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.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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