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
[shotline_reference_links slug=”advance-us-365″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
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.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
Other Names: None documented
Official Number: US 365
Registry: United States
Vessel Type: Wooden two-masted schooner
Builder: James M. Jones, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Year Built: 1853
Dimensions: Length ~117.3 ft (35.75 m); Beam ~25.7 ft (7.83 m); Depth of hold ~8.9 ft (2.71 m)
Tonnage: Gross ~179.9 tons
Cargo on Final Voyage: Tan-bark (valued ~US$1,200)
Date of Loss: 8 September 1885
Location: Lake Michigan, approx. 9.5 miles (15.3 km) southwest of Sheboygan Harbor, Wisconsin
Coordinates: ~ 43° 36.71′ N, 87° 42.973′ W
Depth: ~85 ft (25.9 m)
Home Port: Chicago, Illinois
Owners: Richard Meadowcroft (original); later Capt. David Dall
Crew: 7 persons
Casualties: 6 fatalities, 1 survivor (Jacob Ramm)
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 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 (1854), major repairs in Buffalo (1860-61), collisions in Chicago (1878), and abandonment after collision with Fleetwing (1881).
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.
Located By & Date Found
Wreck lies upright and broken in ~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.
Notmars & Advisories
Protected historic site. Divers must not disturb the structure or artifacts.
Dive Information
Access: Boat dive
Entry Point: Sheboygan Harbor
Conditions: Moderate current, variable visibility, thermocline present
Depth Range: 80–90 ft (24–27 m)
Emergency Contacts: USCG Sector Lake Michigan, Sheboygan County Marine Patrol
Permits: Recommended
Dive Support: Local dive charters in Sheboygan County
Crew & Casualty Memorials
Crew lost: 6, including Captain Paulsen; survivor: Jacob Ramm. Further research via Find A Grave or Newspapers.com.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“On September 8, 1885, the vessel when nearing Sheboygan discovered three feet of water in the hold… eventually capsized and sank with loss of six of the seven aboard.” — Wisconsin Historical Society
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
US Registry No. 365; home port: Chicago; recorded repairs and insurance valuations after multiple damage incidents.
Site Documentation & Imaging
3D photogrammetric model and archaeological site plans are available from Wisconsin Historical Society and 3DShipwrecks.org.
Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL)
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Chronicling America (LOC)
- Newspapers.com
- Find A Grave
References
- Wisconsin Shipwrecks: Advance (1853)
- Advance Shipwreck in National Register
- 3DShipwrecks.org: Advance
NOAA Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: None
Official Number: US 365
Coordinates: ~43° 36.71′ N, 87° 42.973′ W
Depth: 85 ft (25.9 m)
Location Description: 9.5 mi SW of Sheboygan Harbour
Vessel Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
Material: Wood (oak and pine)
Dimensions: ~117.3 ft x ~25.7 ft x ~8.9 ft; ~179.9 GRT
Condition: Broken but upright
Cause of Loss: Foundering in gale
Discovery Date: 1980s (sport divers); surveyed 2020
Discovered By: Unknown recreational divers
Method: Dive & sonar
Legal Notes: Listed on National Register 2023; protected under Wisconsin law
Hazards: Sharp wreckage, structural instability
Permits Required: Recommended for research or artifact contact