IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

• Vessel Name: Ogarita
• Vessel Type: Schooner
• Year Built: 1864
• Built At: Conneaut, Ohio
• Final Location: Off Thunder Bay Island, Michigan, Lake Huron
• GPS Coordinates N45° 06.326’ W83° 13.077’
• Date of Loss: October 25, 1905
• Cause of Loss: Fire
• Gross Tonnage: 604 tons
• Home Port: Buffalo, New York
• Depth: Not specified

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The Ogarita was a wooden-hulled Schooner, typical of the mid-19th century Great Lakes cargo vessels. Designed for transporting bulk cargoes such as grain, coal, and lumber, schooners like the Ogarita were essential to the economy of the region during their heyday. At 604 tons gross, the Ogarita was one of the larger schooners of its time, capable of handling substantial cargoes efficiently.

HISTORY

Launched in 1864 in Conneaut, Ohio, the Ogarita served for over four decades as a cargo carrier on the Great Lakes. Its career spanned a period of significant transition in maritime technology, from the dominance of sail-powered vessels to the rise of steam-powered ships.

On October 25, 1905, the Ogarita met its tragic end off Thunder Bay Island, Michigan, when a fire broke out aboard the vessel. Despite the devastating fire, all six crew members escaped unharmed, successfully abandoning the ship before it was completely destroyed. The specific cause of the fire remains undocumented.

FINAL DISPOSITION

The Ogarita was entirely consumed by fire and was lost off Thunder Bay Island in Lake Huron. The remains likely sank or were scattered due to the fire and subsequent structural collapse. No specific records detail the current condition or location of the wreck.

LOCATED BY & DATE

The wreck of the Ogarita has not been definitively located, and no coordinates are available in historical records.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES

• Current Notices: No specific Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) are associated with the Ogarita. However, Thunder Bay Island is part of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, a region with numerous shipwrecks and potential underwater hazards.

RESOURCES & LINKS

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes Database
• NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
• 3DShipwrecks – Ocean Wave

3D Model – Ocean Wave

KEYWORDS

#Ogarita Schooner #Lake Huron shipwreck #Thunder Bay Island fire #Great Lakes maritime history #Schooner fire

CONCLUSION

The Ogarita was a testament to the Schooner era of Great Lakes maritime commerce, serving the region for over 40 years. Its destruction by fire off Thunder Bay Island in 1905 marks a poignant end to its service and adds to the rich Maritime History of the Great Lakes. Thunder Bay Island, known for its shipwrecks, serves as a reminder of the perils faced by sailors and the legacy of the vessels that navigated these waters. The story of the Ogarita continues to hold historical significance for researchers and enthusiasts of Great Lakes maritime history.

GPS COORDINATES & ADDITIONAL INFO

The exact coordinates of the Ogarita’s wreck are not known. The incident occurred off Thunder Bay Island in Lake Huron, an area significant for its shipwreck heritage and managed in part by the NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.