Identification & Site Information

• Name: DREADNAUGHT (also spelled DREADNOUGHT)
• Official Number: 6947
• Date Built and Launched: 1877
• Measurements: Length: 42 feet (12.8 meters); Beam: 12 feet (3.7 meters); Depth: 3 feet (0.9 meters); Gross Tonnage: 11 tons; Net Tonnage: 10 tons
• Date Lost: September 11, 1886
• Vessel Type Wooden schooner

Description

The DREADNAUGHT was a modestly sized wooden Schooner constructed in 1877 in East Saginaw, Michigan. Designed for versatility, her compact dimensions made her suitable for navigating the various waterways of the Great Lakes region.

History

On September 11, 1886, while operating in Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron near Au Gres, Michigan, the DREADNAUGHT collided with the Tug CHENEY. The impact caused the Schooner to sink. Initial assessments deemed her unsalvageable; however, she was successfully recovered the following spring. The vessel continued to operate until she was Abandoned in 1899. Some sources suggest a possible confusion with another vessel, the DREADNAUGHT (Official Number 6837).

Final Disposition

After her abandonment in 1899, there are no detailed records regarding the final disposition of the DREADNAUGHT.

Located By & Date Found

There are no records indicating that the wreck of the DREADNAUGHT has been located or surveyed to date.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No navigational warnings or advisories related to the DREADNAUGHT wreck site are currently noted.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: DREADNAUGHT
• Great Lakes Vessels Online Index: DREADNAUGHT
• David Swayze Shipwreck File: DREADNAUGHT

The DREADNAUGHT’s history reflects the challenges faced by small wooden schooners operating on the Great Lakes in the late 19th century. Despite setbacks such as collisions and sinkings, vessels like the DREADNAUGHT were integral to regional commerce and transportation.

Keywords: DREADNAUGHT, Schooner, Great Lakes shipwreck, Lake Huron, maritime history

Categories: Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Maritime History, Wooden Schooners

Glossary Terms:

• Schooner: A sailing vessel with two or more masts, typically rigged fore-and-aft, used extensively in the 19th and early 20th centuries for cargo transport.
• Gross Tonnage: A measure of the overall internal volume of a vessel.
• Net Tonnage: The volume of cargo a vessel can carry; calculated by subtracting non-revenue-earning spaces from the Gross Tonnage.