America’s Boating Club: Over a Century on the Water
Lt Dara Brooks, P

We all know the history of Roger Upton, the Boston Yacht Club and the ultimate formation of the Power Squadron in 1913. What matters for our story now is how that early framework for disciplined, organized training and camaraderie set the tone for future power boaters, creating a model that quickly spread.

Detroit’s Rise As A Boating Mecca

While Boston formalized the idea, Detroit was already building the conditions that would make it a natural home for one of the earliest and most influential squadrons. By the early 1910s, Detroit’s recreational boating culture was already thriving. The transformation of the rough and marshy Hog Island into the tree‑lined canal system called Belle Isle and the availability of locally supplied canoes contributed to this surge in small‑craft activity. The city’s substantial investment in making this transformation and utilizing the vision of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, famed designer of New York City’s Central Park, created an inviting, scenic environment that encouraged Detroiters to take to the water in never-before-seen numbers.

Belle Isle was only one part of a broader waterfront culture. Across the river, sitting on the site of today’s Gabriel Richard Park was Electric Park. An early amusement park with a Ferris wheel, roller coasters, acrobats, a dance hall and waterfront promenades set at the end of three trolley lines, it was an easily accessible destination for leisure activities. Excursion steamers like Ste. Claire and Put‑In‑Bay carried thousands on day trips between Detroit, Belle Isle, Windsor, and Bob‑Lo Island. Together, these attractions created a waterfront that was both accessible and affordable adding to the creation of a vibrant waterfront that kept early Detroiters connected to the water.

Amid this expanding enthusiasm for life on the river, the Detroit Power Squadron, today known as America’s Boating Club Detroit, emerged as a natural extension of the region’s maritime energy. Chartered in 1916, shortly after the formation of the United States Power Squadrons, Detroit quickly became one of the organization’s earliest and most influential squadrons. The city’s booming boating scene provided fertile ground for a group dedicated to seamanship, safety, and education, allowing the Detroit Power Squadron to weave itself into the early maritime fabric of the region for more than a century.

Leaders Emerge

Through the 1920s and 1930s, Detroit Power Squadron grew alongside the city’s vibrant boating culture. Members taught piloting, seamanship, and engine maintenance to a rapidly expanding community of recreational boaters on the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair. These early decades also saw the formation of what would become District 9, with Detroit playing a central role in shaping its educational standards and traditions.

Traditionally, when one thinks of the beginnings of the Detroit Power Squadron, thoughts immediately go to William K. Anderson. Looking a little deeper, even as close as our own membership roster, one will find that Richard S. Gehlert, Sr. was identified as Commander of our organization prior to 1936. He and son, Richard, Jr. were very involved in establishing the foundation of our organization during those early years. Anderson’s legacy was easy to uncover because he left so many records. Gehlert was harder to uncover until I stumbled upon his area of business.

Richard Stephen Gehlert was a pioneer in the coffee, tea and spice industry establishing his business right here in Detroit. A member of many business organizations and associations, he was also a trendsetter. In 1938 Gehlert and his son made an application for a patent on an apparatus related to coffee. Their company ultimately emerged as the Cadillac Coffee Company, which became synonymous with Detroit businesses.

His Boating History & Reputation Lead to Innovation

Though coffee was how he gained his wealth and connections, Gehlert was well known in Great Lakes navigation circles. He made his reputation as an innovator and expert with Liberty Motors, a powerful engine that was used for aviation. When the war broke out, his expert modifications of the engine for maritime use proved to be so reliable and versatile that the Navy adopted it 100% for its service planes.

Later, surplus unfinished engines were modified and ultimately used by Gar Wood and found their way into Miss Detroit II and Miss Detroit III for Gold Cup Competition. They were also tested on Miss America and Miss Detroit Hydroplanes.

This type of leadership and the developing skills of other boaters is why during World War II, Detroit Squadron members contributed so heavily to the national effort by teaching navigation, signaling, and small‑craft handling to civilians preparing for military service. Squadron classrooms and meeting spaces became training grounds for skills urgently needed at the time.

After the War

The postwar years brought a surge in recreational boating, and the Detroit Power Squadron responded with an expanded curriculum that included celestial navigation, weather, marine engines, and advanced piloting. By the 1950s and 1960s, Detroit was one of the largest squadrons in USPS, known for its rigorous instruction and active cruising calendar. The squadron’s newsletter—still a cornerstone of our communications today—emerged during this era as a way to keep members connected across a busy boating season.

The Squadron Evolves With Detroit and the Times

The 1970s and 1980s marked a period of educational leadership and organizational change. Detroit instructors helped refine district‑wide teaching practices, and in 1982, when women were admitted as full USPS members, Detroit was among the first squadrons to welcome women into leadership and instructional roles. This strengthened the squadron’s culture of inclusion and broadened its expertise.

As boating technology evolved in the 1990s and 2000s, Detroit embraced new tools and new audiences. Public boating safety classes reached thousands of first‑time boaters. Vessel Safety Checks became a familiar sight at marinas along the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair. Partnerships with the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, local yacht clubs, and community organizations expanded our presence in the region.

In 2017, the national organization introduced the America’s Boating Club® brand, reflecting a modern, community‑focused mission. Detroit adopted the new identity while continuing to honor its long history as a United States Power Squadron. Today, our courses blend traditional seamanship with modern electronics, environmental stewardship, and hybrid learning formats.

Now in our 110th year, America’s Boating Club Detroit remains committed to the same principles that guided our founders in 1916: skilled instruction, civic service, and camaraderie on the water. From seasoned Great Lakes navigators to families just beginning their boating journey, our members carry forward a legacy built on knowledge, safety, and community.