Boxer (1818)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: BOXER
• Type: Wooden Schooner
• Year Built:
• Builder:
• Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage: 16 tons (old style)
• Location: Mouth of the Grand River, Ohio, Lake Erie
• Coordinates: Not available
• Number of Masts: Two

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The BOXER was a small, two-masted wooden schooner built for general maritime purposes. Vessels of this type and size were typically employed for coastal trade, carrying small cargoes, or for fishing. Its sleek hull design would have offered speed and agility, characteristics essential for maneuvering along the Great Lakes’ waterways in the early 19th century. Specific construction details are unknown but likely followed traditional schooner design of the period.

Description

The BOXER operated as a modest workhorse on Lake Erie, contributing to the bustling maritime activities of the early 19th century. Its role would have included transporting goods or engaging in small-scale fishing, typical of schooners this size. Unfortunately, details of its construction, ownership, and operational history remain scarce. This lack of documentation suggests the BOXER was a utilitarian vessel, not one of significant fame or size, making its story harder to trace in historical records.

History

The BOXER met its end in 1818 near the mouth of the Grand River in Ohio. The circumstances surrounding its sinking remain a mystery, with no detailed accounts available of the event, the cargo, or the weather conditions. The schooner was lost entirely, fading into the obscurity of Great Lakes maritime history.

Significant Incidents

• Status: No current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) or advisories pertain to the BOXER, as its wreck remains unidentified and its location unverified.
• The wreck of the BOXER has not been discovered. There are no records of its location being pinpointed or of any exploratory dives aimed at finding the vessel.

Final Disposition

The condition of the BOXER is unknown due to the lack of a confirmed wreck site. Its small size and over two centuries of submersion suggest that if the wreck still exists, it may be fragile and buried beneath silt or debris.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The condition of the BOXER is unknown due to the lack of a confirmed wreck site. Its small size and over two centuries of submersion suggest that if the wreck still exists, it may be fragile and buried beneath silt or debris.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”boxer-1818″ title=”References & Links”]

The BOXER represents a common narrative of small, utilitarian vessels on the Great Lakes, many of which left behind scant records of their construction and service. Its loss at the mouth of the Grand River in 1818 underscores the challenges faced by early schooners and the dangers of navigating the Great Lakes. Though its story is incomplete, the BOXER is a piece of the broader tapestry of Great Lakes maritime history. Future discoveries or research may one day shed more light on this enigmatic vessel.