Identification & Site Information

• Name: FRED DAVIDSON
• Official Number: 92302
• Type at Loss: Tug (Towboat)
• Date Built and Launched: 1887
• Builder: J. Storey, Penetang, Ontario
• Original Owner: David Davidson, Collingwood, Ontario
• Vessel Type: Wooden-hulled, single-Deck Tugboat

Construction & Specifications

• Hull Materials: Wood
• Number of Decks: 1
• Length: 62 ft (18.9 m)
• Beam: 15 ft (4.6 m)
• Depth: 7 ft (2.1 m)
• Tonnage: 43 gross tons, 29 net tons

Power & Propulsion

• Propulsion: Screw
• Engine Type: High Pressure (including High-Pressure Non-Condensing – HPNC)
• Cylinders: 1
• Boilers: 1
• Propellers: 1
• Propulsion Notes: 12 x 14″, 10 hp engine built by Jas. Doty

History

The FRED DAVIDSON was a wooden-hulled Tugboat built in 1887 in Penetang, Ontario, by J. Storey for David Davidson of Collingwood, Ontario. Tugs like the FRED DAVIDSON were essential for towing ships, barges, and log rafts in the busy waters of the Great Lakes, particularly in Georgian Bay and Lake Huron. The vessel was equipped with a single-cylinder, high-pressure engine built by Jas. Doty, providing the modest but sufficient power needed for towing operations in the region.

The Tug operated primarily in Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, where it served various industrial needs, likely including assisting in timber transport and supporting larger vessels navigating the narrow waterways and busy ports of the Great Lakes.

Final Disposition

On September 4, 1916, the FRED DAVIDSON encountered a severe storm while navigating north of Pointe au Baril in Georgian Bay, Lake Huron. The Tug Foundered in the storm, resulting in a Total Loss. Fortunately, there were no lives lost in the incident. The vessel’s sinking is a reminder of the unpredictable and often dangerous weather conditions that have claimed many ships on the Great Lakes.

Located By & Date Found

Nil—there are no confirmed reports of the wreck’s recovery or current location.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil—no current navigational advisories or obstructions related to the FRED DAVIDSON wreck site near Pointe au Baril, Georgian Bay.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• Canadian Ship Registers
• Steamboat Era in the Muskokas by Richard Tatley
• C. Patrick Labadie Collection

Conclusion

The FRED DAVIDSON Tugboat represents a key piece of the industrial history of the Great Lakes, particularly in Georgian Bay and Lake Huron, where such vessels were vital for supporting maritime commerce and the timber industry. Though modest in size and power, the FRED DAVIDSON was a workhorse of the region until its untimely loss in a 1916 storm. The survival of her crew in such perilous conditions is a fortunate outcome in the often treacherous waters of the Great Lakes.

Keywords, Categories, and Glossary Terms

• Keywords: FRED DAVIDSON Tug, Lake Huron shipwreck, Georgian Bay Foundered vessel, Collingwood Ontario Tugboat, Pointe au Baril shipwreck, Great Lakes tugboats
• Categories: Lake Huron Shipwrecks, Georgian Bay Maritime History, Wooden Tugboats, Storm-Related Shipwrecks, 19th Century Tugboats
• Glossary Terms:
• Foundered: A maritime term indicating that a vessel sank due to taking on water, often from structural failure or being overwhelmed by weather.
• Screw Propulsion: A type of propulsion system using a rotating screw or propeller to drive the vessel forward.
• High-Pressure Non-Condensing Engine (HPNC): A steam engine type where steam is exhausted directly into the atmosphere after use, common in smaller vessels like tugboats.