Boats for Sale in Kentucky

Registration

Kentucky registers boats at the county clerk's office, not at a state agency counter. You can register in your county of residence or the county where the boat is mainly used. All mechanically powered boats used mainly in Kentucky need a registration, and every registration expires on April 30. You can renew online or at the clerk. The online system won't renew a boat if the owner has overdue property tax on any vehicle, and boats are taxed as property in Kentucky, so ask the seller whether the tax is current.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife lists annual registration fees by length: $22.20 under 16 feet, $42.28 for 16 to under 26 feet, and $52.85 for 26 to under 40 feet. Kentucky does not title the outboard motor. Boats registered in another state can be used for up to 60 consecutive days before needing Kentucky registration.

Boater education and age rules

You must be 12 or older to operate a motorboat or PWC of 10 hp or more on public waters. Operators aged 12 through 17 must carry a Kentucky Safe Boating Certificate Card or proof of a NASBLA-approved course. The department lists several approved online courses, including a free BoatUS Foundation course, and runs instructor-led classes. Children under 12 must wear a life jacket in the open part of a boat that is underway.

The lakes

Lake Cumberland, managed by the Corps' Nashville District, is the big draw in the south-central part of the state, with deep clear water and marina fleets heavy on houseboats. Dale Hollow straddles the Tennessee line. In the west, Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley sit on either side of Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. Closer to the cities are Green River Lake, Taylorsville Lake and Cave Run Lake. The Ohio River forms the northern border.

Check the rules before launching on a small public lake. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife limits horsepower or speed on many of them. Some ban gas motors entirely. Others, such as Beaver, Elmer Davis and Kincaid lakes, require boats with motors over 10 hp to stay at idle speed.

Popular boats

Houseboats and big pontoons fit Cumberland's marina culture. Bass and crappie boats dominate Kentucky Lake and Barkley. Jon boats and small aluminum rigs suit the state fishing lakes with motor limits.

Season

Pleasure boating peaks between late spring and early fall. Corps reservoirs change level through the year, so ramp access varies with the season.

Buying tips for Kentucky boats

Ask for the registration certificate and confirm the county. Check whether property tax is paid, because back tax can hold up your renewal. On a houseboat, get a marine survey and ask whether the marina slip goes with the sale. If you plan to fish a small state lake, match the motor to its horsepower limit before you buy.