Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Buccaneer
- Type: Wooden fishing tug
- Year Built: 1943
- Builder: Oconto, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: Length ~132 ft (40.20 m); Beam ~40 ft (12.30 m); Depth of hold ~18 ft (5.40 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 25 tons
- Location: Kewaunee County, Lake Michigan
- Coordinates: N 44° 35.785′, W 87° 26.263′
- Official Number: 245761
- Original Owners: Norbert Frasch (Two Rivers, WI) and Leif Weborg (Milwaukee, WI)
- Number of Masts: No masts
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
- A small, enclosed fishing workboat (oil-screw tug) in wooden construction, primarily built for Great Lakes fishing operations in mid-20th century.
Description
- Built of white oak, with enclosed deckhouse and centrally positioned pilot station.
- Powered by a small diesel engine; measures ~25 GRT; designed for local fishing or towing operations.
History
- Constructed in wartime era (1943); offered for sale in 1945.
- Continued fishing service under its Wisconsin owners through the 1950s.
- In early 1960, it struck the Milwaukee-based tanker Clark while operating on Lake Michigan, about 8 miles south of Kewaunee.
- A formal collision event prompted later loss.
Significant Incidents
- Collision with the tanker Clark in early 1960.
- Stranded and wrecked on October 1, 1960, near Kewaunee.
Final Disposition
- On October 1, 1960, the Buccaneer stranded near Kewaunee and was deemed a total loss. No lives lost.
- There are no known salvage records or Coast Guard inquiry findings in public databases; final status—whether removed, scrapped in situ, or sunk—remains undocumented.
Current Condition & Accessibility
- As of current archival databases, no confirmed site discovery or dive documentation is recorded. The wreck is catalogued as “stranded” and “total loss” but not positively located underwater.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”buccaneer-us-245761″ title=”References & Links”]
- The Buccaneer represents a typical mid-century Great Lakes wooden fishing tug with short service life and no casualties. Its loss reflects the hazards of close-quarter navigation with larger tankers.
- The wreck site is currently undocumented, meaning it may yet be of archaeological interest if located. Further investigation—via sonar survey, local diver logs, or archival Coast Guard/collision reports—could clarify disposition and potential remains.
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
- Build & Registry: Built in 1943 at Oconto, Wisconsin; U.S. Registry No. 245761.
- Dimensions: Length ~40.20 m (132 ft), beam ~12.30 m (40 ft), hold depth ~5.40 m (18 ft); gross tonnage ~25 tons.
- Type & Propulsion: Wooden-hulled oil screw fishing tug, Kahlenberg three‑cylinder diesel engine; pilot house amidship, no masts. (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
- Owners & Home Port: Initially owned by Norbert Frasch (Two Rivers, WI) and Leif Weborg (Milwaukee, WI); home‑ported in Milwaukee. (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
- Final Location: Stranded and wrecked off Kewaunee County, Lake Michigan, near coordinates N 44° 35.785′, W 87° 26.263′ (approx. 8 mi south of Kewaunee, WI). (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
Vessel Type
- A small, enclosed fishing workboat (oil‑screw tug) in wooden construction, primarily built for Great Lakes fishing operations in mid‑20th century.
Description
- Built of white oak, with enclosed deckhouse and centrally positioned pilot station.
- Powered by a small diesel engine; measures ~25 GRT; designed for local fishing or towing operations.
History
- Constructed in wartime era (1943); offered for sale in 1945. (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
- Continued fishing service under its Wisconsin owners through the 1950s.
- In early 1960, it struck the Milwaukee-based tanker Clark while operating on Lake Michigan, about 8 miles south of Kewaunee. (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
- A formal collision event prompted later loss.
Final Disposition
- On October 1, 1960, the Buccaneer stranded near Kewaunee and was deemed a total loss. No lives lost. (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
- There are no known salvage records or Coast Guard inquiry findings in public databases; final status—whether removed, scrapped in situ, or sunk—remains undocumented.
Located By & Date Found
- As of current archival databases, no confirmed site discovery or dive documentation is recorded. The wreck is catalogued as “stranded” and “total loss” but not positively located underwater. (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
Notmar & Advisories
- There are no Notices to Mariners or formal hazard bulletins recorded for this site; likely removed or considered no longer a navigation hazard. “None noted.”
Resources & Links
- Wisconsin Shipwrecks database entry summarizing build, loss, and basic wreck details: (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
- Additional resources: Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservations Society, Wisconsin Historical Society maritime records (site lists and local registers).
- U.S. Coast Guard or Kewaunee County archives may hold collision or incident reports; NARA or regional maritime board records could hold inquiry documentation.
Shore Dive Information (if applicable)
- Not applicable: no diveable wreck site confirmed.
- Should future discovery occur: entry points likely from Kewaunee shoreline, conditions typical of shallow Lake Michigan (~<30 ft), local dive shops in Kewaunee or Two Rivers; potable water, permit via Wisconsin DNR may be required.
Conclusion
- The Buccaneer represents a typical mid‑century Great Lakes wooden fishing tug with short service life and no casualties. Its loss reflects the hazards of close-quarter navigation with larger tankers.
- The wreck site is currently undocumented, meaning it may yet be of archaeological interest if located. Further investigation—via sonar survey, local diver logs, or archival Coast Guard/collision reports—could clarify disposition and potential remains.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
- Region: Lake Michigan, Kewaunee County, Wisconsin
- Vessel type: Wooden fishing tug, oil screw
- Cause of loss: Grounding/stranding after collision
- Material: White oak construction
- Period: 1943–1960
- Dive difficulty/hazards: N/A (site unconfirmed)
Additional Research Recommendations
- Coast Guard and Marine Board Records in Milwaukee and Cleveland districts may include official collision or loss reports.
- Local newspaper archives (e.g. Kewaunee Enterprise, Two Rivers Reporter) from mid‑1960 could provide collision date, witnesses, or remediation.
- U.S. Army Corps archives or regional diving associations may hold sonar survey logs if wreck located later.