(888) 228-7320 Start my boat donation
Boat Types
MotorboatsSailboatsYachtsFishing boatsPersonal watercraftHouseboatsFloating homesCommercial boatsBoat trailersClassic boatsMarine equipment
Donate by State
All state guides
Tax Benefits
How It Works
How to donate a boatDonation guidesFAQs
About
Our charityWhere your boat goesTestimonialsContact
Call Start donation
A houseboat moored at a floating marina dock on a Kentucky lake at dawn, with fog and forested hills behind

Donate a boat in Kentucky

Kentucky is one of the country's great houseboat states, thanks to Lake Cumberland and Dale Hollow. Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley in the west draw bass anglers from across the South, and the Ohio River runs the northern border.

Start your donation here
Two answers now, the rest takes about three minutes.

Kentucky rules for a boat donation

TITLING AND REGISTRATION AGENCY
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, county clerk offices
Visit the agency site
Titles and registration
Kentucky boat titles and registrations are handled through county clerk offices. Most motorized boats are titled and registered.
Boating rules
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife sets boating and safety rules.
Houseboat marinas
Houseboats on Cumberland and Dale Hollow are usually sold through marina brokers. We work with the marina.
Lost title or registration
The owner on record can usually get a duplicate from Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, county clerk offices. If the boat was never retitled after a sale, or the owner has passed away, tell us and we will point you to the right forms.
Coast Guard documented vessels
Documented boats transfer through the National Vessel Documentation Center with a bill of sale, not a Kentucky title. Some documented boats are also registered with the state for use here.

What Kentucky boat owners call us about

Lake Cumberland houseboats
Shared houseboats whose partners have moved on.
Kentucky Lake bass boats
Tournament boats replaced by newer rigs.
Ohio River cruisers
Cruisers from Louisville and Covington marinas.

Boats we pick up in Kentucky

Houseboats Houseboats on Lake Cumberland and Dale Hollow. Fishing boats Bass boats from Kentucky Lake and Barkley. Motorboats Cruisers and pontoons.
We also pick up every other kind of boat in Kentucky. The types above are just the ones we see most here.
Sailboats Yachts Personal watercraft Floating homes Commercial boats Boat trailers Classic boats Marine equipment

Boating in Kentucky: seasons and storage

The season
Houseboat season peaks in summer; fishing runs spring through fall.
Storage and carrying costs
Houseboats stay in slips year round; trailered boats go into storage. Every month a boat sits unused, those costs keep adding up. Estimate yours.
A typical Kentucky donation
A houseboat on Lake Cumberland or a bass boat on Kentucky Lake. We accept every other kind of boat here too.

Kentucky by region

Pickup works the same across the state. These are the waters we hear about most.

Lake Cumberland
Somerset, Jamestown, and Burnside.
Dale Hollow
On the Tennessee line.
Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley
Land Between the Lakes.
Ohio River
Louisville, Covington, and Owensboro.

Kentucky boat donation questions

Can you take a houseboat on Lake Cumberland?

Often, yes, usually sold through the marina. Call us to talk through it.

Where do I replace a lost Kentucky boat title?

At your county clerk's office.

My houseboat has five owners. Is that a problem?

No. Each owner signs, and we can send forms to all of them.

When is the best time of year to donate a boat in Kentucky?

Late summer or fall, when houseboat marinas renew slip contracts. That said, you can donate any time of year.

State rules change. We confirm current requirements when we handle your paperwork. We do not provide tax or legal advice.

Start your Kentucky boat donation

Takes about three minutes. Your best guesses are fine, or call (888) 228-7320.

BWC Donation: General (guides, states, main pages)

Free pickup by our trusted transport team · We handle title transfer and tax paperwork · No cost to you

OTHER STATES IN THE SOUTHEAST
Florida Georgia North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee All state guides