TEMPEST

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #

The TEMPEST was a small 17-foot pleasure boat, typical for recreational activities on the Great Lakes. Pleasure boats like the TEMPEST are often used for leisurely travel, fishing, and other water-based activities. Their compact size makes them easy to navigate and dock, ideal for short trips and personal use.

HISTORY #

The TEMPEST was making a routine journey back to the mainland in July 1994 when it encountered trouble. A patched section of the boat’s bottom gave way, leading to a rapid influx of water. The Coast Guard responded quickly to the scene, but the vessel sank shortly after their arrival. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.

FINAL DISPOSITION #

In 2001, divers located the wreck of the TEMPEST. It was found resting at a depth of 100 feet (33 meters), near the False Duck Islands in Lake Ontario. The wreck had sunk into the mud up to the gunwale and was heavily encrusted with zebra mussels, which covered the wreck in a layer 2 to 3 inches thick.

LOCATED BY & DATE #

The TEMPEST was located by divers in 2001, seven years after it sank.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY #

The wreck of the TEMPEST is relatively accessible to experienced divers due to its location and depth. However, the heavy encrustation of zebra mussels and the fact that the boat is partially buried in the mud may limit the ability to explore the wreck in detail.

RESOURCES & LINKS #

1. NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

   • Information on various shipwrecks and underwater sites.
   • NOAA Thunder Bay

2. Maritime History of the Great Lakes

   • Database of shipwrecks, including those in Lake Ontario.
   • Maritime History of the Great Lakes

3. Wrecksite EU

   • A resource for shipwreck data worldwide, including the Great Lakes.
   • Wrecksite EU