Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: H.B. Sherwood
- Type: Wooden-hulled propeller steam tug
- Year Built: 1874
- Builder: W. Jamieson at Mill Point, Ontario
- Dimensions: 58 ft × 15 ft × 6 ft; 36 GRT, 21 NRT
- Registered Tonnage: 36 GRT, 21 NRT
- Location: Likely near fire site on Lake Huron
- Official Number: C71064
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Type
Wooden-hulled propeller steam tug.
Description
Description
The H.B. Sherwood was a wooden tugboat built in 1874, measuring 58 feet in length, 15 feet in beam, and 6 feet in depth. It had a registered tonnage of 36 gross tons and 21 net tons.
History
History
The H.B. Sherwood functioned as a tugboat on Lake Huron, primarily servicing freight between Ontario and U.S. ports. At the time of its loss, it was commanded by Capt. Egbert Doville, who was engaged in transporting wheat.
Significant Incidents
Significant Incidents
- On September 18, 1884, the H.B. Sherwood caught fire while underway between Detroit and Buffalo. The cause of the fire was not recorded, and the vessel was declared a total loss, incurring damages around $5,000. Fortunately, no crew members were killed or injured.
Final Disposition
Final Disposition
The tug burned while underway and was declared a total loss. The wreck is believed to be located near the site of the fire on Lake Huron, but no official sinking coordinates or Notice to Mariners have been recorded. The current status of the wreck remains unlocated, with potential remains including charred hull timbers and engine fragments lying on the lakebed at an unknown depth.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Current Condition & Accessibility
The H.B. Sherwood remains unlocated, and its current condition is unknown. It is suggested that targeted side-scan sonar surveys be conducted near the last reported position to locate any burned-timber debris fields.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”h-b-sherwood-c-71064″ title=”References & Links”]
Closing Summary
The H.B. Sherwood serves as a significant example of mid-19th-century wooden steam tugs, highlighting the critical role these vessels played in freight operations on the Great Lakes. The circumstances of its loss underscore the vulnerabilities faced by small steam vessels on open water. Locating the wreck would enhance research into early tug design and steam-era maritime hazards.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
Join Shotline to read more →