link to left). Absolutely amazing
technology!
Harrod's Creek Marine Supply has moved
to a great location on River Road in Prospect. See "Resources."
May, 2008
29th: I helped sell a boat today--that
is, I drove across town to see a little ski boat that
I was interested in. There was already somebody there
to see it, so when I got out my flashlight to look
around, the other guy freaked-out and made an offer
on the thing. Next...
We had company in town for the Memorial
Day weekend, and we had everybody out in the boat on
Sunday. The weather was winds calm, 75 degrees, with
a crystal clear sky. I got my first ride in a new 15'
Zodiac rigid-bottom inflatable--everybody needs one!
Rant on: Three boats drove right over our anchor line
at the bow--thanks for not cutting the thing. Also,
thanks to the big Carver that went by everybody 50'
away at max wake attitude. That was especially fun,
but we're glad you got back to your marina in a hurry.
Rant off.
My Axius demo is scheduled for next
month--Can't wait!
There was an OUPV class scheduled
for May in Louisville, but it was cancelled. The biggest
issue seemed to be scheduling issues for attendees
this time of year. I'd like to help set up a class
locally for January '09. Click on the Feedback link
above if you'd like more information. Winter time should
be a great opportunity to talk boats for a week, learn
something new, and knock out the class! Here
is a link to the school...
I removed some old electronics from
the bridge, leaving an extra hole in the panel. Thanks
to both Smokey and the folks at Marine Sales and Service
for ideas on making it look right. I plan to install
a nice little plaque from a trophy shop that will look
like it just came from the factory. Followup--it turned
out great!
Rumor has it that the restaurant at
Heather's will be open in May. I'll see if I can get
confirmation on that one. The new yellow paint indicates
something is happening over there.
On the "Marinas" page, I
had to remove the satellite images with the arrows.
As an alternative, I have linked to TerraServer, where
you can play with the zoom and cruise up and down the
river. Check it out...
My new neighbor at the marina stays
busy with the USCG Auxiliary, and will help provide
us with some good information. Thanks Rick!
April, 2008
As part of this year's Derby celebration,
we got to see the Steamboat Race. First, we motored
downtown to hear some of the calliope music, then we
moved up to Six Mile Island. From there, we could see
the Delta Queen and Belle of Louisville turn around
before they returned downtown for the finish. The Delta
Queen was much faster, but the Belle of Louisville
pulled ahead with an early turn at Six Mile Island.
Pretty sneaky!
I got a few calls recently from friends
asking how to remove oxidation. Sounded like a good
article (see "Ask the Captains)...
15th: Took the shrinkwrap off the
boat!
Thunder Update: Heard that only a
small handful of boats anchored out. Hope everybody
had a safe and enjoyable time!
What's the newest word on the cove
by Six Mile Island? Check the "Local Knowledge" tab
for the latest scoop.
George East is on-board with helping
provide some good articles for the site. His first
will be tips on locking through. George has a wealth
of information to offer us. Thank you, George.
We had a day with the kids off school,
so we visited the "Howard Steamboat Museum" in
Jeffersonville. There was a lot of very interesting
riverboat history over there, and I'd recommend it
for an educational stop. It's been added under the "Links" tab.
I called over to the McAlpine Locks
to ask about their Visitor's Center, and was told that
the new one, with a great view inside the chambers,
should be open the first part of '09. This is the last
part of their construction project
NOTE: The site is still in its infancy,
so there are a few loose ends to clean up. For example,
once some more permissions roll in, I'll be changing
the "Yacht Brokers" tab to read "Brokers/Services," and
will have more local marine businesses listed. I'm
also considering adding an "Events" tab,
so send me your information on things coming up on
the water.
1st of April: I got a letter from
the marina today. A lengthy article, in fact, about
the new joint CG/State Police alcohol policy, dockside
boarding procedures, and tamper proof holding tank
macerator shutoff seals that invoke heavy fines if
moved. Then there was some note about a beaver yanking
my leg or something. April Fool's Day, and they got
me good.
March, 2008
After thinking about launching this
site for over two years, I finally got serious and
created the shell. The objective here is to provide
the types of resources that I wished I could have found
over the years as I started cruising the Louisville
area of the Ohio River.
Over the past few years, I needed
hydrologic and meteorlogical information to make safe
boating decisions. New to the river here, I found it
hard to find information on marinas and where they
were located. It was even harder finding slips for
lease. While I knew about the Captain's Quarters and
Buckheads, I didn't really know what else was available
for a dinner date on the water. Also, as I searched
for the neverending "next boat," I wished
that links to brokers were easier to find.
In November of 2006, I registered
the PortKY.com domain name. No doubt, it's a little
quirky, but it is short and easy to remember. Obviously,
I wish I had done this sooner, but during the past
few years I have learned a lot and met some really
good people along the way. These people have contributed
ideas to help make this site what it is today. This
site is for you, the Louisville area boater, so I welcome
your feedback, information, and suggestions for the
future.
*Disclosure per FTC Regulation:
PortKY.com has received advertising revenue from True
Courses Captain's School
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