December, 2010

To our Port KY River Forum Members:

This Just In: Permit Issued for "The Cove"

The Louisville Courier Journal is reporting that the Army Corps of Engineers issued a permit today to the Nugent Sand and Gravel Co. allowing it to expand its operation within "The Cove" in Utica. Reading the article, there are some small victories for boaters, such as:

-Seasonal limits on barge parking in the west side of the cove

-Weekend and holiday restrictions on barge movements

Unfortunately for boaters, barge cleaning will still be permitted during the weekends and holidays. Also according to the article, the maximum number of barges in the area will increase from 10 to 41 during "prime boating season" and 71 during other periods.

You may recall that as of April, Port KY adopted the position that boaters should stay clear of commercial traffic to keep themselves out of harm's way. It appears that the Corps has addressed some of our boaters' safety concerns, while still giving Nugent the green-light to use the facility. Visit the website for future updates, and be sure to track the Port KY River Forum for the latest exchange. You can read the full article here: link

Port KY on Facebook

As you settle-in for the winter, be sure to check out our "Friends of Port KY" page on Facebook. It'll help you remember what your boating friends look like and how much fun you had boating on the river. Feel free to join and share your boating pictures. link

Are You Still on the Water?

While most of us have winterized, there are a few brave souls who are still boating. Their reward for keeping their boats summerized is light river traffic and some great late-season boating on the warm days. If you are out there, be cognizant of the water temperatures. A simple slip could lead to an in-water emergency, so make sure you've thought about what to do.

Capt. Joe Frith of Marinette Dream Cruises, for example, practices cold water drills with his deck hands. While nobody enjoys jumping in 50 degree water, those drills could save somebody in the event of an actual emergency. For some winter planning, visit our site for some tips on dealing with cold water and hypothermia: link

Joe also mentioned that pumpout stations are harder to find this time of year. He found a local company that will service his boat in the slip for a minimal fee. Go to the forum and start a discussion if you'd like more information.

Speaking of the Cold Weather

I'm sure most of you that have boats in the water check them every so often. If you head to the marina this time of year, you'll find it to be much quieter than in the summer. Be sure to let a loved-one know where you're going and when you expect to return just in case of a slip at the marina. Also, look around the docks, and think about how you would get out of the water if you slipped. Are there any ladders nearby? Would somebody hear you if you called for help?

"Missed it by That Much!"

November was a good month for our website, with 99,986 total hits. That put us only 14 hits away from my unstated goal of 100,000 hits in a single month. September marked another peak, with over 1,400 unique visitors.

As we head into the winter, be sure to tell your boating friends to visit our site and invite them to participate in the forum. The forum is getting more active, with 200 members, over 400 topics and 2500 posts. If you haven't seen the new version of the forum, I think you'll like the new features.

For Next Year...

As we head into 2011, we've been making some plans for Port KY activities such as trips and raft-ups. If you have any suggestions for things you'd like to see from us next summer, please send them in using the "Feedback" link at the bottom of this page. Also, visit the Forum for discussion on future plans.

Winter Projects

So far, we're tracking three large winter projects on the Forum. One is the restoration of a 1965 Pembrook Express, another is the restoration of a 103' boat that was rescued from the banks of Utica, and third, we're watching a Pewee Valley resident build a 24' center console from wood in his back yard. Stop by the Forum for more information.

Boat Show

Be sure to make your calendars for January 26-30 for the 2011 Louisville Boat, RV & Sportshow. We're in the process of working with a few local vendors to help distribute our "Port KY River Cards." We'll have more information next month and we'll let you know where you can get them.

And Finally...

Remember that we're sponsoring True Course's Captain School in March. True Courses also plans to offer a renewal for those of you that already have your credential but need the test in lieu of vessel experience. For more information on getting your OUPV or becoming a Master, visit here: link

That's all for now. In closing, I'd especially like to thank our 2010 sponsors who helped fund the site, as well as our 2011 advertisers. You can visit the sponsors page for a complete list. Be sure to thank them for their support of the site when you visit them.

Thanks for visiting the PortKY.com site, and we look forward to seeing you on the water!

Eric Grubb
USCG Licensed Master
Webmaster, PortKY.com

Port KY LLC
P.O. Box 447
Crestwood, KY 40014-0447

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