Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Exile
- Type: Wooden schooner-barge (formerly a 3-masted schooner, later a 2-masted barge for bulk freight)
- Year Built: 1867
- Builder: Kelley in Milan, completed in Huron, Ohio
- Dimensions: 152 ft (46.33 m) length × 30 ft (9.14 m) beam × 11 ft (3.35 m) depth
- Registered Tonnage: 387 GRT / 368 NRT
- Location: Approximately 7 miles south of Sturgeon Point
- Official Number: 8183
- Number of Masts: 2 (formerly 3)
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Exile was a wooden schooner-barge, originally built as a 3-masted schooner and later converted to a 2-masted barge for bulk freight transport.
Description
Constructed in 1867, the Exile measured 152 feet in length, 30 feet in beam, and had a depth of 11 feet. It was registered at 387 gross tons and 368 net tons. The vessel was designed for the transportation of bulk freight across the Great Lakes.
History
The Exile had a service history typical of wooden vessels of its time, transitioning from a sailing schooner to a barge. It was involved in various freight operations until its final voyage under tow.
Significant Incidents
- On November 25, 1916, during a late-November storm, the towline of the Exile parted, leaving the vessel powerless and adrift.
- It was driven ashore south of Sturgeon Point, where it wrecked on the rocks, resulting in the hull being shattered by wave action.
- No casualties were reported, as the crew was safely evacuated.
Final Disposition
The wreck of the Exile was deemed a total loss after being pounded to pieces by the storm. The remains are likely scattered along the shoreline near Sturgeon Point.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The probable wreck area is characterized by a shallow but exposed rock coast typical of the region. Divers can expect to find heavily fragmented wooden wreckage, including ribs, planking, and iron fasteners.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”exile-us-8183″ title=”References & Links”]
The destruction of the Exile marks the end of a durable 19th-century vessel, highlighting the dangers of late-season storms on Lake Huron. Continued archival research and field surveys could yield significant insights into historical towing practices and vessel construction.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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