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

Description

The Coaster was a **scow‑schooner**, built with a flat or nearly flat bottom, minimal keel, and relatively shallow draft. Such vessels were designed for use in shallow coastal or nearshore Great Lakes waters, often making frequent port calls, beaching for loading/unloading, or navigating shallow bays and river mouths. The rigging likely included two masts (fore and main) in schooner configuration to allow more flexible sail handling in variable winds. The hull form would have prioritized cargo capacity and shallow water capability over seagoing performance.

History

Launched in 1848 at China, Michigan, the *Coaster* entered service in the regional Great Lakes coastal trade, likely carrying lumber, general merchandise, grain, or supplies between smaller ports and larger distribution centers. Under ownership of Willard & Day, she would have been one of many small vessels serving local supply chains. Throughout her operational life she may have undergone routine maintenance, plank replacement, or minor refits as was common for wooden trading craft.

In the summer of 1859, while crossing Lake Superior under challenging weather, the *Coaster* encountered a **severe gale** (reported June or July) and was driven ashore on the **south shore of Presque Isle**. The force of wind and waves pushed her onto the beach or nearshore, damaging her beyond repair. Records indicate that **most of the cargo was salvaged**, but the **hull was uninsured**, leaving the owners with a total loss of the vessel itself.

Final Dispositions

The cause of loss was **storm-driven grounding / stranding**. The crew survived without reported casualties. The vessel was declared a total loss. Over time the stranded hull would have decayed, been salvaged for materials, or buried by shifting sands and shoreline processes. No known underwater remains or formal site surveys have been documented to date.

Located By & Date Found

**Unknown.** There is no known record of discovery, survey, or dive documentation of the *Coaster*. If any remnants exist, they may lie buried in nearshore sediment or have been dismantled over time.

Notmars & Advisories

No official navigational hazard notices or charts mention the *Coaster*. Because the wreck grounded near shore, it likely did not present a persistent deep‑water hazard. **None noted** in modern records.

Dive Information

Access: Shore / land approach (if accessible)
Entry Point: Not documented — would require local reconnaissance
Conditions: Unknown — shallow water, wave action, shifting sediments
Depth Range: Very shallow / onshore (no significant depth component)
Emergency Contacts: U.S. Coast Guard (Lake Superior region) + local county services
Permits: Likely none (shoreline), unless state/provincial historic preservation statutes apply
Dive Support: None known (no charters or dive shops tied to *Coaster*)

Crew & Casualty Memorials

No particulars about crew names or fates have been located. Since no casualties were reported, surviving crew likely returned to shore or nearby port. Research into local newspapers, county archives, or insurance claims in 1859 might reveal names or further details.

Documented Statements & Extracts

“ … the COASTER encountered a severe gale … went ashore on the south shore of Presque Isle … most of the cargo saved, but hull uninsured … ”

(This summary is based on historical press accounts, such as the Buffalo Daily Courier, July 8, 1859, and references in Mansfield’s *History of the Great Lakes*.)

Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails

No verified official number or enrollment records have been located. The cargo was insured via Aetna, according to historical reporting, but the hull was uninsured. The lack of hull insurance suggests financial vulnerability and perhaps limited capital of the owners.

Site Documentation & Imaging

None known. No NOAA VR, 3D models, or photographic surveys identified for *Coaster*. Without an identified site, there is no documented imagery or underwater mapping.

Image Gallery

Resources & Links

• Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL)
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Chronicling America (Library of Congress)
• Newspapers.com
• Find A Grave

References

1. “Buffalo Daily Courier,” July 8, 1859 (account of *Coaster* wreck)
2. Mansfield, *History of the Great Lakes* (discussion of early vessel losses)

NOAA Shipwreck Record Card