Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: David Provost
- Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1864
- Builder: Squires, Huron, Ohio
- Dimensions: Approximately 89 ft × 22 ft × 7 ft; ~99 GRT
- Registered Tonnage: 99 GRT
- Location: Near Detour Passage Lighthouse, Lake Huron
- Official Number: 6384
- Original Owners: Registered out of Detroit, ownership attributed to Carron (or Capron)
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Two-masted wooden schooner.
Description
The David Provost was a wooden schooner built in 1864, measuring approximately 89 feet in length and 22 feet in beam. It was registered out of Detroit and primarily used for transporting goods across the Great Lakes.
History
The David Provost was constructed by Squires in Huron, Ohio, and was primarily engaged in trade routes across the Great Lakes. It was lost in 1887 during a storm while carrying brick ballast from Chatham, Ontario, to Sault Ste. Marie.
Significant Incidents
- Final Incident: On September 12, 1887, the vessel encountered a sudden fall storm with intense winds and waves, leading to its foundering and sinking near Detour Passage Lighthouse.
- Crew Survival: All crew members survived the incident, with no fatalities reported.
Final Disposition
The David Provost was declared a constructive total loss after the storm. Despite being raised twice in salvage attempts, the vessel sank again each time, indicating significant structural damage. Ultimately, it was abandoned on the lake bottom.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the David Provost remains unrecoverable and lies on the lakebed near Detour Passage. Further exploration and sonar mapping could help identify its precise location and condition.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”david-provost-us-6284″ title=”References & Links”]
The schooner David Provost launched in 1864 foundered on Lake Huron amid stormy conditions on September 12, 1887, en route from Chatham to Sault Ste. Marie. Despite raising attempts, she sank twice and was ultimately declared a total loss. The crew survived, and the wreck remains on the lakebed near Detour Passage. Further archival research—such as crew lists, salvage documentation, and survey efforts—could provide additional insights into the vessel’s final hours and condition.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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