Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Jay Ochs
- Type: Wooden propeller steam tug
- Year Built: 1888
- Builder: Huron, Ohio
- Dimensions: 54 ft (16.5 m); 14 ft; 3 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 18 GRT / 11 NRT
- Location: Approximately 3.5 miles southwest of Middle Island, Lake Huron, Ontario
- Official Number: 77018
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Jay Ochs was a small wooden-hulled propeller steam tug, typical of late 19th-century Great Lakes harbor/service tugs. Relatively shallow draft and compact dimensions made her suited for towing barges and vessels in coastal or riverine waters.
Description
On 20 October 1905, while operating in Lake Huron near Middle Island, Jay Ochs encountered a severe gale. Unable to withstand the storm’s force, she was overwhelmed by waves and foundered, sinking rapidly. There were no casualties reported, and no cargo aboard at the time.
History
- Constructed in 1888 at Huron, Ohio, she served as a tugboat in Great Lakes waters.
- Operated primarily in Harbor or nearshore service — towing barges, assisting other vessels, etc.
- No prior losses or major incidents recorded in available sources.
Significant Incidents
- 20 October 1905: Foundered in a gale on Lake Huron, approximately 3.5 miles southwest of Middle Island. No cargo was aboard, and all crew members survived.
Final Disposition
Jay Ochs sank on 20 October 1905 and was not salvaged or refloated. The registries list her as a total loss following the storm.
Current Condition & Accessibility
- There is no known modern dive survey or archaeological documentation of the wreck site.
- Wreck location remains estimated from historical position near Middle Island, owing to lack of reported rediscovery or survey.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”jay-ochs-us-77018″ title=”References & Links”]
Jay Ochs, an 1888 wooden propeller steam tug of modest size, foundered in a Lake Huron gale on 20 October 1905 approximately 3.5 miles southwest of Middle Island. She was overwhelmed by storm conditions, sinking quickly with no cargo and no reported fatalities. The incident remains sparsely documented, with no known archaeological survey, making her a potential subject for future maritime research.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
Join Shotline to read more →