Kentucky River Group Cruise to Frankfort October 3-6, 2019

CaspersCruiser

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R-27 Classic
Hull Identification Number
FMLT2709G112
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Cookie
MMSI Number
368203460
This cruise may interest Ranger Tug and Cutwater owners in Kentucky, Indiana or Ohio who would like to bag another river. The objective is to cruise the Kentucky River up to Frankfort, Kentucky and tour the Buffalo Trace bourbon distillery located there. Buffalo Trace is considered one of the top distillery tours in Kentucky and it’s a short distance from the Frankfort Boat Club where we would stay two nights. If we have 10 or more people, the distillery will pick us up.

I’m contemplating organizing a group of four to six boats for the trip. The number of boats is limited by the size of the locks on the Kentucky River and the dock space available at the marina. The planned dates are October 3-6. I know this is short notice, but I do not know my work schedule very far in advance.

Here are the logistics of what I propose. The days of the week are driven by the Friday-Sunday operation of the four locks on the Kentucky River we would have to transit. There is no commercial traffic on the Kentucky River so there will be no delays at the locks related to that. Pleasure craft have top priority!

Thursday October 3rd

Launch at Craigs Creek boat ramp near Warsaw, Kentucky just off the Ohio River a short distance above Markland Lock and Dam. It’s a large ramp with no current and plenty of parking. From there, transit Markland Lock and cruise 16 miles down the Ohio River to the mouth of the Kentucky River at Carrollton, Ky. Then it is four miles up to Kentucky River Lock 1. Anchor for the night just below the lock and dam to be in position to transit the lock when it opens on Friday morning.

Friday October 4th

Transit Lock 1 at 9am sharp and then cruise single ship in trail up the Kentucky River to Frankfort. It is 60 miles from Lock 1 to Frankfort and there are three more locks to transit. The lockmasters will know we are coming and almost certainly have the lock ready for the group upon arrival so I estimate 30 minutes per lock.

Sixty miles and four locks is an aggressive distance and schedule, but I think it’s doable. I may be able to arrange a transit of Lock 1 on Thursday afternoon and that would take pressure off the schedule. Another time pressure relief option is anchoring out another night on Friday close enough to Frankfort to make it there by noon on Saturday.

Saturday October 5th

Tour the distillery and maybe do a boat crawl. There are several good restaurants within walking distance of the Frankfort Boat Club for dinner

Sunday October 6th

Option 1: Load tow rig drivers into my two Honda Pilot SUVs (I live about an hour from Frankfort and can have the vehicles positioned there), drive an hour to the Craig’s Creek boat ramp. Pick up the tow rigs and return to Frankfort and take boats out at the Benson Creek boat ramp at Frankfort.

Option 2: Head back down river to the take out. This option requires getting below Lock 1 that day because the locks are closed at 6:30pm Sunday until the following Friday. It would also require another night anchored below Lock 1. It may be possible to arrange a lock transit on Monday.

I’ve cruised the Kentucky River from the Ohio River to Frankfort twice in my 21’ Sea Ray cuddy. The scenery from the mouth at the Ohio River to Lock 3 is typical river view— wooded shoreline with some farm fields. The river is about 150’ to 200’ wide. There is little to no industrial development. Above Lock 3, the view is very nice with high palisade bluffs.

An unknown is what the river conditions will be. Usually in the fall, the rivers are great for cruising. However, if the remnants of a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico comes up the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys and dumps a bunch of rain, the rivers can go near or above flood stage in short order. In that case, this trip is definitely a no-go.

If this cruise comes together, I’ll check on the possibilities of Thursday and Monday lock transits. The Kentucky River Authority rehabilitated the locks after being closed for a number of years to facilitate tourism. This cruise may appeal to that notion.

Let me know here or by PM if you have any interest or questions.
 
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