Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Magdalena
- Type: Wooden-hulled propeller tug
- Year Built: 1875
- Builder: Sutton & Bros., Buffalo, New York
- Dimensions: Length 48 ft (14.6 m); Beam 12 ft (3.7 m); Depth of hold 6 ft (1.8 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 19 GRT / 13 NRT
- Location: Driven ashore at Grant’s Island, North Channel, Lake Huron
- Official Number: C71115
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A small wooden steam tug later used for towing barges and assisting larger vessels in harbours. Compact and agile, yet vulnerable to heavy weather in exposed offshore areas.
Description
Built in Buffalo and later sold to operate out of Collingwood, Ontario (registered Canadian, 1878). Employed primarily for tugs, she braved coastal waters of Lake Huron. On 16 November 1888, Magdalena sought refuge near Grant’s Island during a storm but was suctioned ashore and heavily damaged—wrecked beyond repair.
Final Disposition
Declared a total loss; wreckage left in place. No salvage recorded, and the vessel was never rebuilt due to extensive damage from striking surf and rocks.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No archaeological or diving surveys have definitively located the wreck. References to Grant’s Island suggest a probable beaching zone, though the site remains unverified by modern surveys.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”magdalena-c-71115″ title=”References & Links”]
The Magdalena‘s wreck serves as a reminder of small tug vulnerabilities during sudden Lake Huron storms. Her grounding at Grant’s Island highlights how even shore-seeking vessels can be overwhelmed by gale-force conditions.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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