Identification & Site Information

• Name: KINCARDINE
• Other Names: None reported
• Official Number: 71147
• Date Built and Launched: 1871
• Builder: Stebbens Andrews & Son, Port Dalhousie, Ontario
• Original Owner: F.A. Robertson et al., Goderich, Ontario

Construction and Ownership

• Vessel Type: Steambarge
• Hull Materials: Wood
• Number of Decks: 1 (later Rebuilt with a second Deck)
• Power:
• Number of Masts: 1
• Propulsion: Screw (propeller-driven)
• Measurements: Length: 107 ft (32.61 m) Beam: 20 ft (6.1 m) Depth: 8.9 ft (2.71 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 343 tons (adjusted multiple times during its lifespan)

History

The KINCARDINE was launched in 1871 as a wooden steambarge constructed by Stebbens Andrews & Son at Port Dalhousie, Ontario. Initially serving the Goderich, Ontario area, the vessel had a long and eventful career marked by numerous incidents, ownership changes, and rebuilds.

Key Chronological Events:

• 1872: Ownership transferred to David Andrews et al., Napanee, Ontario.
• 1873: The vessel was Rebuilt, possibly adding passenger accommodations, and its tonnage adjusted to 176 tons.
• 1876, May 20: The KINCARDINE stranded in dense fog on Brothers Shoals, 9 miles southwest of Kingston, Ontario.
• 1878-1879: The vessel was completely Rebuilt and given a second Deck, with its tonnage readjusted to 342.84 gross tons.
• 1880-1881: Ownership shifted multiple times, including to Martha R. Jones et al. in Detroit, Michigan. During this period, it towed vessels like the WALTERS and HERCULES.
• 1881-1882: The vessel suffered several groundings and sinkings:
• Aground at Fighting Island in the Detroit River while carrying cedar ties.
• Sank at Windsor while loading bunker coal but was raised shortly after.
• Struck a rock near Little Current, waterlogged, but subsequently released.
• 1883: After being damaged by ice and sinking in Jackfish Bay near Rossport, Lake Superior, the vessel was raised by LeMay & Sons and towed to Duluth for a major Rebuild. Its tonnage was reduced, and the main cabin was removed from amidships.
• 1888: Owned by John Pearson & Sons of Owen Sound, Ontario. In September, the KINCARDINE struck a rock in the French River, sank, but was raised and repaired at Owen Sound.
• 1890, May 1: The vessel stranded and was then struck by the towed Barge MARQUIS, but it was released and taken to Collingwood drydock for repairs.

Final Disposition

In November 1892, the KINCARDINE met its end when it stranded at Cabot Head on Georgian Bay, Lake Huron. The vessel broke up due to the damage sustained, and its upper works were later burned. This marked the end of a vessel that had already been extensively Rebuilt and repaired over its two-decade-long career.

Despite the wreck, valuable parts of the KINCARDINE were salvaged. In October 1896, the Tug SAUCY JIM recovered the vessel’s engine, highlighting the continued value of its components even after the vessel itself was beyond repair.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return. There are no confirmed reports of the KINCARDINE‘s wreck site being located at Cabot Head, Georgian Bay. Given that the upper works were burned and the vessel broke apart, remnants may still lie in the area but have likely deteriorated or been scattered over time.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil return. No current navigational hazards related to this wreck are reported near Cabot Head.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• David Swayze Great Lakes Shipwreck File

Conclusion

The KINCARDINE‘s history reflects the durability and adaptability of wooden steambarges operating on the Great Lakes in the late 19th century. Despite multiple sinkings, groundings, and rebuilds, the vessel continued to serve various owners and purposes for over 20 years. Its final stranding at Cabot Head in 1892 brought an end to a vessel that had survived the harsh conditions of the Great Lakes longer than most of its contemporaries. The vessel’s repeated repairs and salvages highlight the value placed on maritime assets during a time when shipbuilding was a major economic driver in the region.

If you’re interested in learning more about other vessels associated with the KINCARDINE, such as the Barge MARQUIS or the Tug SAUCY JIM, let me know!