Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Elite
- Type: Wooden-hulled propeller steam tug
- Year Built: 1894
- Builder: Goderich, Ontario
- Dimensions: Approx. 60 ft × 15 ft × 6 ft (18.3 m × 4.6 m × 1.8 m); 36 gross tons
- Registered Tonnage: 36 gross tons
- Location: At dock on Jennie Island, Georgian Bay, Lake Huron
- Official Number: C96880
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A compact steam-powered tug used for harbor work, likely ferrying supplies or assisting vessels along Georgian Bay. The wooden hull and steam-driven propeller made her a typical utility vessel of her era.
Description
Constructed in 1894 at Goderich, Elite served the region for nearly four decades. Though small in tonnage, she was robustly built and underwent a major rebuild in Wiarton in 1916, indicating continual upkeep and service value.
History
Elite towed logs, barges, and supported dock operations around Georgian Bay. After the 1916 overhaul, she continued in active regional service. On 23 September 1933, while docked at Jennie Island, she caught fire and was consumed down to her waterline. There were no reported fatalities.
Significant Incidents
- 23 September 1933: Caught fire while docked at Jennie Island, resulting in a total loss.
Final Disposition
Following the fire, Elite was declared a total loss. The charred hull remained at the dock until her documents were surrendered, and she was officially removed from service registry. No evidence suggests she was salvaged or towed away — she remained where she burned.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck has never been formally surveyed. No diving or archaeological expeditions have located her remains, which likely deteriorated in place at Jennie Island.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”elite-c-96880″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The Elite exemplifies a long-serving Georgian Bay steam tug, whose career ended quietly by fire at dock rather than at sea. Though she was well-maintained and rebuilt, this quiet demise in 1933 illustrates how even hardworking support vessels could be lost to accidents in routine operations. Her remains remain a silent legacy on Jennie Island.
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
- Name: Elite
- Official Number: C96880
- Built: 1894, Goderich, Ontario
- Vessel Type: Wooden-hulled propeller steam tug
- Dimensions: Approx. 18.3 m × 4.6 m × 1.8 m (60′ × 15′ × 6′); 36 gross tons
- Date Lost: 23 September 1933
- Location: At dock on Jennie Island, Georgian Bay, Lake Huron
- Cause of Loss: Destroyed by fire; burned to the waterline — a total loss (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Vessel Type
A compact steam-powered tug used for harbor work, likely ferrying supplies or assisting vessels along Georgian Bay. The wooden hull and steam-driven propeller made her a typical utility vessel of her era.
Description
Constructed in 1894 at Goderich, Elite served the region for nearly four decades. Though small in tonnage, she was robustly built and underwent a major rebuild in Wiarton in 1916, indicating continual upkeep and service value .
History
Elite towed logs, barges, and supported dock operations around Georgian Bay. After the 1916 overhaul, she continued in active regional service. On 23 September 1933, while docked at Jennie Island, she caught fire and was consumed down to her waterline. There were no reported fatalities .
Final Disposition
Following the fire, Elite was declared a total loss. The charred hull remained at the dock until her documents were surrendered, and she was officially removed from service registry. No evidence suggests she was salvaged or towed away — she remained where she burned (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).
Located By & Date Found
The wreck has never been formally surveyed. No diving or archaeological expeditions have located her remains, which likely deteriorated in place at Jennie Island.
Notations & Advisories
There are no navigational warnings or charts marking her remains. As a dockside loss, she doesn’t pose a navigational hazard. The site lies undisturbed and uncharted.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files entry on Elite confirming fire loss on September 23, 1933 (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Conclusion
The Elite exemplifies a long-serving Georgian Bay steam tug, whose career ended quietly by fire at dock rather than at sea. Though she was well-maintained and rebuilt, this quiet demise in 1933 illustrates how even hardworking support vessels could be lost to accidents in routine operations. Her remains remain a silent legacy on Jennie Island.
Suggested Keywords & Glossary Terms: steam tug, Georgian Bay support vessel, dockside fire, early 20th-century marine utility, Goderich-built tug
Categories:
- Great Lakes shipwrecks
- Lake Huron tug losses
- dockside fire casualties