Identification & Site Information

•Vessel Name: Evangeline (formerly Zenobia)

•Year of Build: 1869

•Built At: Cowes, Isle of Wight

•Type: Yacht

•Hull Materials: Wood

•Number of Decks: 1

•Length: 61 feet (18.6 meters)

•Beam: 12 feet (3.7 meters)

•Depth: 6 feet (1.8 meters)

•Gross Tonnage: 24 tons

•Final Location: Goat Island, Ontario, Canada

•Official Number: 58826

Vessel Type Description

The Evangeline was a wooden yacht known for its refined design and exceptional craftsmanship, typical of Cowes, Isle of Wight, a hub of yachting culture in the 19th century. Equipped with Screw Propulsion, it was a state-of-the-art leisure vessel, well-suited for coastal and inland cruising. Its single Deck and modest dimensions catered to personal recreation and light cruising.

History

Originally christened Zenobia, the yacht was constructed in 1869 in Cowes, reflecting the expert shipbuilding of its time. After serving in England, the vessel crossed the Atlantic to Canada and was renamed Evangeline.

By 1886, E. Sullivan of Algoma, Ontario, owned the yacht, maintaining it until at least 1895. Ownership later passed to C. & T. C. Sims, also from Algoma, by 1901. The yacht likely operated on the Great Lakes and surrounding waterways, providing private recreation and transportation.

The Evangeline embodied the maritime culture of the era, showcasing the blend of leisure and utility that characterized personal yachts of its class.

Final Disposition

The yacht’s life ended in tragedy when it was destroyed by fire near Goat Island, Ontario. Although the exact cause and circumstances remain unknown, the fire marked the conclusion of the vessel’s storied history. Its loss represents a significant chapter in the maritime history of Ontario.

NOTMARs & Advisories

•Obstructions: There are no specific Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) associated with the Evangeline.

•Advisories: The wreck site does not present known navigational hazards.

Resources & Links

•British Whig (Kingston, ON), July 16, 1884: Historical reference to the yacht under its former name Zenobia and its origins in Cowes.

•Canadian Maritime History Archives: Further documentation of yachts operating in late 19th-century Canadian waters.

Keywords

Evangeline, Zenobia, Yacht, Goat Island, Algoma Ontario, 19th-century maritime history, Wooden yacht, Cowes Isle of Wight, Maritime fire.

Conclusion

The Evangeline was an exemplary yacht of its era, built with the expertise of Cowes shipwrights and repurposed for Canadian waters. From its elegant beginnings as Zenobia to its fiery end at Goat Island, the vessel’s history illustrates the versatility and vulnerability of wooden yachts. The Evangeline remains a part of Ontario’s rich maritime heritage, symbolizing the importance of personal and leisure vessels during the 19th century.