IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

• Vessel Name: Gunilda
• Type: Steel-Hulled Pleasure Yacht
• Builder: Ramage & Ferguson, Leith, Scotland
• Designer: Cox & King
• Year Built: 1897
• Original Owner: William Harkness, Cleveland, Ohio
• Dimensions: Length: 195 feet (59.44 meters) Beam: 24.7 feet (7.53 meters) Depth: 14.2 feet (4.33 meters)
• Gross Tonnage: 385
• Net Tonnage: 158
• Engine: Triple Expansion Steam Engine
  • Cylinders: 15-inch, 24-inch, and 39-inch diameters
• Propulsion Manufacturer: Ramage & Ferguson
• Final Location:
• Off McGarvey Shoal, near Rossport, Ontario, Lake Superior
• Coordinates: 48° 47.20’ N, 87° 25.21’ W
• Depth: Approximately 260 feet (79 meters)

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The Gunilda was a steel pleasure yacht designed for luxury cruising. Built by Ramage & Ferguson in 1897, the yacht embodied opulence and engineering excellence. It was equipped with state-of-the-art accommodations and advanced steam propulsion, reflective of its owner’s status and wealth. With a sleek, steel-hulled design, it was a standout vessel in the late 19th-century yachting community.

The yacht’s triple expansion engine ensured efficiency and power, allowing the vessel to navigate with both grace and reliability. It was purpose-built for affluent leisure, particularly for cruising the Great Lakes and other expansive waterways.

HISTORY

The Gunilda was commissioned by William Harkness, a wealthy industrialist from Cleveland, Ohio. Harkness intended the yacht for pleasure cruises, bringing it to the Great Lakes in 1910. The following year, in August 1911, the yacht embarked on a voyage along Lake Superior’s north shore—a region renowned for its rugged beauty and treacherous waters.

On August 11, 1911, the Gunilda ran aground on a rock pinnacle at McGarvey Shoal, near Rossport, Ontario. Attempts to salvage the vessel were poorly executed, culminating in the yacht capsizing and sinking to its final resting place at a depth of 260 feet. Despite its luxurious appointments and advanced design, the Gunilda was not insured, making the loss a substantial financial blow.

TRAGEDIES & DIVER INCIDENTS

The Gunilda has claimed lives beyond its sinking:

• 1975: A diver perished while exploring the wreck, likely due to the depth and challenging dive conditions.
• 1989: Another diver was lost under similar circumstances. These incidents underscore the hazards of deep wreck diving, even for experienced individuals.

FINAL DISPOSITION

The Gunilda rests upright on the lakebed near McGarvey Shoal, remarkably well-preserved in the cold, fresh waters of Lake Superior. The depth of the wreck has deterred extensive salvaging, leaving it as one of the most intact and iconic shipwrecks in the Great Lakes.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY

The Gunilda is considered a premier dive site for technical divers, owing to its depth and the challenges associated with exploring a steel wreck at 260 feet (79 meters). Its condition is described as pristine, with much of the structure and interior still intact, offering a unique glimpse into early 20th-century yachting luxury. However, the extreme depth, combined with the risks inherent to Lake Superior’s cold and often turbulent waters, makes this a site for only the most experienced divers with appropriate equipment.

RESOURCES & LINKS

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Comprehensive historical data on Great Lakes vessels, including the Gunilda.
• Advanced Diver Magazine: Articles on technical diving and shipwreck exploration.
• Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum: Information on Lake Superior shipwrecks and diving opportunities.
• Ramage & Ferguson Historical Archives: Insights into the builders and their notable vessels.
• National Film Board – Drowning in Dreams

KEYWORDS

Gunilda, McGarvey Shoal, Rossport, Lake Superior shipwrecks, Great Lakes maritime history, luxury yacht wreck, technical diving, William Harkness, Ramage & Ferguson, Great Lakes yachting.

CONCLUSION

The Gunilda stands as an enduring symbol of early 20th-century luxury, maritime innovation, and the inherent risks of navigating Lake Superior. Its well-preserved wreck provides a haunting yet fascinating window into a bygone era of opulent yachting. While it has drawn divers from around the globe, its depth and the tragedies associated with its exploration highlight the dangers of Great Lakes wreck diving. The Gunilda remains a significant chapter in the Maritime History of the Great Lakes.