Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Christina A. Forbes
- Type: Wooden screw propeller-driven river steamer
- Year Built: 1878
- Builder: F.W. Wheeler
- Dimensions: 73.6 ft (22.43 m) length × 15 ft (4.57 m) beam × 5 ft (1.52 m) depth
- Registered Tonnage: 51.48 GT / 41.82 NT
- Location: Near Bay City, Michigan on the Saginaw River
- Official Number: 125649
- Original Owners: William Forbes, Frank A. Smith, Michael Maher
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A small harbour and river steamer suited for freight and passenger operations along the Saginaw River and connecting Michigan ports.
Description
A single-deck wooden screw steamer powered by a single-cylinder steam engine. Designed for river service, it was compact and manoeuvrable—likely outfitted with minimal accommodations suitable for short voyages and cargo runs.
History
- Mar 1878: Enrolment at Port Huron under owner Wm Forbes
- 3 Mar 1891: Ownership transferred to Frank A. Smith, Port Huron
- 4 Feb 1892: Subsequent ownership change to Michael Maher, Port Huron
- 7 Sep 1895: Destroyed by fire while moored on the Saginaw River near Bay City, MI; burned down to the waterline
Final Disposition
The vessel burned to the water’s edge and was declared a total loss. The hull was rendered inoperable and cannot be considered a wreck site suitable for investigation or diving.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No underwater remains; the hull was likely salvaged, scrapped, or left partly submerged along the river bank.
Resources & Links
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The Christina A. Forbes served for nearly two decades as a small river steamer on the Saginaw River before succumbing to a destructive fire in 1895. Burned to the waterline, the vessel did not sink but was rendered unusable and removed from service. Today, it remains a footnote in Michigan maritime history rather than a physical wreck—highlighting the common risk of fire among small steam vessels of that era.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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