Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: F.V. Specht
- Type: Wooden scow-schooner
- Year Built: 1857
- Builder: Ferdinand Specht, Mount Clemens, Michigan
- Dimensions: 62 ft (18.9 m); Beam 19 ft (5.8 m); Depth of hold 4 ft (1.2 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 55 tons
- Location: Approximately 2 miles downstream from Windsor, Ontario, in the Detroit River
- Official Number: C80579
- Original Owners: Sold to Canadian interests in 1884
- Number of Masts: Two-masted
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden scow-schooner, two-masted (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Description
The F.V. Specht was a small wooden scow-schooner, a common vessel type in the mid-19th century Great Lakes maritime trade. Built by Ferdinand Specht in Mount Clemens, Michigan, in 1857, the vessel measured 62 feet (18.9 meters) in length, 19 feet (5.8 meters) in beam, and 4 feet (1.2 meters) in depth, with a gross tonnage of 55 tons. Scow-schooners were characterized by their flat bottoms and squared-off bows and sterns, making them suitable for navigating shallow waters and carrying bulk cargoes such as lumber, stone, and other heavy materials.
History
The F.V. Specht served as a utilitarian cargo vessel on the Great Lakes, primarily operating in the Detroit River and surrounding waterways. In 1884, the vessel was sold to Canadian interests and registered under the Canadian official number C80579. On October 24, 1888, the F.V. Specht sank approximately 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) downstream from Windsor, Ontario, in the Detroit River. The specific circumstances of the sinking are not detailed in available records, but it is suggested that a collision may have been the cause.
Significant Incidents
- No records found indicating the discovery or current location of the wreck.
Final Disposition
Sank on October 24, 1888, in the Detroit River near Windsor, Ontario; presumed total loss.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No navigational warnings or advisories related to the F.V. Specht have been identified.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”f-v-specht-c-80579″ title=”References & Links”]
The F.V. Specht exemplifies the numerous small scow-schooners that were integral to commerce on the Great Lakes during the 19th century. While specific details about its service history and the circumstances of its sinking are limited, the vessel’s story contributes to the broader understanding of maritime operations and hazards in the region during that era.
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: F.V. Specht
- Former Names: None
- Official Number: C80579 (Canadian registry)
- Date Built and Launched: 1857
- Builder: Ferdinand Specht, Mount Clemens, Michigan
- Dimensions: 62 ft (18.9 m) length × 19 ft (5.8 m) beam × 4 ft (1.2 m) depth
- Gross Tonnage: 55 tons
- Date Lost: October 24, 1888
- Place of Loss: Approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) downstream from Windsor, Ontario, in the Detroit River
- Type of Loss: Sank (likely due to collision)
- Cargo: Unknown
- Crew and Casualties: No records found
- Registry History: Originally U.S. registry number 9211; sold to Canadian interests in 1884(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, GovInfo)
Vessel Type
Wooden scow-schooner, two-masted(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Description
The F.V. Specht was a small wooden scow-schooner, a common vessel type in the mid-19th century Great Lakes maritime trade. Built by Ferdinand Specht in Mount Clemens, Michigan, in 1857, the vessel measured 62 feet (18.9 meters) in length, 19 feet (5.8 meters) in beam, and 4 feet (1.2 meters) in depth, with a gross tonnage of 55 tons. Scow-schooners were characterized by their flat bottoms and squared-off bows and sterns, making them suitable for navigating shallow waters and carrying bulk cargoes such as lumber, stone, and other heavy materials.
History
The F.V. Specht served as a utilitarian cargo vessel on the Great Lakes, primarily operating in the Detroit River and surrounding waterways. In 1884, the vessel was sold to Canadian interests and registered under the Canadian official number C80579. On October 24, 1888, the F.V. Specht sank approximately 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) downstream from Windsor, Ontario, in the Detroit River. The specific circumstances of the sinking are not detailed in available records, but it is suggested that a collision may have been the cause.
Final Disposition
Sank on October 24, 1888, in the Detroit River near Windsor, Ontario; presumed total loss.
Located By & Date Found
No records found indicating the discovery or current location of the wreck.
NOTMARs & Advisories
No navigational warnings or advisories related to the F.V. Specht have been identified.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – WordPress.com
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- David Swayze’s Shipwreck File
- Library and Archives Canada
Conclusion
The F.V. Specht exemplifies the numerous small scow-schooners that were integral to commerce on the Great Lakes during the 19th century. While specific details about its service history and the circumstances of its sinking are limited, the vessel’s story contributes to the broader understanding of maritime operations and hazards in the region during that era.
Suggested Keywords, Categories, and Glossary Terms
- Keywords: F.V. Specht, scow-schooner, shipwreck, Detroit River, 1888 sinking
- Categories: Great Lakes Shipwrecks, 19th Century Maritime History, Scow-Schooners
- Glossary Terms:
- Scow-Schooner: A flat-bottomed sailing vessel with two or more masts, commonly used in the 19th century for transporting bulk cargoes in shallow waters.
- Gross Tonnage: A measure of the overall internal volume of a vessel, expressed in tons.
- Collision: An incident where two vessels strike each other, often leading to damage or sinking.(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)