Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: J.F. Tracy
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1855
- Builder: F.N. Jones, Buffalo, NY
- Dimensions: 102 x 24 ft (31 x 7 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 139 gross tons, 132 net tons
- Location: West side of Beaver Island, Lake Michigan
- Official Number: 12774
- Original Owners: Operated out of Chicago, Illinois
- Number of Masts: 2-mast
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The J.F. TRACY was a 2-mast wooden schooner, a common vessel type used for trade and transport on the Great Lakes during the 19th century.
Description
The J.F. TRACY was built in 1855 and measured 102 feet (31 meters) in length, with a beam of 24 feet (7 meters) and a depth of 8 feet (2.4 meters). It had a gross tonnage of 139 tons. The vessel was known for its challenging handling and was deemed unseaworthy by the time of its loss.
History
The J.F. TRACY was constructed by F.N. Jones in Buffalo, New York. Throughout its service, the schooner faced numerous difficulties, including a notorious incident in 1866 when it took 11 days to travel from Detroit to Conneaut, Ohio due to stormy conditions.
Significant Incidents
- 1866: Took 11 days to travel from Detroit to Conneaut, Ohio, in stormy weather.
Final Disposition
On September 4, 1886, the J.F. TRACY went aground on the west side of Beaver Island during a storm, resulting in the vessel being wrecked and considered a total loss. Due to its already poor condition, it was abandoned as unseaworthy, and no lives were lost in this incident.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The current condition of the wreck is not detailed, but it remains a site of interest for divers and historians alike.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”j-f-tracy-us-12774″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The J.F. TRACY is a significant part of Lake Michigan’s maritime history, illustrating the challenges faced by 19th-century shipping. Its wreck near Beaver Island adds to the mystique of the lake’s many shipwrecks.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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