Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Davis, Cal
- Type: Wood-hulled screw tug (towboat)
- Year Built: 1873
- Builder: Carroll Brothers, Buffalo, New York
- Dimensions: Length: 57.6 ft (17.57 m); Beam: 14.4 ft (4.39 m); Depth of hold: 6.6 ft (2.01 m)
- Registered Tonnage: Gross: 24.87 gt; Net: 12 nt
- Location: East China, Michigan
- Official Number: 125282
- Original Owners: Various including Navaugh et al., Davis Brothers, Doville, Charles Schunk
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A late 19th-century screw tug powered by high-pressure steam—designed for towing and harbour work on the Great Lakes and connecting inland waterways.
Description
The Davis, Cal featured a single-deck wooden hull, driven via a single-screw propeller powered by a compact high-pressure steam engine. Her size was modest, supporting harbour towing and freight handling. Following decade-overloads, she underwent two significant rebuilds that likely reinforced her hull and machinery.
History
- 1876: Owned by Navaugh et al., Toledo, Ohio
- 22 Aug 1877: Inspected under ownership of Davis Brothers, Toledo
- 1879: Returned to Navaugh et al. (Toledo)
- 1883: First rebuild—details unspecified
- 1884: Passed to Doville of Cleveland, Ohio
- 1888–1889: Substantial rebuild performed at Smith yard in Algonac, Michigan
- 30 Apr 1889: Enrolled at Port Huron, Michigan under owner Charles Schunk
- 9 Oct 1889: Caught fire at East China (near Marine City) on Lake St. Clair; burned to the water’s edge under ownership of Algonac, Michigan operators
Significant Incidents
- 1889: Caught fire and burned to the waterline on 9 October 1889 at East China, Michigan.
Final Disposition
The tug was burned to the waterline on 9 October 1889 at East China, Michigan, and deemed a total loss—though sometimes reported as 1890, official records list 1889.
Current Condition & Accessibility
There are no records of any subsequent salvage, recovery, or modern discovery—her remains presumably sank on site or were scrapped in situ.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”cal-davis-us-125282″ title=”References & Links”]
The Davis, Cal exemplifies the functional steam harbour tug of the late 19th century, surviving multiple rebuilds before succumbing to fire. Operating primarily on Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River corridor, she illustrates the industrial risks of steam-powered workboats. Although her structure and engine details are well-documented, her loss in 1889–1890 remains unexamined archaeologically, and no physical remains are known today.
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
- Name: Davis, Cal
- Official number: 125282
- Year built: 1873
- Builder: Carroll Brothers, Buffalo, New York
- Vessel type: Wood-hulled screw tug (towboat)
- Rebuilds: 1883; again in 1888–1889 at Smith yard, Algonac, Michigan
- Dimensions & Tonnage:
- Length: 17.57 m (57.6 ft)
- Beam: 4.39 m (14.4 ft)
- Depth: 2.01 m (6.6 ft)
- Gross tonnage: 24.87 gt; Net: 12 nt
- Engine & Boiler:
- Single-cylinder high-pressure steam engine (17″ × 19″)
- One 5.5 × 11 ft, 100 lb tubular boiler from Riter Boiler Works
Vessel Type
A late 19th-century screw tug powered by high-pressure steam—designed for towing and harbour work on the Great Lakes and connecting inland waterways.
Description
The Davis, Cal featured a single-deck wooden hull, driven via a single-screw propeller powered by a compact high-pressure steam engine. Her size was modest, supporting harbour towing and freight handling. Following decade-overloads, she underwent two significant rebuilds that likely reinforced her hull and machinery.
History
- 1876: Owned by Navaugh et al., Toledo, Ohio
- 22 Aug 1877: Inspected under ownership of Davis Brothers, Toledo
- 1879: Returned to Navaugh et al. (Toledo)
- 1883: First rebuild—details unspecified
- 1884: Passed to Doville of Cleveland, Ohio
- 1888–1889: Substantial rebuild performed at Smith yard in Algonac, Michigan
- 30 Apr 1889: Enrolled at Port Huron, Michigan under owner Charles Schunk
- 9 Oct 1889: Caught fire at East China (near Marine City) on Lake St. Clair; burned to the water’s edge under ownership of Algonac, Michigan operators
Final Disposition
The tug was burned to the waterline on 9 October 1889 at East China, Michigan, and deemed a total loss—though sometimes reported as 1890, official records list 1889.
Located By & Date Found
There are no records of any subsequent salvage, recovery, or modern discovery—her remains presumably sank on site or were scrapped in situ.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted. No current maritime hazard designation in modern notices for Lake St. Clair or the Detroit River area.
Resources & Links
- Board of Lake Underwriters Marine Directory – enrollment, technical specs, ownership history
- Edward J. Dowling Collection, University of Detroit Mercy
- William MacDonald Collection, Dossin Great Lakes Museum, Detroit
- Loudon G. Wilson private collection
Shore Dive Information
Not applicable — no known wreck location or diveable remains.
Conclusion
The Davis, Cal exemplifies the functional steam harbour tug of the late 19th century, surviving multiple rebuilds before succumbing to fire. Operating primarily on Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River corridor, she illustrates the industrial risks of steam-powered workboats. Although her structure and engine details are well-documented, her loss in 1889–1890 remains unexamined archaeologically, and no physical remains are known today.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
- Ship type: Wood-hulled screw tug, steam-powered, harbour towboat
- Region: Buffalo → Toledo → Cleveland → Port Huron → Lake St. Clair (East China/Marine City), Michigan
- Era: 1873–1889
- Incidents: Steam rebuilds, fire loss
- Status: Burned out; presumed wreck or scrap