Adventurer – Lake Superior Tug Shipwreck (1906)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: ADVENTURER
• Type: Tugboat (Towboat)
• Year Built: 1895
• Builder: Unknown
• Dimensions: Length: 51.42 ft (15.66 m); Beam: 11.16 ft (3.40 m); Depth of hold: 6.25 ft (1.91 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 16.32
• Location: Near Ontonagon Lighthouse, Ontonagon, Michigan
• Official Number: 107174
• Original Owners: Alexander Strand

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The ADVENTURER was a wooden tugboat, also known as a towboat, designed for towing vessels and assisting in harbor operations. With its small size and modest dimensions, the ADVENTURER was well-suited for operations along the Great Lakes. Powered by a single-cylinder, high-pressure engine, it was an efficient and durable workhorse. The tug featured a screw propulsion system, common for vessels of its type and era.

Description

Built in 1895 in Two Harbors, Minnesota, the ADVENTURER was owned by Alexander Strand of the same town. It was powered by an engine manufactured by Phoenix Iron Works in Port Huron, Michigan, with a boiler capable of maintaining 100 pounds of pressure. This made the vessel powerful for its size, with an output of 125 horsepower at 120 rpm.

The tug was registered under the U.S. official number 107174 and operated primarily in towing services on Lake Superior. It played a vital role in assisting larger vessels, maneuvering them into harbors and performing other towing tasks.

History

On December 16, 1906, tragedy struck when the ADVENTURER broke loose from the tug TRAMP, which had been towing it near Ontonagon, Michigan. The ADVENTURER drifted ashore near the Ontonagon Lighthouse. Despite efforts to secure the vessel, it was wrecked and later abandoned. Fortunately, no cargo was aboard, and there were no fatalities in the incident. After its loss, the ADVENTURER was dismantled and not rebuilt.

Significant Incidents

• December 16, 1906: The ADVENTURER broke loose from the tug TRAMP and drifted ashore near Ontonagon Lighthouse, resulting in its wreck.

Final Disposition

The ADVENTURER remains one of the many small vessels lost to the perils of Great Lakes navigation. Though its wreck site is unconfirmed and not of significant historical diving interest, it represents the risks faced by tugboats and other workboats in the harsh conditions of Lake Superior.

Current Condition & Accessibility

There are no current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) related to the ADVENTURER. The wreck was abandoned and dismantled, and no significant debris is expected to remain.

Resources & Links

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The ADVENTURER served a brief yet critical role as a tugboat on Lake Superior, illustrating the importance of these workboats in the early 20th century. Its wreck near Ontonagon Lighthouse in 1906 marked the end of its operational life, but it remains a small chapter in the broader history of Great Lakes maritime commerce.