Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

False Squaw

Explore the intriguing wreck of the False Squaw, a motorized wooden pleasure boat submerged in the St. Lawrence River, offering a unique dive experience.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: False Squaw
  • Type: Motorized Wooden Pleasure Boat
  • Year Built:
  • Builder:
  • Dimensions: Length: 22 ft (6.7 m); Beam: 6 ft (1.8 m); Depth of hold: 50 ft (16 m)
  • Registered Tonnage:
  • Depth at Wreck Site: 16 m / 50 ft
  • Location: Approximately 600 feet off the west end waterfront of Clayton, New York

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The False Squaw was a small motorized wooden pleasure boat, likely used for personal transportation or light recreation. With its wooden hull and propeller propulsion, the boat represents typical mid-20th-century design for private watercraft, although specific construction details are unknown due to the absence of builder records.

Description

The wreck lies submerged at 50 feet, 600 feet from Clayton’s waterfront. The hull is upright, leaning slightly to port, with wooden panels that once supported a windshield still in place. The absence of significant fittings and the zebra mussel coverage suggest the wreck has been underwater for several decades.

History

The False Squaw‘s history is entwined with the mystery of a previously reported wreck known as the Squaw. Discovered by members of the Clayton Diving Club in the 1970s, the Squaw was a 30-foot workboat with an intact cabin, motor, brass fittings, and other features indicating recent loss. Despite attempts, the Squaw was never relocated, leaving its fate unknown.

In March 2011, a wreck was found in the vicinity using side scan sonar, but it was a smaller vessel, stripped of most of its fittings, and heavily encrusted with zebra mussels. This wreck was christened the False Squaw due to its proximity to the Squaw‘s reported location and its resemblance to a discarded vessel rather than a functioning workboat.

It is speculated that the Squaw may have been raised or removed, leaving the False Squaw behind as an abandoned craft. There are no surviving local records or newspaper reports to clarify the timeline or events leading to the False Squaw‘s submersion.

Significant Incidents

  • 1970s: Discovery of the Squaw by the Clayton Diving Club.
  • March 2011: Discovery of the False Squaw using side scan sonar.

Final Disposition

The False Squaw serves as an enigmatic underwater relic and a popular dive site near Clayton, New York. Its mystery, coupled with its connection to the Squaw, provides a compelling story for divers and historians interested in the region’s nautical past. Although the lack of archival records limits historical verification, the wreck’s condition and location make it an accessible site for underwater exploration.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck is currently upright with a slight lean to port and is covered in zebra mussels. It has been stripped of its motor, wheel, lights, and metal work, indicating it has been underwater for several decades.

Resources & Links

The False Squaw remains a fascinating site for divers and a reminder of the complexities of historical preservation and mystery on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. Its discovery and name reflect the region’s rich maritime exploration culture, blending fact and intrigue in equal measure.