Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Macatawa
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1824
- Builder: Brooklyn, Ohio
- Dimensions: 50 × 15 × 5 ft; ~32 tons
- Registered Tonnage: ~32 tons
- Location: West side of East Sister Island, Lake Erie (approximately 20 mi southwest of Port Stanley, Ontario)
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Type: Wooden schooner
Description
Macatawa was a wooden schooner built in 1824 in Brooklyn, Ohio. It measured 50 feet in length, 15 feet in beam, and had a hold depth of 5 feet. The vessel had a registered tonnage of approximately 32 tons.
History
The Macatawa was engaged in the transportation of barrelled whitefish and general freight. On November 22, 1829, it departed from Detroit, Michigan, but encountered severe storm conditions for over 24 hours, ultimately leading to its loss.
Significant Incidents
- On November 23, 1829, the Macatawa was driven onto East Sister Island due to storm conditions.
- The hull suffered significant damage, described as having ‘barrelled’—likely indicating that it sprang seams from the pounding of the seas—and broke apart within hours of grounding.
- All 11 crew members survived the wreck.
Final Disposition
The Macatawa was a total loss, with its hull destroyed on the rocks of East Sister Island. While salvage details remain undocumented, it is possible that some scattered wreckage was recovered shortly after the incident.
Current Condition & Accessibility
As of now, the wreck of the Macatawa is considered destroyed, with no known remains accessible for exploration.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”macatawa-1824″ title=”References & Links”]
The wreck of the Macatawa is significant as one of the earliest recorded shipwrecks in Lake Erie, reflecting early 19th-century schooner design and the challenges faced by sail-powered freight transport during sudden storms.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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