Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Ligure
- Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1832
- Builder: Sandusky, Ohio
- Dimensions: 65 ft (19.81 m); Beam: 17 ft; Depth of hold: 7 ft
- Registered Tonnage: approximately 63 tons
- Location: Point Abino, Ontario
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Built as a standard working schooner of the early period, the Ligure featured a gaff-rigged fore-and-aft sail plan. Her shallow hull made her well-suited to haul bulk supplies along Lake Erie’s shoreline.
Description
The Ligure was a two-masted wooden schooner, constructed to navigate the waters of Lake Erie effectively. With a length of 65 feet and a beam of 17 feet, she was designed for stability and cargo capacity.
History
Launched in 1832 at Sandusky, a key shipbuilding hub during that era, the Ligure operated for a decade delivering supplies, possibly for settlement communities or military outposts. Her cargo’s value of approximately $2,500 in 1842 indicates she likely carried essential goods such as food, tools, or trade items.
Significant Incidents
- On November 18, 1842, Ligure sailed loaded with supplies when a violent autumn gale struck. Conditions quickly worsened, driving her ashore near Point Abino, where she wrecked and the hull broke apart under storm waves. All six aboard were lost.
Final Disposition
The Ligure was a total loss due to storm-driven grounding. There are no specific records of bodies or debris recovered, and given the fatality count, it is likely that none survived or were rescued. No formal Notices to Mariners or marine inquiries have surfaced regarding the incident.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No record of a subsequent wreck investigation or discovery exists. The wreck is likely buried in nearshore shoals at Point Abino, with shoreline erosion and sand cover potentially obscuring any remains.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”ligure-1832″ title=”References & Links”]
The Ligure stands as an early example of Great Lakes maritime commerce interrupted by deadly storm conditions. Built in Sandusky and lost on Lake Erie with substantial cargo and complete crew loss, her wreck remains undocumented and archaeologically unexamined. Uncovering her story would require archival excavation, followed by targeted near-shore survey work near Point Abino.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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