Watch a video of our Chili Cook-Out

"Boating is fun...We'll show you how" 

Welcome to the Evansville Bend website!   We are an 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.                         

TAKE OUR NEXT FREE PUBLIC BOATING COURSE:  Our public boating course, America's Boating Course, will begin on Tuesday, February 16th, 6:30pm to 8:30pm at the Emergency Management Agency building, 708 E. Stanley Avenue.  The course will continue through March 23rd.   Go here to for more information and to register!!   The course and instruction if FREE but there is a $25 charge for the course manual.  The manual can be shared by several members of your family.

Many insurance companies offer a discount to their customers for successful completion of their course.  Check with your insurance agent to see if you might qualify for a discount with your insurance company.

In addition, we will conduct an America's Boating Course at the University of Southern Indiana, on 6 Tuesdays, beginning on April 6th continuing through May 11.  The class will be held from 6pm to 8pm.  Location will be the National Guard Armony, 3300 E. Division Street, Room 205.  Registration fee is: $40 and includes the course materials.  This class will be taught by members of the Evansville Bend Power Squadron.  This is course:  NO FIT100. For information about the course, go here.      To register for this course, please go to the USI website.

Want more information about our FREE Boating Course"...go here:  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're located in the Southwestern tip of Indiana bordering Kentucky.  Evansville is widely known for hosting 30 years of unlimited hydroplane racing at our downtown riverfront during our annual "Thunder on the Ohio" event held in August.

In addition, 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.  See a collection of photos from their Summer 2007 trip to Illinois.

(left: Asst. Ed. Officer Henry Graper,Sec/Treas. Janice Elwood, Admin. Officer Karen Rombauer, SEO Steve Wilson, Exec. Officer Sam Richey,Cdr. Richard Rombauer Our "Bridge" Officers - 2009 - 2010

 OUR PURPOSE

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 Power Squadron offers a FREE boating course.  America's Boating Course, each March for four consecutive Tuesdays.  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. 

Many insurance companies give a discount on boat insurance for those who take and pass the test. This is one of our main purposes as a squadron of the United States Power Squadron - offer FREE boating information and courses to improve the boating knowledge and skills of boaters throughout the United States.

Click here for more information for our USPS Public Boating Class...America's Boating Course.

You can also contact our Squadron Education Officer, SEO Steve Wilson, S  812-477-2814 or register/request information on-line by going to our "Public Boating Course" page.

MEMBERSHIP - Membership to USPS and Evansville Bend 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.  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.

People with many years of boating experience can be considered for membership without passing the boating course after review with Squadron Officers.

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 over 75 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 who USPS celebrated it's 90th Birthday in 2004. 

Cdr. Richard Rombauer, P

EVANSVILLE BEND MEMBERS' INVOLVEMENT IN DISTRICT 24

Our squadron is honored to have three past District 24 Commanders:  P/D/C Richard E. Mahrenholz, JN who served as District 24 Commander during the 2007- 2008 watch year. P/D/C Janice Elwood, JN served as District Commander in 2002 - 2003.  P/D/C LeRoy O. Elwood, AP, having served his watch year in 1996 - 1997.   

Sam Richey, SN is serving as Chairman of the Teaching Aids and Vessel Safety Check Committtees.  Other members serving on District committees are P/C John Trapp, AP in the Treasurer's Department as Chairman of the Educational Fund, P/D/C Richard Mahrenholz, JN with Chairman of the Personnel Committee, and P/C Ron Eberhart, P who is serving as Chairman of the Publications, Computer Systems, and Webmaster.

A Unit of the United States Power Squadron -
Sail and Power Boating

- District 24 -

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®United States Power Squadrons, USPS, the USPS Ensign, and the Trident Design are
Registered Trademarks of
United States Power Squadrons, Inc

{Riverfront picture courtesy of John Bennett}

Created by P/C Ronald Eberhart, P mailto:ron.eberhart@wowway.com