Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Gulnare
- Type: Three-masted wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1873
- Builder: J. Abbey, Port Robinson, Ontario
- Dimensions: 142 ft (43.3 m) long × 24 ft (7.3 m) beam × 11 ft (3.4 m) depth
- Registered Tonnage: 325 GRT
- Location: Just east of Ashtabula Harbour breakwater, Ohio
- Official Number: C71157
- Original Owners: T. Myles & Sons, Hamilton, Ontario
- Number of Masts: Three
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Three-masted wooden schooner, bulk freighter.
Description
Built in 1873, the Gulnare was a 325 GRT schooner designed to haul heavy cargo like coal and grindstones. Her structure supported Great Lakes bulk trade, and she operated under Canadian ownership with cross-border shipments.
History
The Gulnare served across the Great Lakes, traversing between Ontario and U.S. ports. On July 15, 1892, laden with coal and grindstones, she became stranded near Ashtabula harbor (Lake Erie) during a storm. The skipper unfairly blamed the captain of a harbor tug for poor handling. Fortunately, all crew survived, spending about four harrowing hours perched in the rigging before rescue (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).
Earlier records show her stranded on Nov 5, 1890, at North Point Reef, Thunder Bay, Michigan (Lake Huron). Abandoned on Nov 12, she was later recovered—but details of that incident remain secondary to her final loss in 1892 (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).
Significant Incidents
- Stranded on November 5, 1890, at North Point, Thunder Bay, Michigan.
- Stranded on July 15, 1892, near Ashtabula Harbour, Ohio, during a storm.
Final Disposition
Declared a total loss following the July 15, 1892 stranding. The vessel was abandoned, and no significant salvage noted.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No archaeological surveys or dive investigations recorded; the wreck is considered unlocated.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”gulnare-c-71157″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The story of Gulnare illustrates recurring maritime hazards: her repeated strandings in separate Great Lakes highlight the perils of storms, navigation near harbor entrances, and the human element in ship handling. Though no crew lost, the schooner’s twin incidents—first in Lake Huron (1890) and final in Lake Erie (1892)—underscore vessel vulnerability and highlight the interconnectedness of Great Lakes shipping hazards and histories.
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: Gulnare
- Official Number(s): C71157
- Date Built and Launched: 1873, by J. Abbey, Port Robinson, Ontario
- Measurements: 142 ft (43.3 m) long × 24 ft (7.3 m) beam × 11 ft (3.4 m) depth; 325 GRT
- Date Lost: Stranded July 15, 1892 (first incident); again wrecked November 5, 1890… (record confusion: primary loss July 15, 1892)
- Place Lost: Just east of Ashtabula Harbour breakwater (Ohio) in 1892; earlier stranded Nov 5, 1890 on North Point, Thunder Bay, Michigan (Lake Huron)
- Cause of Loss: Stranded during storm—primary loss attributed to poor handling amid gale, subsequent gale drifted her off wreck site
- Cargo: Coal and grindstones
- Crew: No lives lost; crew rescued after 4 hours in rigging
- Ownership: T. Myles & Sons, Hamilton, Ontario
Vessel Type
Three-masted wooden schooner, bulk freighter.
Description
Built in 1873, the Gulnare was a 325 GRT schooner designed to haul heavy cargo like coal and grindstones. Her structure supported Great Lakes bulk trade, and she operated under Canadian ownership with cross-border shipments.
History
The Gulnare served across the Great Lakes, traversing between Ontario and U.S. ports. On July 15, 1892, laden with coal and grindstones, she became stranded near Ashtabula harbor (Lake Erie) during a storm. The skipper unfairly blamed the captain of a harbor tug for poor handling. Fortunately, all crew survived, spending about four harrowing hours perched in the rigging before rescue (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).
Earlier records show her stranded on Nov 5, 1890, at North Point Reef, Thunder Bay, Michigan (Lake Huron). Abandoned on Nov 12, she was later recovered—but details of that incident remain secondary to her final loss in 1892 (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).
Final Disposition
Declared a total loss following the July 15, 1892 stranding. The vessel was abandoned, and no significant salvage noted.
Located By & Date Found
No archaeological surveys or dive investigations recorded; the wreck is considered unlocated.
Notmars & Advisories
No navigational markers indicate the Gulnare‘s wreckage. Her 1890 grounding on North Point Reef, Thunder Bay, highlights a hazardous reef area with dense wreck history (thunderbay.noaa.gov).
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – GULNARE entry (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- NOAA Thunder Bay Sanctuary overview of North Point Reef wrecks (thunderbay.noaa.gov)
Conclusion
The story of Gulnare illustrates recurring maritime hazards: her repeated strandings in separate Great Lakes highlight the perils of storms, navigation near harbor entrances, and the human element in ship handling. Though no crew lost, the schooner’s twin incidents—first in Lake Huron (1890) and final in Lake Erie (1892)—underscore vessel vulnerability and highlight the interconnectedness of Great Lakes shipping hazards and histories.
Keywords: Gulnare, coal schooner, grindstones, Ashtabula, North Point Reef, 1890–92 strandings
Categories: Great Lakes Shipwrecks, 19th‑Century Maritime Incidents, Bulk Freight Schooners
Glossary Terms:
- GRT (Gross Register Tonnage): Measure of a ship’s internal volume.
- Stranded: When a vessel runs ashore or into a reef and becomes stuck.
- Rigging Rescue: Crew clambering aloft to avoid rising water or waves.