Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Beaver
- Type: Paddlewheel Steamboat
- Year Built:
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length 103 ft (31.39 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Near Ottawa, Ontario
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Beaver was a wooden paddlewheel steamboat designed based on the “fiddleboat plan,” which featured a recessed middle section to house the paddle wheels. This design improved the vessel’s maneuverability and efficiency, making it well-suited for operation along the rivers and canals of the Montreal-Ottawa-Kingston triangle.
Description
The Beaver was an integral part of the regional transportation network during the 19th century, ferrying passengers and goods across waterways that were essential to commerce and settlement. The vessel’s ability to navigate narrow and shallow channels underscored the versatility of paddlewheel steamboats during this period.
History
Over its operational life, the Beaver faced several significant challenges:
- September 1844: The vessel sank in Merrickville, along the Rideau Canal. It was salvaged and returned to service.
- 1854: The Beaver sank again, this time in Mud Lake, a key route on its operational path. Despite this, the vessel was recovered and continued to serve.
- 1868: The Beaver met its ultimate end when it was destroyed by fire near Ottawa. The exact details of the fire, including its precise location, are not documented.
Despite these incidents, the Beaver remained a crucial component of the region’s transportation infrastructure until its destruction.
Significant Incidents
- September 1844: Sank in Merrickville, salvaged.
- 1854: Sank in Mud Lake, recovered.
- 1868: Destroyed by fire near Ottawa.
Final Disposition
The Beaver was destroyed by fire in 1868, ending its operational life. The fire occurred near Ottawa, but detailed accounts of the event and its exact location remain unknown.
Current Condition & Accessibility
There are no active Notices to Mariners or official advisories related to the Beaver wreck.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”beaver” title=”References & Links”]
The Beaver’s history highlights the critical role paddlewheel steamboats played in shaping transportation and commerce during the 19th century. Despite two sinkings and its eventual destruction by fire, the vessel’s resilience and continued operation underscore the ingenuity and importance of these ships in the waterways of the Montreal-Ottawa-Kingston region. The Beaver’s ultimate loss is a testament to the risks inherent in early steam navigation and the challenges faced by maritime operators of the era.
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.
Identification & Site Information
- Vessel Name: Beaver
- Year of Build: Not specified
- Built at: Not specified
- Type: Paddlewheel Steamboat
- Hull Materials: Wood
- Number of Decks: 1
- Length: 103 feet (31.39 metres)
- Beam: Not specified
- Depth: Not specified
- Tonnage: Not specified
Vessel Type Description
The Beaver was a wooden paddlewheel steamboat designed based on the “fiddleboat plan,” which featured a recessed middle section to house the paddle wheels. This design improved the vessel’s maneuverability and efficiency, making it well-suited for operation along the rivers and canals of the Montreal-Ottawa-Kingston triangle.
History
The Beaver was an integral part of the regional transportation network during the 19th century, ferrying passengers and goods across waterways that were essential to commerce and settlement. The vessel’s ability to navigate narrow and shallow channels underscored the versatility of paddlewheel steamboats during this period.
Over its operational life, the Beaver faced several significant challenges:
- September 1844: The vessel sank in Merrickville, along the Rideau Canal. It was salvaged and returned to service.
- 1854: The Beaver sank again, this time in Mud Lake, a key route on its operational path. Despite this, the vessel was recovered and continued to serve.
- 1868: The Beaver met its ultimate end when it was destroyed by fire near Ottawa. The exact details of the fire, including its precise location, are not documented.
Despite these incidents, the Beaver remained a crucial component of the region’s transportation infrastructure until its destruction.
Final Disposition
The Beaver was destroyed by fire in 1868, ending its operational life. The fire occurred near Ottawa, but detailed accounts of the event and its exact location remain unknown.
Notices & Advisories
NOTMARs: There are no active Notices to Mariners or official advisories related to the Beaver wreck.
Resources & Links
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Ottawa Historical Archives: For deeper insights into the steamboat era and the Beaver’s role in regional development.
Keywords Beaver Paddlewheel Steamboat Montreal Ottawa Kingston Fiddleboat Plan 19th-century maritime history Wooden shipwreck Fire Merrickville Mud Lake
Conclusion
The Beaver’s history highlights the critical role paddlewheel steamboats played in shaping transportation and commerce during the 19th century. Despite two sinkings and its eventual destruction by fire, the vessel’s resilience and continued operation underscore the ingenuity and importance of these ships in the waterways of the Montreal-Ottawa-Kingston region. The Beaver’s ultimate loss is a testament to the risks inherent in early steam navigation and the challenges faced by maritime operators of the era.
beaver 1868-03-14 07:51:00