Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Big Bay Sloop
- Type: Small merchant sloop
- Year Built: Estimated 1880–1920
- Builder: Unknown
- Dimensions: Unknown (small craft, single deck)
- Registered Tonnage: Unknown
- Location: East of Big Bay State Park, Madeline Island, La Pointe, Wisconsin
- Coordinates: Restricted (protected site)
- Official Number: None
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Big Bay Sloop is classified as a small merchant vessel typical of its period, designed for the transport of goods and possibly passengers across Lake Superior.
Description
The Big Bay Sloop is a small merchant vessel typical of its period, designed for the transport of goods and possibly passengers across Lake Superior. Its modest size, wooden hull, and surviving wire rigging suggest efficient design for regional commerce. A metal cleat indicates transitional construction methods, blending traditional wood with industrial metal fittings.
History
The exact operational history of the Big Bay Sloop is unknown, but vessels of this type were common between 1880 and 1920. Small sloops played a crucial role in transporting timber, fish, and general cargo across Lake Superior. These craft were essential to the economic life of isolated communities and were often operated by small crews.
The wreck was discovered in the 1990s east of Big Bay State Park. Despite its anonymity, the vessel offers valuable insights into late 19th- and early 20th-century lake transport. The absence of records underscores how easily smaller merchant vessels could vanish from documented history.
Significant Incidents
- The cause and date of the Big Bay Sloop’s sinking remain unknown. Possible causes include storm conditions, navigational error, or structural failure.
Final Disposition
The wreck is relatively intact, with visible rigging and fittings. No salvage attempts are documented.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck was identified during surveys in the 1990s. It is now documented by maritime archaeologists and listed as a National Register site within a National Marine Protected Area.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”big-bay-sloop” title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The site is protected by U.S. and Wisconsin law within the Whitefish Point/Big Bay preservation zone. Divers must follow artifact protection laws. Remember to leave only bubbles and take only memories.
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: Unknown
Official Number: None
Registry: United States
Vessel Type: Small merchant sloop
Builder: Unknown
Year Built: Estimated 1880–1920
Dimensions: Unknown (small craft, single deck)
Tonnage: Unknown
Cargo on Final Voyage: Unknown
Date of Loss: Unknown
Location: East of Big Bay State Park, Madeline Island, La Pointe, Wisconsin
Coordinates: Restricted (protected site)
Depth: Resting on lakebed in Lake Superior
Home Port: Unknown
Owners: Unknown
Crew: Unknown
Casualties: Unknown
Description
The Big Bay Sloop is a small merchant vessel typical of its period, designed for the transport of goods and possibly passengers across Lake Superior. Its modest size, wooden hull, and surviving wire rigging suggest efficient design for regional commerce. A metal cleat indicates transitional construction methods, blending traditional wood with industrial metal fittings.
History
The exact operational history of the Big Bay Sloop is unknown, but vessels of this type were common between 1880 and 1920. Small sloops played a crucial role in transporting timber, fish, and general cargo across Lake Superior. These craft were essential to the economic life of isolated communities and were often operated by small crews.
The wreck was discovered in the 1990s east of Big Bay State Park. Despite its anonymity, the vessel offers valuable insights into late 19th- and early 20th-century lake transport. The absence of records underscores how easily smaller merchant vessels could vanish from documented history.
Final Dispositions
The cause and date of the Big Bay Sloop’s sinking remain unknown. Possible causes include storm conditions, navigational error, or structural failure. The wreck is relatively intact, with visible rigging and fittings. No salvage attempts are documented.
Located By & Date Found
The wreck was identified during surveys in the 1990s. It is now documented by maritime archaeologists and listed as a National Register site within a National Marine Protected Area.
Notmars & Advisories
The site is protected by U.S. and Wisconsin law within the Whitefish Point/Big Bay preservation zone. Divers must follow artifact protection laws. Coordinates are restricted to prevent disturbance.
Dive Information
Access: Boat
Entry Point: La Pointe, Madeline Island
Conditions: Cold water, variable visibility, lakebed silting
Depth Range: ~20–60 ft depending on seasonal levels
Emergency Contacts: USCG Station Bayfield, Wisconsin Historical Society
Permits: Diving permitted; artifact removal prohibited
Dive Support: Regional dive charters and Wisconsin Historical Society guidance
Crew & Casualty Memorials
No crew lists or casualty reports are known. Further research may reveal ownership or loss records through Wisconsin or regional archives.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“The Big Bay Sloop represents the unheralded class of small craft that formed the backbone of Great Lakes trade in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.” — Wisconsin Historical Society archives
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
No registry or enrollment records have been identified. Likely exempt due to small tonnage. Insurance files may exist in Wisconsin or Duluth commercial archives.
Site Documentation & Imaging
Surveyed and modeled by 3DShipwrecks.org. Wire rigging, hull remains, and fittings documented. Site included in NOAA and Wisconsin maritime heritage programs.
Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL)
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- NOAA Marine Protected Areas
- 3DShipwrecks.org – Big Bay Sloop
- Wisconsin Historical Society
References
- Wisconsin Historical Society, Big Bay Sloop site documentation
- NOAA Marine Protected Areas Database
- 3DShipwrecks.org: Big Bay Sloop
NOAA Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: Unknown
Official Number: None
Coordinates: Restricted (protected site)
Depth: ~20–60 ft (seasonal lakebed depth)
Location Description: East of Big Bay State Park, Madeline Island
Vessel Type: Wooden sloop, merchant craft
Material: Wood with metal fittings
Dimensions: Unknown
Condition: Partially intact, hull remains, visible rigging
Cause of Loss: Unknown
Discovery Date: 1990s
Discovered By: Local divers/historians
Method: Dive survey
Legal Notes: Protected under National Register of Historic Places and National Marine Protected Area status
Hazards: Cold water, low visibility
Permits Required: Required for research; artifact removal prohibited