Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Mystery Barge
- Type: Likely former small steamer or schooner, now barge
- Year Built:
- Builder:
- Dimensions: ~64 ft (19.5 m) length × 14 ft (4.3 m) beam
- Registered Tonnage:
- Depth at Wreck Site: 17 m / 50 ft
- Location: North of Burnt Island, Lake Huron
- Coordinates: 46°06.983′ N, 83°49.450′ W
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
This well-preserved hull remains mostly intact. The presence of a steam winch on the afterdeck, but no onboard boiler, and a rigid hose implies that the winch was powered from shore or another vessel. Coal remains in the forward hold. The towing gear—a chain wrapped around the stem—suggests functionality as a rugged cargo barge.
Description
The barge rests upright at a depth of 50 ft. Its intact condition and remaining artifacts like coal, winch, and tow chain make it a captivating dive site. Sadly, a readable nameplate is missing, leaving its identity a mystery.
History
No official records identify this vessel. It appears to have been converted from a steamer or small schooner into a barge. Partial outer planking damage likely caused its sinking. The intact structural remains and cargo suggest a sudden loss during regular towing operations.
Significant Incidents
- No official records identify this vessel.
- Partial outer planking damage likely caused its sinking.
- Intact structural remains and cargo suggest a sudden loss during regular towing operations.
Final Disposition
The barge rests upright at 50 ft depth. Its intact condition and remaining artifacts like coal, winch, and tow chain make it a captivating dive site. Sadly, a readable nameplate is missing, leaving its identity a mystery.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Known informally to local divers and referenced by the Drummond Island Tourism Association; specifics of discovery remain undocumented. No official Notices to Mariners apply. Divers should proceed cautiously, aware of structural integrity and scouring around the wreck.
Resources & Links
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An exceptional dive site steeped in intrigue, the Mystery Barge invites explorers to piece together its story. Its remarkable preservation offers a rare window into early steam-era barge operations. Identification efforts continue—divers and historians may yet uncover its name and origin.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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