Identification & Site Information

  • Name: James Reid (formerly Protector)
  • Other Names: Protector (original name)
  • Vessel Type: Steam Tug / Wrecking Tug
  • Date Built: 1875
  • Builder: Harlan & Hollingsworth
  • Place Built: Wilmington, Delaware, USA
  • Dimensions: Length: 117 feet (35.7 metres) Beam: 23 feet (7 metres) Depth: 14.83 feet (4.5 metres)
  • Registry Number: CAN116398
  • Owners: Reid Wrecking Company (after Canadian Rebuild)
  • Date of Loss: 25 August 1917
  • Final Location: Georgian Bay, off Britt, Ontario
  • Coordinates: 45°42.560’N, 80°43.230’W
  • Depth at Wreck: 21 to 23 metres (70 to 75 feet)

Vessel Type

Steam Tug / Wrecking Tug

Originally launched as the Protector in 1875, this steam-powered Tug was designed for heavy towing and salvage work. These versatile vessels were essential to the maritime economy of the Great Lakes, capable of handling both towing duties and emergency wrecking or salvage operations. After being Rebuilt and re-registered in Canada, she was renamed James Reid, operating under the Reid Wrecking Company.

Description

The James Reid (Protector) had a long career, working as a salvage Tug along the eastern Great Lakes and Georgian Bay. On August 25, 1917, while navigating off Britt, Ontario, the vessel struck a submerged reef near Morden Rock. The collision triggered a catastrophic boiler explosion, likely caused by the sudden cooling of the overheated boiler upon contact with cold water during flooding.

The wreck sank quickly, settling in 75 feet (23 metres) of water about 2 miles offshore.

Final Disposition

  • Cause of Loss: Struck submerged reef, triggering boiler explosion.
  • Condition:
  • Stern section is largely intact.
  • The bow area was heavily damaged by the boiler explosion and subsequent sinking.
  • Depth: 21 to 23 metres (70 to 75 feet)
  • Water Temperature: Cold, typical of Georgian Bay at depth (often below 10°C / 50°F)

Site Description

The James Reid wreck offers a dramatic split personality dive. The Stern section retains much of its original structural form, offering solid points of reference for divers. The bow section, however, is a scattered debris field, evidence of the force of the boiler explosion.

Conditions:

  • Depth: 21 to 23 metres (70 to 75 feet)
  • Visibility: Generally good (7 to 12 metres or 25 to 40 feet), but can drop after storms.
  • Temperature: Cold, requiring at least a 7mm wetsuit (double layer preferred) or drysuit.

Experience Rating

✅ Advanced
This is not a beginner dive. Divers must be prepared for:

  • Cold temperatures at depth
  • Potential for sudden Visibility changes
  • Open water conditions — exposed to all winds
  • Debris field navigation around the broken bow section

Directions to Site

  1. Launch from Britt, Ontario.
  2. Navigate toward the Red Bell Buoy AM2 at Morden Rock.
  3. The wreck lies approximately halfway between Morden Rock and the buoy.

GPS Coordinates: 45°42.560’N, 80°43.230’W

NOTMARs & Advisories

  • No active NOTMARs apply directly to the wreck itself.
  • However, this area is well-known for hidden reefs and rocky shoals, requiring careful navigation.
  • Diver down flag is mandatory, given proximity to boating channels.

Located By & Date Found

  • The wreck has been known to local divers and wreck hunters for decades, appearing in multiple local dive charts and regional dive logs.
  • First documented in print by regional dive clubs in the 1970s.

Current Condition & Accessibility

  • Depth: 21 to 23 metres (70 to 75 feet)
  • Bottom Composition: Rock and sand, with wreckage partially buried in silt
  • Structural Integrity:
  • Stern largely intact
  • Bow destroyed and scattered
  • Special Features:
  • Large machinery remnants (boiler debris)
  • Propeller and rudder still present
  • Exposed sections of the Hull plating are visible in good Visibility

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The James Reid (Protector) offers a compelling mix of history, tragedy, and exploration. The intact Stern preserves the story of her working life, while the chaotic debris field of the bow reminds divers of the dangers of steam-powered navigation on the Great Lakes.

For experienced divers, this wreck is both a historical treasure and a technical challenge, offering both photographic rewards and a fascinating glimpse into early salvage operations and Great Lakes engineering.

Keywords & Categories

James Reid, Protector, Steam Tug, Wrecking Tug, Georgian Bay Shipwreck, Britt Wreck, Morden Rock, Great Lakes Shipwreck, Boiler Explosion, Advanced Dive Site, Historical Diving, Great Lakes History