I am contacting you in reference to some issues that have been reoccurring on the Licking River in regards to practices of the [club name removed]
I was contacted on April 27th by a gentleman who had launched his boat on the Licking River at Frederick’s Landing in Wilder, KY and was unable to freely navigate north past the teams racing boats and escorts boats. I have patrolled the Licking and Ohio Rivers in this area since 2002 and have encountered similar circumstances. I routinely answer questions from the boating public about the activity of the row club on the Licking River. I understand the concerns with wake from pleasure craft and worked an incident years ago where the wake of a pleasure boat caused damage to one of the expensive oars used by the team. I also know there are many pleasure boaters on the water who have contempt for the team and operate recklessly around them. My job is to enforce the laws, keep the peace and make sure the river is as safe as it can be. With this said, I would like to address some of the issues I have encountered while on patrol.
As you are probably aware, rowing vessels have the right-of-way on the water. However, in a narrow channel like the Licking River, all vessels shall keep to the right of center channel (301 KAR 6:030, section 6 (j)). I know there will be uneducated boaters who will overtake on plane and wake the team. I have been waked on a routine basis while on boating stops myself. My goal is to make sure that all have a chance to enjoy the river safely and without impediment.
Another issue has been the “no wake” signs posted/spray-painted on bridge columns. The river is not a “no wake” waterway. The calmness of the river makes it a favorite place for water skiers and tubers as well as the row team. “Rules of the Road” should be followed by all boaters when operating on the river. The signs are confusing to the boaters using the area and illegal to post as they have been. Every boater is responsible for their wake and damage it causes, but only the Department of Fish & Wildlife and U.S. Coast Guard can limit the speed on the river (301 KAR 6:040. Zoning or marking of waterways). I know one of the signs that were produced for the Ohio River in reference to the 300 feet idle zone in front of mooring areas has been altered and posted on the 4th Street bridge column next to the row team’s dock. The 300 feet idle zone only applies to the Ohio River. There remains a state-wide regulation that limits boat speed to idle within 100 feet of the row team’s dock.
I have also given a lot of leeway to the team’s escort boats in the past concerning safety equipment and registration violations. The team’s concern for its safety on the river is justified, but the team itself must follow the same regulations. I have encountered unregistered escort boats, insufficient number of personal floatation devices (or none at all) and no fire extinguishers on escorts boats on numerous occasions. If there are any questions about what equipment the boats need, feel free to contact me directly or visit our website at fw.ky.org.
Again, I would like to reiterate that my concern is for the safe, legal and unimpeded navigation of ALL boaters on the waterways of Kentucky. Please contact me if you have any questions. I would also advise you to make sure your coaches have our hotline number (1-800-25-ALERT) with them while on the river in case of emergency. Finally, I invite you to offer any suggestions you or your coaches have as to how to make the river a safer and more hospitable place to operate. Thank you.
