Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Express
- Type: Single-masted wooden sloop
- Year Built: 1828
- Builder: William Willard
- Dimensions: Length 41 ft 6 in (12.65 m); Beam: 14 ft 9 in (4.50 m); Depth of hold: 4 ft 9 in (1.45 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 24 9/94 tons
- Location: Dunkirk, NY breakwater
- Original Owners: William Willard, Evans, NY
- Number of Masts: 1
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A small lake-sloop built for coastal cargo, suitable for navigating shallower inlets and harbours on Lake Erie, carrying light freight or supplies.
Description
Wood-planked hull with concise profile, designed for one mast and fore-and-aft sail rig, ideal for short coastal voyages with limited cargo. Compact and easily managed, yet vulnerable in rough seas.
History
- 1828 (May 1): Enrolled at Buffalo, NY—entered service.
- 1830–31: Changed hands; by July 1831, rebuilt under John F. Wight in Erie, PA. Enrolled at Detroit and later Presque Isle, Michigan—registered at 28 old tons (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, linkstothepast.com, greatlakesscuttlebutt.com).
- 1835 (Sept 28): While bound for Buffalo, struck Dunkirk breakwater attempting entry during a storm; sunk and battered for days, becoming a total loss.
Final Disposition
- Date: 28 September 1835
- Location: Dunkirk, NY breakwater, Lake Erie
- Fate: Wrecked on harbour pier; hull pounded to pieces by subsequent waves.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No underwater site exists; wreck remained above water, likely salvaged or decomposed—no dive records.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”express-1828″ title=”References & Links”]
The Express exemplifies early 19th-century small-craft trading on Lake Erie—simple, functional sloops apt for light freight and frequent port calls. After about seven productive years and a rebuild, she was lost attempting entry to Dunkirk in foul weather. The wreck, washed ashore, offers no dive potential but is part of the region’s maritime narrative of evolving coastal trade and harbour development.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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