Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Boss US 3197

Explore the wreck of the tug Boss, lost in 1885 and discovered in 1887, resting in approximately 20 feet of water near Two Rivers, Wisconsin.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Tug Boss
  • Type: Tugboat
  • Year Built: 1881
  • Builder: Saugatuck, Michigan
  • Dimensions: Length ~45 ft (13.72 m); Beam ~3.5 ft; Depth of hold ~5 ft
  • Registered Tonnage: 19.7 tons
  • Depth at Wreck Site: 6 m / 20 ft
  • Location: 4 miles south of Two Rivers, Wisconsin
  • Official Number: 3197
  • Original Owners: Allie & Lafond

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Tug Boss was a wooden tugboat built in 1881, primarily used for harbor operations.

Description

The tug Boss was approximately 45 feet long, with a beam of about 3.5 feet and a hold depth of around 5 feet. It had a gross tonnage of approximately 19.7 tons.

History

Boss was built in Saugatuck, Michigan, and operated out of Two Rivers, Wisconsin. It was owned by Allie & Lafond.

Significant Incidents

  • Securely moored at Two Rivers, the tug disappeared during a snowstorm overnight on January 16, 1885. It was later assumed to have drifted and sunk, possibly iced over.
  • There were rumors that the tug might have been stolen, but no trace was found.
  • In May 1887, wreckers located the tug submerged four miles south of Two Rivers in about 20 feet of water. Plans were made to raise her.
  • No casualties were reported.

Final Disposition

Discovered in May 1887, the tug was found lying submerged in shallow water. Operations to raise her were planned, but there is no record of recovery or wreck removal afterward.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the tug Boss is located at a depth of approximately 20 feet. The current condition of the wreck is not documented, and accessibility may vary.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”boss-us-3197″ title=”References & Links”]

The tug Boss serves as a reminder of the maritime history of the Great Lakes, illustrating the challenges faced by vessels in harsh weather conditions and the complexities of tracking historical records.

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.

Tug Boss (#3197, Saugatuck-built, 1881)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name(s): Tug Boss (sometimes misread as “Bass”)
  • Enrollment: #3197, built in 1881 at Saugatuck, Michigan
  • Dimensions: Length ~45 ft, Beam ~3.5 ft, Depth of hold ~5 ft, Gross tonnage ~19.7 tons (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
  • Builder / Home Port: Saugatuck; owners Allie & Lafond; operated out of Two Rivers, WI

Service & Final Voyage

  • Securely moored at Two Rivers, disappeared during a snowstorm overnight January 16, 1885. Later assumed adrift and sunk, perhaps iced over. (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
  • Owners speculated she might have been stolen (Snow Island rumor), but no trace found.
  • Eventually, in May 1887, wreckers located her submerged four miles south of Two Rivers, in about 20 ft (6 m) of water. Plans followed to raise her. (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
  • No casualties reported.

Located By & Wreck Status

  • Discovered in May 1887 lying 4 mi south of Two Rivers in shallow water. Operations to raise her were planned, no record of recovery or wreck removal afterward.
  • Depth: Approximately 20 ft.

Resources

  • Wisconsin Shipwrecks database: Tug Boss (1881) (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
  • WUAA article “The Mysterious Disappearance of the Fishing Tug Boss,” March 2007 (baillod.com)

Tug Boss (#3191, Fort Howard-built, 1882)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Enrollment: #3191, built 1882 at Fort Howard, Wisconsin
  • Dimensions: 42 ft long, 10 ft beam, hold depth 6 ft, gross tonnage ~11.32 tons (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
  • Owners: Allie & Landfonde; home port Milwaukee, WI

Service & Disposition

  • Smaller harbor tug; no definitive records of final loss or wreck events.
  • Available files indicate that the #3197 tug was the one lost near Two Rivers, not this vessel.
  • Final fate of #3191 remains unknown—no wreck report, sinking location, or salvage record found. (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)

Wreck Status

  • Undocumented — presumed either dismantled, sold, transferred, or otherwise removed from service without trace.
  • Depth: Unknown.

Comparative Summary

Tug (Enrollment)Builder / YearFinal StatusWreck Located
Boss #3197Saugatuck, MI (1881)Disappeared Jan 16, 1885; found sunk May 1887 in ~20 ft water near Two Rivers✅ Yes
Boss #3191Fort Howard, WI (1882)Fate unknown; no record of sinking❌ No

Next Suggested Archival Research

  • Enrollment ledgers (Milwaukee Coast Guard, port registry 1882‑1890): track transfers, abandonment, sale of #3191.
  • Port Two Rivers harbor logs or newspaper archives: may reference sale, relocation, or removal of the smaller tug.
  • Insurance archives or vessel receipts: both for small tug operations around Fort Howard and Milwaukee.

Conclusion

These two Boss tugs demonstrate how overlapping names and same-year builds cause archival confusion. Only the larger Saugatuck-built tug (#3197) sank and was found in Lake Michigan near Two Rivers. The fate of the Fort Howard-built smaller tug (#3191) remains unknown and undocumented—no wreck site, no official loss, no casualty report. It may have been decommissioned without historical note.

boss-us-3197 1887-05-01 21:50:00