Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Cedar Point Barge
- Type: Barge
- Year Built:
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Approx. 73 ft (22.25 m) X 35 ft 4 in; Depth of hold >4 ft
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: ~6 miles off Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden working barge—likely a utility barge used for cargo or service operations near Sandusky.
Description
The Cedar Point Barge is an inverted wooden barge located approximately 6 miles off Cedar Point, Ohio. The vessel lies with its bottom facing upward, listing approximately 10–18 degrees to starboard. The site shows signs of scouring by current, with a trench in hard clay surrounding the wreck.
History
Despite the detailed survey conducted on July 26–27, 2008, information regarding the barge’s history, including its official name, owner, and build date, remains elusive. The lack of visible artifacts or machinery suggests it may have been stripped or abandoned.
Significant Incidents
- No specific incident records have been identified related to this barge.
Final Disposition
The wreck is currently in an inverted position and partially buried, with no visible signs of salvage or dive marks. Its condition suggests it may have sunk in place or been abandoned.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Visibility conditions during the survey were approximately 20 feet above the thermocline, with less than 5 feet below. The wreck is accessible for diving, but divers should be cautious of the currents, which were noted to be around ½ knot westward on the bottom.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”cedar-point-barge” title=”References & Links”]
Further archival research is recommended to uncover the barge’s identity and operational history, particularly focusing on local maritime records from the late 19th to early 20th centuries.
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.
Initial Survey Report: Unknown Barge
Site: ~6 miles off Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio (Lake Erie)
Dates of Dive: July 26–27, 2008
Survey Team: Jack Papes (lead report author), Mike Chrisopulos, Glenn Fisher, Ed Noga (Maritime Archaeological Survey Team)
Site Conditions
- Environmental: Sunny topside (≈ 85 °F, light breeze S–SW), 1–3 ft seas.
- Water & Visibility: Surface 75 °F; thermocline at 40 ft (~65 °F below); visibility ~20 ft above, <5 ft below.
- Currents: ~½ knot westward on the bottom.
Vessel & Wreck Characteristics
- Orientation & Attitude: Vessel lies inverted (bottom facing upward), bow at approx. 320° heading, listing ~10–18° to starboard. Trench in hard clay suggests scouring by current.
- Dimensions:
- Beam: 35 ft 4 in
- Length: Approx. 73 ft (site partially obscured at bow due to trench)
- Draft: >4 ft
- Structure: Inverted hull framing visible—planking mostly intact. No visible salvage or dive marks.
Assessment & Identification Criteria
Vessel Type Hypothesis
- Wooden working barge—not a schooner or powered vessel. The inverted position, clay trench, and lack of fittings suggest a utility barge, possibly for cargo or service near Sandusky.
Structural Clues
- Straight-sided hull frames, wide beam-to-length ratio, and shallow draft consistent with a barge built for nearshore freight or service operations.
Cargo & Salvage Indicators
- No artifacts, machinery, or merchandise visible. Probably stripped or bare hull.
Archival Gaps & Suggested Search Areas
Despite detailed field data, relevant information about this barge is scarce. Key missing data:
- Official vessel name, owner, build date or registry
- Event or loss records tied to Cedar Point/Sandusky barge operations
Recommended Archival Research:
- Sandusky newspapers (1900–1950):
- Sandusky Register, Toledo Blade, Cleveland Plain Dealer may contain incident reports or notices referencing barges lost, abandoned, or beached off Cedar Point.
- Harbor and port logs:
- Sandusky Harbor Authority and US Army Corps of Engineers records might contain documentation of barge maintenance, scrapping, or sinking.
- Great Lakes vessel registries:
- Search for wooden barge vessels ~70–80 ft registered in Sandusky or Cleveland ports.
- Underwater cultural resource surveys:
- NOAA or Ohio Sea Grant may hold bathymetric data near Cedar Point for wreck mapping.
- CLUE archives:
- Full sonar mosaics from 2008 may reveal unobserved structural portions beyond the inverted site.
Summary Table
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Site Name | Unknown inverted wooden barge |
| Location | ~6 mi off Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH |
| Survey Dates | July 26–27, 2008 |
| Dimensions | ~73 ft length; 35 ft beam; inverted |
| Type | Utility barge (wooden, unpowered) |
| Condition | Inverted and partially buried; no artifacts |
| Visibility | Good above thermocline; <5 ft below |
| Salvage Signs | None |
Conclusions
This wreck likely represents a small wooden barge, possibly used for cargo or construction support near Sandusky/Cedar Point. Its inverted position and lack of machinery suggest either sinking in place or abandonment. Without discoverable registry or incident-specific records, identification relies on deeper archival research, particularly in local fire, maritime, and port records from the late 19th to early 20th centuries.
cedar-point-barge 2008-07-27 19:52:00