By Jim Hannah
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Floating debris from spring storms is expected to keep boaters off the Ohio River this Memorial Day weekend - the traditional kickoff of the recreational boating season.

Lt. Mike Fields with Kentucky Wildlife and Boating predicts boaters will instead visit one of many lakes in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio.

So many Southwest Ohioans already boat on Kentucky's Cumberland Lake that their watercraft have earned the nickname "The Buckeye Fleet."

There is even a Web site devoted to the topic - www.ohionavy.com.

"It is anticipated the lakes will be very crowded, especially since we seem to get our share of Southwest Ohio boaters," said Fields, who has patrolled Kentucky's waterways for 15 years. "This will be the first 'big hooray' for boaters this year."

Fields said lakes do not pose the same dangers after heavy rains.

There will be virtually no current, and debris quickly sinks to the bottom because the gates to the dams that regulate the lakes will be closed to prevent flooding.

Denny Schalk, manager of the Four Seasons Marina in California, said with more showers and storms forecast Sunday through Tuesday, he suspects many boaters will just stay at home.

"I'm going to tell them to stay in the harbor and party hard," Schalk said.

Fields said one of the biggest dangers is partly submerged debris, such as logs.

"The novice boater tends to stay off the river when it's high," Fields said.

"It is the boater who thinks he knows what he is doing that gets in trouble. The problem is only compounded because if they do get in trouble, they might not find somebody out there to help them."

Kentucky Wildlife and Boating officials say a combination of recreational boaters, a sharp bend in the Ohio River and heavy barge traffic make the waters in front of Cincinnati notorious for maritime accidents.

The only person to drown in a boating accident while wearing life jacket last year in Kentucky died just east of Cincinnati at Meldahl Dam. The victim was one of two fishermen who drowned in May 2003 after their boat overturned.

And Fields said many of the state's most high-profile accidents happen in front of Cincinnati's skyline.

One such incident occurred last summer when a speedboat ran over the top of a smaller pleasure boat leaving Hooters restaurant, on the riverfront in Newport. Seven people in the smaller boat have since recovered, but the owner of the speedboat is awaiting trial on numerous felony charges.

Ten people died in nine wrecks on Kentucky's waterways last year.

Nationally, an average of 95 boating fatalities occur in May, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. July, with an average of 157 deaths, is the most dangerous boating month.

A total number of wrecks reported to Kentucky officials for 2004 was not available. However, there were 87 reportable wrecks in 2003, 80 in 2002 and 76 in 2001. These figures only include accidents in which there was more than $500 in damage or someone was seriously injured or killed.

There has been one accident this year on the Ohio River near Cincinnati. Fields said two people escaped serious injury when a 36-foot-long pleasure craft ran over a 19-foot runabout near Dayton, Ky.

Safety tips

• Wear a life jacket at all times

• Avoid drinking alcohol while operating a boat

• Take a boating safety class

• Get your boat checked for safety and maintenance concerns

• Be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless gas that can harm you whether you're inside or outside a boat.

To register for a boater safety class or schedule a safety inspection of your boat, go to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Web site (http://fw.ky.gov) or the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (http://www.dnr.state.oh.us).

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E-mail jhannah@enquirer.com