Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: J.B. Skinner
- Type: Two-masted schooner
- Year Built: 1841
- Builder: Conneaut, Ohio
- Dimensions: Length 72 ft 10 in (22.2 m); Beam 20 ft 3.25 in (6.2 m); Depth of hold 7 ft 9 in (2.4 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 100 23/95 tons (original); 142 40/95 tons (post-rebuild)
- Location: Near Big Sable Point, north of Ludington, Lake Michigan
- Original Owners: Henry C. Walker & Marshall Capron, Conneaut, OH
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden, two-masted schooner built for cargo transport on the Great Lakes. Like many schooners of her era, she operated primarily under sail and was engaged in bulk material transport, especially lumber.
Description
Built in 1841 in Conneaut, Ohio, the J.B. Skinner exemplified the schooner type common to early commercial navigation on the Lakes. After a rebuild in the mid-1840s in Milan, OH, her capacity and size increased. She was involved in multiple incidents throughout her service, including a collision on Lake Erie in 1851 with one fatality, and grounding near Port Burwell, Ontario, in September 1855.
History
The J.B. Skinner was constructed in 1841 and initially operated under the ownership of Henry C. Walker and Marshall Capron. Following her rebuild, she continued to serve in the lumber trade, which was a significant industry in the Great Lakes region during that period.
Significant Incidents
- Collision on Lake Erie in 1851 resulting in one fatality.
- Grounding near Port Burwell, Ontario, in September 1855.
Final Disposition
The J.B. Skinner met her end in December 1855, when she was driven ashore in a storm while loading or offloading lumber near Big Sable Point, Lake Michigan, north of present-day Ludington, MI. She was reportedly anchored close to shore when she parted her cables during deteriorating weather. The wreck was declared a total loss.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No formal archaeological discovery or dive site for J.B. Skinner has been documented. The vessel’s remains are likely dispersed or buried along the shifting sands and shallow waters of Big Sable Point.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”j-b-skinner” title=”References & Links”]
The J.B. Skinner was among the earliest generation of purpose-built Great Lakes schooners. Serving for 14 years, she experienced collisions, strandings, and rebuilds before being driven ashore in a December gale. Her story adds to the maritime heritage of Michigan’s west coast and the frequent perils faced by early lake mariners.
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: J.B. Skinner
- Date Built & Launched: 1841, Conneaut, Ohio
- Former Names: None recorded
- Original Owners: Henry C. Walker & Marshall Capron, Conneaut, OH
- Construction Material: Wood
- Type: Two-masted schooner
- Measurements:
- Original: 22.2 m × 6.2 m × 2.4 m (72′ 10″ × 20′ 3.25″ × 7′ 9″); 100 23/95 tons
- Post-Rebuild (1844 or 1846): 29.7 m × 6.3 m × 2.4 m (97′ 5″ × 20′ 6″ × 7′ 9″); 142 40/95 tons
- Date Lost: December 1855
- Final Cargo: Lumber
- Final Location: Near Big Sable Point, north of Ludington, Lake Michigan
Vessel Type
Wooden, two-masted schooner built for cargo transport on the Great Lakes. Like many schooners of her era, she operated primarily under sail and was engaged in bulk material transport, especially lumber.
Description
Built in 1841 in Conneaut, Ohio, the J.B. Skinner exemplified the schooner type common to early commercial navigation on the Lakes. After a rebuild in the mid-1840s in Milan, OH, her capacity and size increased. She was involved in multiple incidents throughout her service, including a collision on Lake Erie in 1851 with one fatality, and grounding near Port Burwell, Ontario, in September 1855.
Final Disposition
The J.B. Skinner met her end in December 1855, when she was driven ashore in a storm while loading or offloading lumber near Big Sable Point, Lake Michigan, north of present-day Ludington, MI. She was reportedly anchored close to shore when she parted her cables during deteriorating weather. The wreck was declared a total loss.
Located By & Date Found
No formal archaeological discovery or dive site for J.B. Skinner has been documented. The vessel’s remains are likely dispersed or buried along the shifting sands and shallow waters of Big Sable Point.
Notations & Advisories
Big Sable Point is well known for historic wrecks and sandbars. No specific navigational warnings are currently tied to the Skinner site, but the general area is recognized for submerged wreckage fields.
Conclusion
The J.B. Skinner was among the earliest generation of purpose-built Great Lakes schooners. Serving for 14 years, she experienced collisions, strandings, and rebuilds before being driven ashore in a December gale. Her story adds to the maritime heritage of Michigan’s west coast and the frequent perils faced by early lake mariners.
Suggested Keywords & Glossary Terms: schooner wreck, Big Sable Point, early Great Lakes vessels, lumber schooner, Lake Michigan shipwreck
Suggested Categories:
- Lake Michigan shipwrecks
- Schooners of the 1840s
- Sail-powered freight vessels
- Great Lakes maritime history