America's Boating Club Bluegrass

10/15/2026

Your boat may be on the hard for the off-season, but you can keep your skills fresh with our Weather course. Learn how to understand and access marine weather forecasts to be prepared for your next boating trip. With this course, you'll learn about

✅ basic meteorology
✅ U.S. weather systems
✅ weather dynamics fundamentals
✅ National Weather Service forecasting tools

Take our Weather course today and become a weather-wise boater! https://bit.ly/ABCWeather

Weather can make or break a day on the water. Learn how to be weather wise by understanding the basic science of meteorology, plus internet resources, weather apps, etc.

10/14/2026

Elevate your boating experience and save while you do it! 🛥️⚓

When you join America’s Boating Club | United States Power Squadrons®, your membership pays for itself with exclusive savings on and off the water.

🎒 1. Course & Educational Savings: Discounted access to local classes, hands-on boating training, and online courses.

🧭 2. Marine Gear & Navigation Deals: Member-only savings on marine electronics, digital charts, safety gear, and boat equipment.

🛡️ 3. Insurance Rate Savings: Preferred rates on boat, auto, home, and pet insurance through major national carriers.

✈️ 4. Travel & Lifestyle Perks: Exclusive discounts on car rentals, hotel stays, UPS shipping, and medical travel assistance.

Ready to join a community of passionate boaters and unlock these perks today?

📲 Join now: https://americasboatingclub.org/index.php/join

10/12/2026

🚨 Exciting News for America’s Boating Club Members! 🚤🛡️
Safe boating education pays off—literally!

We’re thrilled to announce a brand-new affinity boat insurance program in partnership with Core Insurance Group ⚓
What this means for our members:
🔹 Multi-Carrier Options: Compare coverage tailored to your boat and how you use it.
🔹 Education Discounts: Participating carriers offer savings and credits for completing safety courses. 🔹 Survey Flexibility: Select older vessels (20+ years, under $100k value) may not require a vessel survey, depending on underwriting.

Protecting your boat just got easier and more flexible. Stay tuned as we roll out full access to this new benefit!

📲 Learn more about current member perks: https://portal.americasboatingclub.org/ABC/ABC/News/Member-Benefits.aspx

10/09/2026

Safety first every time you hit the water! 🚤⚓

Whether heading out for early morning fishing or navigating to your favorite hunting spot, staying safe on the boat is what keeps the streak going.

In our latest video, we share essential safety tips, gear checks, and best practices every outdoorsman needs before casting off.

📺 Watch the full guide on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GKvOJZW4L3Q

💬 What’s the one piece of safety gear you never leave the dock without? Let us know in the comments below! 👇

10/07/2026

October is National Hunting & Fishing Month! 🎣🦆

Cold water, heavy gear, early morning low-light navigation, and sudden weather shifts make fall boating unique.

⚓ Essential Fall Safety Checklist:

🛟 Wear Your Life Jacket: Camo and low-profile life jackets fit comfortably over heavy hunting layers.

⚖️ Balance Your Load: Keep decoys, fishing tackle, dogs, and gear low and evenly distributed to prevent capsizing.

📝 Leave a Float Plan: Always tell someone onshore where you are going and when you expect to return.

💡 Check Your Lights: Ensure navigation lights work properly for those early dawn launches.

Stay safe, stay warm, and make every cast and hunt count this October!

🔗 Learn more safe boating tips & find local courses: https://americasboatingclub.org

10/01/2026

It’s fall y’all—time to cozy up with The Ensign’s Fall 2026 issue, which you can read online now!

The fall 2026 issue of The Ensign magazine features stories on a canal cruise through The Netherlands, a boater's 50-year membership in America's Boating Club, a vessel safety check for a U.S. Navy wa

10/01/2026

There’s no better way to expand your boating horizons than with trailering. Especially with limited time, you can haul your boat to new and exciting destinations. Learn to tow, launch, and retrieve your boat like a pro with America's Boating Club | United States Power Squadrons' online seminar Trailering Your Boat. This seminar covers everything you need to know:

✅ Choosing the right trailer, hitch, and tow vehicle
✅ Essential safety checks before and during your trip
✅ The art of towing—maneuver with ease
✅ Boat ramp etiquette for stress-free launch and retrieval
✅ Maintenance tips to keep your equipment in top shape
✅ Key points about registration, titling, and insurance

Take Trailering Your Boat today and be ready to hit the road for your next boating adventure! https://bit.ly/ABCTrailering

Choosing a trailer, tow vehicle, and other gear, how to haul the trailer, launch and retrieve your boat, boat ramp etiquette, trailer maintenance, insurance, and registration. online course

09/28/2026

With no roads to follow, how do you avoid obstacles and get where you want to go on the water? Get the basic skills you need to navigate safely with our online Marine Navigation course.

Learn how to plan your route and follow it for a fun, safe journey. Sign up for Marine Navigation today! https://bit.ly/ABCMarineNav

A complete guide to planning and following a course to reach a destination on the water. Hands-on experience with electronic and paper charts for both coastal and inland waterways.

09/26/2026

Safety first every time you hit the water 🚤⚓️

Whether you're heading out for early morning fishing or navigating to your hunting spot, staying safe on the boat is what keeps the streak going.

In our latest video, we share essential safety tips, gear checks, and best practices every outdoorsman needs before casting off.

👇 Watch the full safety guide on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKvOJZW4L3Q

What's the one piece of safety gear you never leave the dock without? Let us know in the comments! 👇

09/25/2026

WEATHER 101 FOR ADULTS
Bluegrass Chapter had lunch this week with always-interesting WLEX Meteorologist Bill Meck.

09/25/2026

Setting an anchor safely requires the right scope, proper technique, and clear communication from the bow! ⚓

Master foundational boating safety skills with America's Boating Club | United States Power Squadrons 🚤

Find a course or local squadron near you at https://americasboatingclub.org/index.php/join

[Image generated with AI]

09/16/2026

09/06/2026

D/24--D/29 Met at Packard Museum this Week
D/24 and D/29 met September 3 at the Packard Museum, Dayton, OH. The joint meeting and summer district event included a tour of the museum.

09/05/2026

09/01/2026

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES SCOUT ADVENTURE CAMP
The objective of the Boy Scouts Adventure Camp is to assist children with special needs to develop social, personal, and self-concept skills to help them achieve greater self-sufficiency and life skills. The camp runs Sept. 14-18. Contact Ed Ice to volunteer: 502 314 2769 or [email protected]
https://lhcbsa.org/adventure-camp/

08/07/2026

Cordless Engine Cutoff Switches:
Safety Device Every Open Watercraft Should Have

America's Boating Channel®, the video service of America's Boating Club®, has released a new educational video explaining the benefits and proper use of cordless (wireless) engine cutoff switch systems (ECOS).

The video helps recreational boaters understand how cordless engine cutoff switches work, how they differ from traditional engine cutoff lanyards, and why they can encourage greater compliance with engine cutoff switch safety requirements while providing increased freedom of movement at the helm.

Engine cutoff switches are designed to stop a boat's engine if the operator is unexpectedly separated from the helm, helping reduce the risk of runaway vessels and serious injuries. Cordless systems accomplish this by using a wearable electronic fob that communicates with a receiver connected to the boat's engine. If the operator falls overboard or moves beyond the system's operating range, the engine automatically shuts down.

"Whether you use a traditional lanyard or a cordless engine cutoff switch, the important thing is to use an engine cutoff switch every time you operate your boat," said America's Boating Club Chief Commander Mike Wiedel. "This video helps boaters understand how wireless systems work so they can make informed decisions about the safety equipment they use on the water."

The video is available for free viewing at America’s Boating Channel YouTube Channel or on the free on-demand app on Roku or FireTV.

The video discusses the advantages and limitations of cordless syst...

07/22/2026

REMEMBER WHEN: How Boating Gear Has Evolved Over 60 Years

07/17/2026

WOMEN: "Let's Go Sailing"
Sarah Ashley Solie gave a presentation on the Cave Run Sailing Association’s women’s sailing group to members and guests of ABC-Bluegrass. Her presentation included information about the women’s sailing group and how the women at the presentation could join the organization. Administrive Officer Tom Woods presented Sarah Ashley with a donation to CRSA for making the presentation.

06/11/2026

https://sailmagazine.com/diy/seven-essential-knots-for-sailors/?utm_source=omeda&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Email-News0-SAL-UnderSail-Daily&oly_enc_id=6088I7290056G5K

If you didn’t learn knots when you were young, you can still master them with this quick guide to the most common knots a sailor needs.