Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Advance US 365

Explore the wreck of the Advance, a wooden schooner lost in 1885, located in Lake Michigan. Dive responsibly and document this historic site.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Advance
  • Type: Wooden two-masted schooner
  • Year Built: 1853
  • Builder: James M. Jones, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • Dimensions: Length ~117.3 ft (35.75 m); Beam ~25.7 ft (7.83 m); Depth of hold ~8.9 ft (2.71 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: Gross ~179.9 tons
  • Depth at Wreck Site: 25.9 m / 85 ft
  • Location: Lake Michigan, approx. 9.5 miles southwest of Sheboygan Harbor, Wisconsin
  • Coordinates: ~ 43° 36.71′ N, 87° 42.973′ W
  • Official Number: US 365
  • Original Owners: Richard Meadowcroft (original); later Capt. David Dall
  • Number of Masts: Two

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Advance is classified as a wooden two-masted schooner, typical of Great Lakes merchant vessels built in the mid-19th century.

Description

The schooner Advance was constructed of white-pine and oak, rigged as a two-masted fore-and-aft sailing vessel. Featuring a single deck and centerboard design, it was typical of Great Lakes merchant schooners built in the 1850s.

History

Launched on 27 March 1853, Advance served in the lumber and grain trade across the Great Lakes. Her operational history includes multiple collisions, repairs, and wintering incidents. Notable events include a collision with Grand Turk in 1854, major repairs in Buffalo from 1860 to 1861, collisions in Chicago in 1878, and abandonment after a collision with Fleetwing in 1881.

Significant Incidents

  • 1854: Collision with Grand Turk.
  • 1860-1861: Major repairs in Buffalo.
  • 1878: Collisions in Chicago.
  • 1881: Abandonment after collision with Fleetwing.

Final Disposition

While en route from Pine Lake, MI, to Chicago with tan-bark, Advance encountered a gale off Sheboygan. The hull began taking on water, and distress signals went unanswered. The crew abandoned ship; six drowned when the yawl capsized, and one man survived.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck lies upright and broken in approximately 85 ft (25.9 m) of water, 9.5 miles southwest of Sheboygan Harbor. The site was documented and listed on the National Register of Historic Places on 5 July 2023. Divers must not disturb the structure or artifacts, as it is a protected historic site.

Resources & Links

Divers are encouraged to explore the Advance responsibly, adhering to the principle of ‘leave only bubbles, take only memories.’ Remember to document the site without disturbing its integrity.