Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Fearless
- Type: Wooden fish tug
- Year Built: 1893
- Builder: H.B. & G.B. Burger (Burger Boat Company)
- Dimensions: Length: 59.2 ft (18.0 m); Beam: 14.6 ft (4.45 m); Depth of hold: 6.8 ft (2.07 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 28 GRT
- Depth at Wreck Site: 4.6 m / 15 ft
- Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Coordinates: N 43° 01.92' / W 087° 54.54'
- Official Number: 120943
- Original Owners: E.A. Sonneman, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
- Number of Masts: None
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Fearless is classified as a wooden fish tug, designed primarily for commercial fishing operations.
Description
The Fearless was constructed in 1893 at the Burger Boat Company in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. It features a wooden hull and was powered by a steam screw with a single propeller. The vessel measures 59.2 feet in length, 14.6 feet in beam, and has a depth of hold of 6.8 feet.
History
The Fearless was primarily used for commercial fishing, operating out of Jones Island, Milwaukee, a significant center for Great Lakes fishing fleets. Throughout its operational career, it was owned by E.A. Sonneman from Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
Significant Incidents
- By 1943, the Fearless was considered largely obsolete and was abandoned near the St. Paul Railroad Bridge in Milwaukee.
- No lives were lost during its abandonment.
Final Disposition
The vessel was abandoned in shallow water, becoming a relic of its time. Its abandonment marked the end of its operational life as a fishing vessel.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the Fearless was rediscovered in 1990 by diver Jerry Guyer. It lies intact but heavily degraded due to age, ice, and shallow exposure. The wreck is located at a depth of 15 feet (4.6 m), making it accessible for shallow-water diving.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”fearless-us-120943″ title=”References & Links”]
The Fearless serves as a significant historical and archaeological site, representing the late 19th-century Great Lakes fishing industry and the transition from wooden to steel vessels.
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.
Identification & Site Information
- Vessel Name(s): Fearless
- Official U.S. Registry Number: 120943
- Year Built: 1893
- Place Built: Manitowoc, Wisconsin, USA
- Builder: H.B. & G.B. Burger (Burger Boat Company)
- Dimensions:
- Length: 59.2 ft (18.0 m)
- Beam: 14.6 ft (4.45 m)
- Depth of Hold: 6.8 ft (2.07 m)
- Gross Tonnage: 28 GRT
- Construction Material: Wood
- Propulsion: Steam screw, single propeller
- Masts: None
- Vessel Type: Wooden fish tug
Location of Wreck:
- Body of Water: Lake Michigan
- County: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Nearest City: Milwaukee
- Coordinates: N 43° 01.92′ / W 087° 54.54′
- Depth: 15 ft (4.6 m)
Vessel History
- The Fearless was built in 1893 at the Burger Boat Company in Manitowoc, Wisconsin—a yard historically known for producing commercial fishing vessels and steam tugs for the Great Lakes.
- Primary operation: Commercial fishing, based from Jones Island, Milwaukee, a historic hub for Great Lakes fishing fleets.
- Owner during its operational career included:
- E.A. Sonneman, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Final Disposition
- By 1943, the Fearless was a 50‑year‑old wooden steam fish tug, largely obsolete and likely no longer profitable for fishing operations.
- The vessel was abandoned near the St. Paul Railroad Bridge in Milwaukee in shallow water.
- No lives were lost in its abandonment.
Discovery & Current Condition
- Rediscovered: 1990
- Confirmed By: Diver Jerry Guyer
- Depth: 15 ft (4.6 m), making it a shallow-water dive
- The wreck lies intact but heavily degraded due to age, ice, and shallow exposure.
Shore Dive / Dive Site Information
- Depth Range: 10–15 ft (3–5 m)
- Accessibility:
- Suitable for snorkeling and novice divers, weather dependent.
- Shallow water may require kayak or small boat for access.
- Hazards:
- Poor visibility in Milwaukee harbor
- Boat traffic; dive flag required
- Emergency Contact:
- USCG Sector Lake Michigan: +1 414‑747‑7100
- Dive Support:
- Jerry Guyer’s Shipwreck Explorers and local Milwaukee dive shops
Historical & Archaeological Significance
The Fearless represents a classic late 19th‑century Great Lakes fish tug, part of the fleet that supported Milwaukee’s Jones Island fishing community.
- Demonstrates the wooden-to-steel transition period for Great Lakes commercial fishing vessels.
- Serves as a training and archaeological site for shallow‑water wreck research.
- Provides insight into regional fishing practices and the decline of wooden steam tugs by the mid‑20th century.