Evansville Bend Sail and Power Squadron is a Unit of District 24  of the United  States Power Squadrons. ®.  Many Districts and Squadrons have their own web sites. Be sure to visit the sites and learn more about the Power Squadron experience and the USPS history. "Boating is fun...We'll show you how"  New boater...or experienced boater...expand your boating knowledge.  Take our *FREE  Public Boating Course, America's Boating Course. Evansville Bend also offers these FREE extended boating education couses to the public - America's Boating Course.   The instruction is FREE with a $27 charge for the course manual which can be shared by family members.   Many insurance companies offer a discount on your boat insurance with sucessful passing of the class and exam.  Check with your agent to see if you could quality.   Our next class day/times TBA. Contact our Squadron Education Officer, SEO Karen Rombauer, AP  812-985- 9956. email her at: RKem.rombauer@sbcglobal.net or register/request information by going to our "Public Boating Course" page. Click here for more information about the America's Boating Course on the USPS website. Be sure to take a few minutes and read the Ensign...the Spring Edition of the USPS magazine.  You’ll find interesting articles about USPS squadrons, various acitivites, helpful information on boating and other facinating articles.  Go to the Ensign:  USPS Magazine on-line.  WHO WE ARE:   Evansville Bend is a non-profit organization of boaters in the Evansville, IN - Tri-State Area.  The main purpose of our organization as a member (squadron) of the United States Power Squadron is to provide boating educational classes to the general public and our membership. Many insurance companies offer a discount to their customers for successful completion of this course.  Check with your insurance agent to see if you might qualify for a discount with your insurance company. Go here to see what topics are taught in our FREE Boating Course".. America's Boating Course. Many people take our FREE boating class and then join our squadron; take the additional educational classes; socialize with members at monthly dinner meetings and on-water activities.   It's about fun...but it is also about "safe boating through education." We would love to have you "come aboard"!!  Be sure to look at our Photo Album to see the many activities and fun events our squadron conducts each year.  We are a unit of the United States Power Squadrons and reside in Evansville, Indiana a "river city" on the Ohio River at mile marker 792.5.  We are located in the Southwestern tip of Indiana bordering Kentucky. Click here for map.  LST 325  (Landing Ship, Tank ---- an amphibious vessel designed to land "battle-ready" tanks, troops and supplies directly onto enemy shores during World War II) is now permanently moored on the Ohio River here in Evansville. Many LST's were built here in Evansville on the Ohio River banks. See our "Photo Album" page for pictures of LST 325 and other amphibious vehicles.   PURPOSE OF EVANSVILLE BEND:  There are many reasons to consider in becoming a member of USPS and Evansville Bend Power Squadron.  Foremost, is the EDUCATION aspect for boaters wanting to improve their boating knowledge and skills through our Public Boating course and members through self-taught courses.  Secondly, our squadron has MONTHLY DINNER MEETINGS with a speaker whose topic is related to boating. Thirdly, we like to have FUN at meetings "on-water" and "on- land" activities.  We welcome ALL BOATERS, powerboaters and sailors. FREE CLASSES - Evansville Bend Sail and Power Squadron offers a FREE boating course.  America's Boating Course, each March/April. The classes normally run for 4 to 6 weeks.   Additional Public Boating Courses may be offered this year based upon demand.  As mentioned above, we are offering a Safe Boating Course through the University of Southern Indiana. This is one of our main purposes as a squadron of the United States Power Squadron - to offer FREE boating information and courses to improve the boating knowledge and skills of boaters throughout the United States. MEMBERSHIP - Membership to USPS and Evansville Bend Sail and Power Squadron is by application and is for anyone who shares our common love of boating, has passed one of our public boating courses...America's Boating Course.  People with many years of boating experience can be considered for membership without passing the boating course after review with Squadron Officers. We are also interested in individuals who share the main purpose and objectives of USPS: the education of members, participation in civic programs, and the creation of an atmosphere of friendship and camaraderie among members. Active members must be at least 18 years of age; there are no age considerations for family members. MEMBER BENEFITS -  Members can also take classes and progress through "grade" levels. Each grade levels indicates that you have completed the more advanced boating classes. These classes are: Seamanship, Piloting, Advanced Pilot, Junior Navigation, and Navigation. Elective courses offered include Weather, Marine Electronics, Engine Maintenance, Sail 101 and 102, Cruise Planning and Instructor Development. Click here for more benefits of membership: Member Benefits USPS also has a "Port Captains" programs in many cities.  As you travel the rivers and lakes, you can contact a designated "port captain" for information and assistance.  Our port captain is P/C Ron Riecken who owns and operates Inland Marina. The information is available on the USPS website available to members after logging in to the Port Captain's page. VESSEL SAFETY CHECK - A very important activity to help promote safe boating is our Vessel Safety Check program. Qualified Vessel Examiners from Evansville Bend inspect boats to ensure that required safety equipment is present and in functional condition. The examiners also check for any basic mechanical problems, make sure registration and documentation are current, and offer information on a variety of boating safety issues. Here's a boater's checklist all prudent boaters should use before departure. The VSC is performed free of charge and without any legal obligations or penalties. If a potential problem or violation is discovered, the Examiner will give the boater options and information for correcting it. Vessel Safety Checks are performed periodically. The volunteer examiners are committed to making the waterways safer and will make themselves available to schedule a time and place for the VSC that is convenient for the boater. Vessel Safety Checks can be performed on any kind of watercraft -- from kayaks, canoes, personal watercraft, to large cabin cruisers and sailboats. Boaters that have received the VSC report that the inspection opened their eyes to potential safety hazards that they would have never thought of on their own. The Vessel Safety Checks enable boaters to take command of their own boating safety. A typical Vessel Safety Check takes approximately twenty minutes. At the conclusion of the check, you'll receive a copy of the Vessel Safety Check form and - if your vessel successfully meets all the requirements - a VSC decal will be presented on the spot. To learn where and where the next Vessel Safety Check will take place, or to set-up a time for your inspection (in season), contact P/C Henry Graper, AP mailto:henrygraper@att.net . WE HAVE FUN - Be sure to look at our Photo Album to see the many activities and fun events our squadron conducts each year.   We want to increase our boating knowledge through education and enjoy fellowship with each other, too. Our monthly meetings include a speaker whose topic is normally related to boating or on-water activities.  In addition, we have an annual on-water raft-up/rendezvous, squadron picnic, Fall cook-out, and Holiday Party. HISTORY - Evansville Bend was organized through the efforts of the Kentucky Lake Squadron and District 24. Originally, in 1974 the 11 men in the Evansville, Indiana group who joined USPS were enrolled in the Kentucky Lake Squadron. Today our squadron has grown to nearly 60 members; a unit of District 24. We are extremely proud of our squadron because we  many members are serving on District 24 various committees, and three members have served as District Commander and several others are now serving on various committees. Learn more about Evansville Bend and the United States Power Squadrons.    USPS will be celebrating their 100th Birthday in 2014. Click here to read about our history and mission. A Unit of the United States Power Squadron - Sail and Power Boating - District 24 - Privacy Statement Disclaimer Statement Trademark Statement Host your Web site with Dot5Hosting! ®United States Power Squadrons, USPS, the USPS Ensign, and the Trident Design are Registered Trademarks of United States Power Squadrons, Inc Created by P/C Ronald Eberhart, P  mailto:ron.eberhart@wowway.com Dear fellow boaters.   Please take a few minutes and check-out our website. We encourage you to take a free boating course to increase your boating knowledge and skills.  Many people who take this class join as members and continue their boating knowledge through the many courses we offer.  In addition, we have monthly fellowship dinner meetings with relevant speakers as  well as many on water activities. Cdr. Sam Richey, SN