Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Bay of Quinte (1853)

Explore the history of the Bay of Quinte, a sidewheel steamer that played a significant role in Great Lakes commerce for over 30 years.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Bay of Quinte
  • Type: Sidewheel Steamer
  • Year Built: 1853
  • Builder: George Thurston, Kingston, Ontario
  • Dimensions: Length: 161 ft (49.1 m); Beam: 25.6 ft (7.8 m); Depth of hold: 8.6 ft (2.6 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 324 tons (varied across its career)
  • Location: Garden Island, Ontario
  • Original Owners: O.S. Gildersleeve & Co., Bay of Quinte Steamboat Company, Calvin & Breck, D.D. Calvin, Sheffield Wickware

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Vessel Type: Sidewheel Steamer

Hull Material: Wood

Number of Decks: 2

Description

The Bay of Quinte was a sidewheel steamer built in 1853, designed for passenger and freight services on Lake Ontario and the Bay of Quinte. It featured a wooden hull and advanced paddlewheel technology for its time.

History

Construction and Early Service: Built in Kingston, Ontario, the Bay of Quinte was part of Gildersleeve’s Royal Mail Line, providing reliable transport for passengers and mail.

Service Timeline:

  • 1854: Measured at 200 tons, initially designed for lighter loads.
  • 1862: Acquired by the Bay of Quinte Steamboat Company.
  • 1865: Underwent significant repairs.
  • 1868: Re-measured at 250 gross tons.
  • 1871: Purchased by Calvin & Breck and modified into a rafting tug.

Significant Incidents

  • Throughout its life, the Bay of Quinte was owned by various operators, including D.D. Calvin and Sheffield Wickware.

Final Disposition

The Bay of Quinte was dismantled in 1885 at Garden Island, Ontario, concluding its over three-decade service.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck is no longer present as the vessel was dismantled, but its legacy remains significant in the maritime history of the region.

Resources & Links

References are being reviewed for this wreck.

The Bay of Quinte exemplified the adaptability of 19th-century vessels, transitioning from a passenger steamer to a rafting tug, and its dismantling marked the end of an important chapter in Great Lakes maritime history.