Boating in Louisville???

[One Less Thing]

I am considering moving from Austin to Louisville. What is the boating scene like? I have seen that there are a few marinas on the Ohio River in town. I have a 340 Dancer. Is the boating good there?

If not, where do people with boats like mine boat in the region? I have done some research on Cumberland Lake and Kentucky Lake. Both look pretty good but kind of far away.

The boating scene will be a significant part of my decision to move so I would appreciate it if anyone who knows, would take the time to post.

Thanks!!!

 

[kpetry]

One Less - There is a vibrant boating scene in Louisville. We moved our boat there from The Chesapeake Bay to be closer to home for us. We are still learning the area, but have met lots of nice people, and hope for more next year. I don't know much about Tx boating, but the river provides lots of places to go. We did a 600 mile trip last year from Pittsburgh. You can check that out here: http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23073

We have our boat on the Indiana side at Admiral's Anchor to avoid having to cross the bridge to get to it - traffic can suck at times. While none of the area marinas compare to what we left on the Bay, they are still very servicable.

Your best source for Louisville boating info is http://www.portky.com/. Check out the forum, as well as the other resources there. Kameroo, who is active on clubsearay, is the webmaster. I'm sure he'll chime in shortly.

I'd encourage you to make the leap to muddier water!

PS - my sig pic was taken at 18 mile island upstream from Louisville.

 

[hmonarch]

Louisville, huh!

Well, hope you join us.

The Ohio is a good body of water to boat on. Lots of large boats and good trips and good marinas.

Lake Cumberland is a lot of fun. From Louisville it is about 2 1/2 hours south. It is a big deep lake with good places to explore. They are having a problem with the dam that has caused the lake level to be lowered significantly but it is still good to boat on. Not sure when the repairs to the dam are to be finished. Lots of marinas.

Dale Hollow Lake is another good choice. It is on the Tennessee and Kentucky border so it 3+ hours south from Louisville. Again, it is big, deep lake. Again, lot of marinas.

Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley are in western Kentucky. Both are extraordinary lakes for boating. They are very big but overall not as deep as Cumberland and Dale Hallow so most people will tell you to that it takes a couple years to get used to them. These two lakes are impoundments of the Tennessee River (Kentucky Lake) and Cumberland River (Lake Barkley). They sit parallel in western Kentucky and the area between the lakes is a hugh recreation area owned by the Tennessee Valley Authority called, oddly enough, The Land Between the Lakes. Again, lots of full service marinas.

There are lots of other smaller lakes but your 340 is made for the larger lakes or the river.

Keep in touch about the move. I'll answer any questions you might have

 

[kpetry]

Louisville, huh!



Lake Cumberland is a lot of fun. From Louisville it is about 2 1/2 hours south.

Dale Hollow Lake is another good choice. It is on the Tennessee and Kentucky border so it 3+ hours south from Louisville.

I'm assuming you are talking about driving times here? He's got a 340, so I don't think he'll be doing much trailering!

 

[hmonarch]

I'm assuming you are talking about driving times here? He's got a 340, so I don't think he'll be doing much trailering!

Good point but he mentioned Lake Cumberland and I don't believe you can lock between the Cumberland River and the lake so if he is going use Lake Cumberland he'll have a slip in a marina or trailer the thing. Yikes!

My brother-in-law purchased a sail boat in Louisville in 2002 and my wife and I took it to him in New Orleans via the Tenn-Tom. The leg of the trip from Louisville to the Tennessee River and Kentucky Lake was long but we had a blast. Of course being under power in a sail boat is nothing like a 340 but it is a long way on the Ohio River.

 

[Kameroo]

Welcome to Louisville!

If you like river boating, do the Ohio and keep your boat close to your house. If you like the 3-hour drive to a weekend getaway, you may like the lakes they mentioned. We like the boat in the river because we can use it anytime, even if it's just for a lunch and quick ride when the kids are in school

The river gets a bad reputation for debris and mud, but you'll find that it is a very nice place to boat in the summer and the water is constantly replenished. Sure, somebody hit a dead cow and died while waterskiing a few years ago, but that doesn't happen every weekend. Those lakes are nice, too. The water is much clearer, but they don't get replenished like the river.

Send me a PM with the part of town you're thinking of moving to, and I can give you some marinas to get you started in your search.

 

[colemancol]

As I had been never at 'Dale Hollow Lake',I am going to explore it in next few days.I have heard many nice information about this lake and its beauty.I am expecting to have lots of fun during my trip.