Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Gilbert Knapp
- Type: Three-masted wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1854
- Builder: Beckwith Shipyard, Racine, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: ~120 ft length × 26 ft beam × 9 ft depth; approximately 186 gross tons / 177 net tons
- Registered Tonnage: 186 gross tons / 177 net tons
- Location: Shalda Creek, near Sleeping Bear, Michigan
- Official Number: 10337
- Number of Masts: Three
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Gilbert Knapp was a three-masted wooden schooner, primarily used for transporting cargo such as firewood and tanbark across the Great Lakes.
Description
Built in 1854 at Beckwith Shipyard in Racine, Wisconsin, the Gilbert Knapp measured approximately 120 feet in length, 26 feet in beam, and 9 feet in depth. The vessel had a registered tonnage of approximately 186 gross tons and 177 net tons.
History
The Gilbert Knapp was likely involved in regional lumber and bark transport, operating primarily in the Lake Michigan area, including routes to Chicago and other northern cities.
Significant Incidents
- Circumstances: The vessel was anchored at Glen Arbor when it attempted to ride out a developing gale. During the storm, her anchors slipped.
- Outcome: The Gilbert Knapp was driven ashore on Shalda Creek, near Sleeping Bear, Michigan, where the hull broke up in heavy surf.
- Casualties: None — the crew survived the stranding.
Final Disposition
The Gilbert Knapp broke apart in the surf after being driven ashore. The crew managed to escape without injury, but the vessel was lost to the storm.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The current condition of the wreck is not documented, but it is confirmed that the vessel was lost and broken up on the shore.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”gilbert-knapp-us-10337″ title=”References & Links”]
The loss of the Gilbert Knapp serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by mariners in the Great Lakes during severe weather conditions. Further research into the crew and the circumstances surrounding the wreck may provide additional insights into this maritime incident.
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.
(Three‑mast Wooden Schooner, built 1854; lost September 6, 1896)
Identification & Specifics
- Official Number: 10337
- Type: Three-masted wooden schooner
- Built: 1854, Beckwith Shipyard, Racine, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: ~120 ft length × 26 ft beam × 9 ft depth; approximately 186 gross tons / 177 net tons
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Operational Details
- Cargo at loss: Firewood and tanbark, freshly taken aboard at Glen Arbor, Michigan
- Home Port / Use: Likely involved in regional lumber and bark transport across Lake Michigan areas to points such as Chicago or cities to the north
Incident Overview (September 6, 1896)
- Circumstances: Anchored at Glen Arbor when she attempted to ride out a developing gale; during the storm, her anchors slipped
- Outcome: Driven ashore on Shalda Creek, near Sleeping Bear, Michigan; the hull broke up in heavy surf
- Casualties: None — crew survived the stranding
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Summary
Gilbert Knapp was a mid‑19th-century three-masted schooner hauling firewood and tanbark in 1896 when a sudden storm at Glen Arbor forced her anchorage out of holding—anchors slipped, and she was beached on a rocky shore near Shalda Creek. The vessel broke apart in the gale-driven surf. Miraculously, her crew escaped unharmed.
Opportunities for Further Research
| Area of Inquiry | Purpose | Sources to Explore |
|---|---|---|
| Crew list & survival narratives | Human detail and names from the stranding | Local newspapers such as Traverse City Record-Eagle (Sept 1896) |
| Detailed wreck location & mapping | Useful for historical mapping or dive interest | U.S. Coast Survey charts; NOAA underwater surveys |
| Weather details for Sept 6, 1896 | Storm scope and conditions during grounding | NOAA or NOAA-adjacent historic weather records |
| Construction and registry logs | Confirm design specs, tonnage, and ownership details | HCGL enrollment files; Racine shipyard records |
| Salvage, debris, or material recovery | Whether any hull or cargo was recovered | Harbor authority & maritime insurance records |
- Search local September 1896 newspapers for coverage on the stranding and crew details?
- Access HCGL enrollment documentation to confirm technical specs and ownership?
- Retrieve NOAA weather data to contextualize the storm conditions during the wreck?
- Locate harbor authority or insurance records related to salvage or cleanup operations?