TAILWINDS (Charter Fishing Boat, 1975)

Identification & Site Information:

• Name: Tailwinds
• Other Names: None
• Official Number: Not listed
• Type at Loss: Charter Fishing Boat, gasoline-powered
• Specifications:  Length: 36 ft (10.97 m)
• Date of Loss: 1975
• Place of Loss: Port Wing, Wisconsin
• Lake: Lake Superior
• Type of Loss: Fire
• Loss of Life: Unknown (no confirmed reports of casualties)
• Cargo at Time of Loss: None

Vessel Type:

The Tailwinds was a charter fishing boat, likely used for recreational sportfishing excursions on Lake Superior. Vessels of this type typically accommodate small groups of anglers and are designed for day trips in nearshore waters.

Description:

Measuring 36 feet (10.97 meters) in length, the Tailwinds was likely powered by a gasoline engine, common for charter fishing boats of this size during the 1970s. The design would have featured an open Deck or a small cabin to provide shelter and storage for fishing gear.

Operating out of Port Wing, Wisconsin, the vessel served local anglers and tourists seeking to fish the productive waters of Lake Superior, known for species such as lake trout, salmon, and walleye.

History:

While specific details about the Tailwinds’ operational history are limited, she was part of the active charter fishing fleet along Wisconsin’s Lake Superior shoreline during the mid-1970s. Port Wing, a small harbor town on the south shore of Lake Superior, has long been a hub for both commercial and recreational fishing.

Charter boats like Tailwinds were essential to the local economy, offering fishing excursions to both seasoned anglers and tourists. These vessels typically operated from spring through fall, depending on weather conditions and fishing seasons.

Final Disposition:

In 1975, the Tailwinds met her end not on the open waters of Lake Superior, but rather on land. She was destroyed in a boatshed fire while laid up at Port Wing, Wisconsin. The fire reportedly consumed the boatshed entirely, and Tailwindswas among the vessels lost in the blaze.

There are no detailed reports regarding casualties, suggesting that the vessel was likely unoccupied at the time of the incident. Boatshed fires can spread rapidly, especially in structures where flammable materials like fuel, oil, and wooden equipment are present.

Resources & Links:

• • Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• • Lake Superior Shipwreck Society (LSS)
• • Inland Seas Journal (IS)

Conclusion:

The loss of the Tailwinds in 1975 serves as a reminder that maritime disasters are not confined to the open water. Fires in harbors and boat storage facilities pose significant risks to vessels and infrastructure. While her story is a brief chapter in the maritime history of Port Wing, Wisconsin, the Tailwinds represents the vibrant recreational fishing culture that has long thrived along the shores of Lake Superior.