Charles K. Nims US 4271

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Nims, Charles K.
• Type: Wood-hulled barkentine
• Year Built: 1866
• Builder: Quayle & Martin, Cleveland, Ohio
• Dimensions: Length 102 ft (31.1 m); Beam 38 ft (11.6 m); Depth of hold 13 ft (4.0 m)
• Registered Tonnage: ~514 GT
• Depth at Wreck Site: 7.3 m / 24 ft
• Location: Bar Point, Lake Erie
• Official Number: 4271
• Original Owners: O.L. & Sarah E. Nims, Donaldson Brothers, S.A. Murphy
• Number of Masts: Three masts

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

A large three-masted barkentine used for bulk transport—her rigging combining square sails on foremast with fore-and-aft sails on main and mizzen masts optimized labour efficiency and carrying capacity.

Description

Robust wooden hull designed for large grain and bulk freight volumes—featuring a single deck and three-mast configuration. The dimensions and capacity were significant for a non-steam cargo vessel on the Great Lakes.

History

• 1866 (April 3): Launched from Cleveland
• 1868 (September 19): Storm damage in Lake Michigan
• 1871 (May 27): Aground at Point Pelee, Lake Erie
• 1871 (October 25): Ownership transferred to Donaldson Brothers, Buffalo
• 1874: New deck installation
• 1876: Converted or re-rigged as a schooner
• 1876 (October 17): Aground at Beaver Island, Lake Michigan while coal laden
• 1877: Hull refastened (repairs)
• 1879 (April 24): Official tonnage re-survey 493.29 GT
• 1879 (November 12): Aground near Point Abino, Lake Erie
• 1881 (September 10): Collided with schooner David Dows during an informal race near Bar Point, Lake Erie; struck and quickly took on water, sinking in ~7.3 m (24 ft) depth.
• Post-incident: Crew rescued by steamer P.H. Birckhead. Ownership transferred to S.A. Murphy (June 1882); salvage attempts resumed through October, then abandoned.

Significant Incidents

• Storm damage in Lake Michigan (1868)
• Aground at Point Pelee, Lake Erie (1871)
• Aground at Beaver Island, Lake Michigan (1876)
• Aground near Point Abino, Lake Erie (1879)
• Collision with schooner David Dows (1881)

Final Disposition

The vessel was wrecked and sank following collision. Salvage efforts were initiated but abandoned later that year. The hull remains in situ at ~24 ft depth.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck is assumed located at Bar Point in Lake Erie after sinking in 1881 and was not formally rediscovered—it never left the lake floor; remains may still be present.

Resources & Links

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Nims, Charles K. presents a compelling shallow-water wreck accessible to recreational and technical divers. Its substantial remains in only 7 m of water make it easily accessible, offering insight into 19th-century barkentine design and Great Lakes bulk commerce. Despite repeated marine mishaps, it remained in use until her dramatic collision, and the in-situ wreck provides a tangible connection to the region’s maritime heritage.