Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Knight Templar (1865)

Explore the wreck of the Knight Templar, a canal-sized schooner-barge, resting in shallow waters near Whitefish Point, accessible for divers and snorkelers.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Knight Templar
  • Type: Wooden schooner-barge (non-propelled, towed)
  • Year Built: 1865
  • Builder: George Goble in Oswego, New York
  • Dimensions: Canal-sized; detailed logs not found
  • Registered Tonnage:
  • Depth at Wreck Site: 1.5 m / 5 ft
  • Location: Whitefish Point area, Lake Huron — Isaacson Bay near Thunder Bay Sanctuary
  • Coordinates: N 45° 03.705′, W 083° 22.099′

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Knight Templar was a canal-sized schooner-barge, built specifically for tow service behind steam tugs—a common last-century practice combining economy and greater barging capacity.

Description

In a December gale, Knight Templar was overwhelmed by waves and driven onto shallow ground at Whitefish Point. The crew abandoned her, and the battered hull eventually broke apart in shallow waters, now resting in less than 5 feet (approximately 1.5 m) of water.

History

The wreck is featured in NOAA’s Thunder Bay Sanctuary condition reports, with coordinates confirmed. The nature of abandonment and wreck dispersal aligns with the demise of many similar barges in the early 20th century, as freight routes shifted away from Lake Huron.

Significant Incidents

  • Overwhelmed by storm; driven into shallow water, stranded and abandoned; later broke up on shoals.
  • No casualties reported.

Final Disposition

Stranded hull broke up; remains lie in shallow water near Isaacson Bay, inside the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck lies in a protected sanctuary zone, well known to divers; no navigational hazard due to shallow depth, except for diving presence. Visibility is typically good (5–15 ft), though shoal conditions can stir sediment. Hazards include shallow wreckage and strong nearshore currents; safe access with caution.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”knight-templar-1865″ title=”References & Links”]

Knight Templar (1865–1905) is an accessible, shallow-water wreck near Whitefish Point. Stranded during a storm, she was abandoned and broke apart. Today, she rests within the Thunder Bay Sanctuary, accessible for divers and snorkelers, and serves as an artifact of Great Lakes canal-barge heritage.

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: Knight Templar
  • Built: 1865 by George Goble in Oswego, New York (ourmidland.com)
  • Vessel Type: Wooden schooner‑barge (non‑propelled, towed)
  • Dimensions: Canal-sized; detailed logs not found
  • Date Lost: 16 December 1905
  • Location: Whitefish Point area, Lake Huron — Isaacson Bay near Thunder Bay Sanctuary (thunderbay.noaa.gov, sanctuaries.noaa.gov, michiganpreserves.org)
  • Cargo: Likely lumber or bulk freight (pattern with other barges)
  • Incident: Overwhelmed by storm; driven into shallow water, stranded and abandoned; later broke up on shoals (thunderbay.noaa.gov)
  • Casualties: None reported

Vessel Type & Description

Knight Templar was a canal-sized schooner‑barge, built specifically for tow service behind steam tugs—a common last-century practice combining economy and greater barging capacity .

Final Voyage & Loss

In a December gale, Knight Templar was overwhelmed by waves and driven onto shallow ground at Whitefish Point. The crew abandoned her, and the battered hull eventually broke apart in footage base waters, now resting in less than 5 ft (≈1.5 m) of water (sanctuaries.noaa.gov).

Final Disposition

Stranded hull broke up; remains lie in shallow water near Isaacson Bay, inside the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (thunderbay.noaa.gov).

Located By & Date Found

Site confirmed by NOAA and Michigan dive surveys, with accurate GPS coordinates: N 45° 03.705′, W 083° 22.099′ at ~5 ft depth (michiganpreserves.org).

Notations & Advisories

  • Wreck lies in a protected sanctuary zone, well known to divers; no navigational hazard due to shallow depth, except for diving presence .
  • The region is a repository of abandoned barge wrecks from the historic decline of wooden tonnage—a testament to shifting maritime economics (thunderbay.noaa.gov).

Dive Site Information

  • Water Depth: ~1.5 m (5 ft), highly accessible for snorkeling or shore dives .
  • Visibility: Typically good (5–15 m), though shoal conditions can stir sediment.
  • Hazards: Shallow wreckage, strong nearshore currents; safe access with caution.
  • Skill Level: Beginner to intermediate, depending on conditions.
  • Significance: Excellent example of canal-sized schooner‑barge used in late‑19th‑century timber shipping; accessible heritage site near Whitefish Point.

Archival & Research Context

  • The wreck is featured in NOAA’s Thunder Bay Sanctuary condition reports (sanctuaries.noaa.gov), with coordinates confirmed.
  • Nature of abandonment and wreck dispersal aligns with the demise of many similar barges in the early 20th century rail‑roaded out of Lake Huron freight routes (thunderbay.noaa.gov).

Conclusion

Knight Templar (1865–1905) is an accessible, shallow-water wreck near Whitefish Point. Stranded during a storm, she was abandoned and broke apart. Today, she rests within the Thunder Bay Sanctuary, accessible for divers and snorkelers, and serves as an artifact of Great Lakes canal-barge heritage.

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