Shotline Diving

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3D Model Release: Schooner Wells Burt (Built 1873 – Lost 1883)

3D Shipwrecks has released a high-resolution 3D model of the schooner Wells Burt—a landmark example of late-period wooden schooner design on the Great Lakes. Constructed in 1873, she represented near-maximum dimensions for a wooden vessel of her class and era, and incorporated cutting-edge innovations not seen in earlier schooners. Design & Construction Features Loss &…

Screen shot released by 3DShipwrecks

3D Shipwrecks has released a high-resolution 3D model of the schooner Wells Burt—a landmark example of late-period wooden schooner design on the Great Lakes. Constructed in 1873, she represented near-maximum dimensions for a wooden vessel of her class and era, and incorporated cutting-edge innovations not seen in earlier schooners.

Design & Construction Features

  • Wells Burt featured a patented capstan-driven anchor windlass, replacing the traditional ratchet-and-lever systems.
  • Her deck bitts were mounted on deck plates anchored to both the deck and hull, rather than on the bulwarks—demonstrating forward-thinking load distribution strategies.
  • Widely regarded at the time as a “sturdy and well-built” vessel, she served for a decade in coal transport.

Loss & Wreckage

On May 21, 1883, the Wells Burt encountered a violent storm near the south end of Lake Michigan, off Chicago. All 11 crew were lost. It is believed that her coal cargo shifted in the abrupt shallow-water wave action, causing a rapid capsize. Days passed before shoreline wreckage was conclusively identified as hers.

Dive Site & Model Details

Today, the wreck of the Wells Burt lies in accessible depths near Chicago and Hammond, Illinois/Indiana, and is a popular site among technical divers. The wreck is well preserved and offers valuable insights into late 19th-century schooner design.

This 3D photogrammetric model was built from 2,138 30-megapixel images, captured by underwater documentarian Ken Merryman during the 2025 dive season. The model enables full virtual inspection and documentation of the site in high detail.