Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Jacquiline
- Type: Wooden Car Ferry
- Year Built: Unknown (likely early to mid-20th century)
- Builder: Unknown
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Depth at Wreck Site: 4 m / 12 ft
- Location: North Channel, Lake Huron
- Coordinates: N46° 05.067′, W082° 13.208′
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Jacquiline was a traditional wooden car ferry, designed to move automobiles, passengers, and goods across Great Lakes routes before bridges and highways connected remote areas. Ferries like this were essential to support local commerce and community mobility in the North Channel. Its exact build date is unknown, but the design style and trade role suggest active service between roughly 1910 and 1950.
Description
The Jacquiline operated as a lifeline for communities along the North Channel, transporting vehicles, produce, and passengers. Its trade helped connect settlements isolated by rugged shorelines and patchy road networks.
While ferries were robust, they operated in harsh seasonal weather ranging from ice jams to sudden gales. Unfortunately, little documentation survives on the Jacquiline‘s complete service record or ownership history.
History
The vessel ultimately sank in shallow water at a depth of about 12 feet (4 metres). The precise reason for its sinking is unconfirmed, but typical factors might include structural failure, storm damage, or grounding. Its location so close to a regular ferry route suggests the event happened suddenly.
Significant Incidents
- There are no active Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) specifically tied to the Jacquiline wreck. However, because of its shallow location, small craft and recreational divers should remain aware of potential underwater obstructions or unstable wreckage.
Final Disposition
The wreck’s coordinates have been documented at:
N46° 05.067′, W082° 13.208′
The discovery date itself is not clearly recorded, but the wreck’s shallow location suggests it was known to locals soon after the sinking.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The Jacquiline rests in very shallow water, making it an ideal site for beginner divers or snorkelers. The wooden hull has suffered from typical rot and wave action, but significant structure may still be visible. Calm conditions in the North Channel generally make this a safe exploration target.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”jacquiline” title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The Jacquiline stands as a reminder of how vital wooden car ferries were in the era before modern infrastructure. Though her service history is partly lost, the shallow wreck today offers divers a tangible link to the transportation culture that kept Lake Huron’s North Channel communities connected.
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.
JACQUILINE (Wooden Car Ferry)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Jacquiline
- Other Names: None recorded
- Vessel Type: Wooden Car Ferry
- Year Built: Unknown (likely early to mid-20th century)
- Builder: Unknown
- Depth: 12 feet (4 metres)
- Final Resting Place: North Channel, Lake Huron
- Coordinates: N46° 05.067′, W082° 13.208′
- Date of Loss: Not documented in existing records
Vessel Type Description
The Jacquiline was a traditional wooden car ferry, designed to move automobiles, passengers, and goods across Great Lakes routes before bridges and highways connected remote areas. Ferries like this were essential to support local commerce and community mobility in the North Channel. Its exact build date is unknown, but the design style and trade role suggest active service between roughly 1910 and 1950.
History
The Jacquiline operated as a lifeline for communities along the North Channel, transporting vehicles, produce, and passengers. Its trade helped connect settlements isolated by rugged shorelines and patchy road networks.
While ferries were robust, they operated in harsh seasonal weather ranging from ice jams to sudden gales. Unfortunately, little documentation survives on the Jacquiline‘s complete service record or ownership history.
Final Disposition
The vessel ultimately sank in shallow water at a depth of about 12 feet (4 metres). The precise reason for its sinking is unconfirmed, but typical factors might include structural failure, storm damage, or grounding. Its location so close to a regular ferry route suggests the event happened suddenly.
Notmars & Advisories
There are no active Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) specifically tied to the Jacquiline wreck. However, because of its shallow location, small craft and recreational divers should remain aware of potential underwater obstructions or unstable wreckage.
Located By & Date
The wreck’s coordinates have been documented at:
N46° 05.067′, W082° 13.208′
The discovery date itself is not clearly recorded, but the wreck’s shallow location suggests it was known to locals soon after the sinking.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The Jacquiline rests in very shallow water, making it an ideal site for beginner divers or snorkelers. The wooden hull has suffered from typical rot and wave action, but significant structure may still be visible. Calm conditions in the North Channel generally make this a safe exploration target.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Ships Database
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Historical Collections, Bowling Green State University
Conclusion
The Jacquiline stands as a reminder of how vital wooden car ferries were in the era before modern infrastructure. Though her service history is partly lost, the shallow wreck today offers divers a tangible link to the transportation culture that kept Lake Huron’s North Channel communities connected.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
Jacquiline, Car Ferry, North Channel, Lake Huron, Wooden Shipwreck, 20th Century Maritime, Great Lakes Transportation, Shallow Wreck, Recreational Diving
If you’d like, I can help cross-check Jacquiline in customs records, ferry line schedules, or local newspaper archives to pin down an exact sinking year — just say yes!
jacquiline 1950-03-14 07:52:00