Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Leland
- Type: Wood Propeller Fish Tug
- Year Built: 1906
- Builder: Leland, Michigan
- Dimensions: 29 ft x 10 ft x 3 ft; 12 gross / 11 net tons
- Registered Tonnage: 12 gross / 11 net tons
- Location: A few miles offshore, Lake Michigan, near Leland
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Small wooden propeller tug, used for commercial fishing.
Description
The wooden propeller tug Leland, built in 1906, was primarily used for transporting lumbermen to South Manitou Island.
History
The Leland illustrates the vulnerability of small wooden vessels engaged in seasonal charter duties and working with primitive onboard systems, such as the high fire risk during engine maintenance.
The large number aboard (17 lumbermen) highlights common practice, as many small boats ferried work crews to isolated logging camps, creating high personnel risk when mechanical issues arose offshore.
Significant Incidents
- Date: 20 December 1916
- Location: A few miles offshore, Lake Michigan, near Leland
- Purpose: On charter to transport lumbermen to South Manitou Island
- Incident: Caught fire while undergoing engine repairs several miles offshore
- Outcome: Burned to a total loss; no lives were lost—crew of 17 were safely rescued.
Final Disposition
Destroyed by fire; sank or burned in place and was not recovered. No contemporary salvage or removal occurred, and the remains likely sank and were not charted or marked.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck remains unmarked and undocumented but stands as a testament to small-boat risk during Great Lakes industrial operations.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”leland-1906″ title=”References & Links”]
The loss of the Leland serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by small vessels operating in the Great Lakes, particularly in the context of seasonal work and mechanical failures.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
Join Shotline to read more →