Fintry (1853)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Fintry
• Type: Twin-propeller wooden steamer (propeller vessel)
• Year Built: 1853
• Builder: Detroit
• Dimensions:
• Registered Tonnage:
• Location: Lake Erie (off Port Stanley, Ontario)

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Twin-propeller wooden steamer designed for mixed passenger and freight service.

Description

The Fintry was a wooden-hulled propeller steamer, built for the transportation of agricultural produce and occasional passengers. It featured a twin-propeller setup, indicating robust propulsion and redundancy.

History

Launched in early 1853, the Fintry was part of a trio of Detroit-built propellers intended for the Buffalo trade. It served on Lake Erie routes, carrying agricultural produce and occasional passengers, and suffered no prior major incidents before its catastrophic loss in November 1855.

Significant Incidents

• On November 8, 1855, the Fintry suffered a catastrophic boiler explosion while east of Port Stanley, resulting in the vessel sinking within approximately three minutes.
• The explosion killed 8 crew members instantly, while 17 survivors clung to floating wreckage until rescue arrived.

Final Disposition

The wreck of the Fintry remains unlocated, having sunk stern-first under quick sinking conditions. It is likely severely fragmented, with scattered boiler parts and cargo debris across the lake bed.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Current status indicates that the wreck is unlocated, with the likelihood of a fragmented hull and debris scattered across the lake bed. The exact coordinates of the wreck are unknown.

Resources & Links

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The tragedy of the Fintry highlights the hazards of early steam-era navigation on the Great Lakes, particularly the dangers posed by boiler explosions. Documenting the wreck would enhance understanding of early Canadian–U.S. steam navigation history.