Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Nina Bailey
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1873
- Builder: Collins, Ludington, Michigan
- Dimensions: Length: 52 ft (15.8 m); Beam: 16 ft (4.9 m); Depth: 5 ft (1.5 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 35 tons
- Location: St. Joseph, Michigan, Lake Michigan
- Official Number: 18767
- Original Owners: Presumed Bailey et al., Pentwater, Michigan
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Nina Bailey was a small, two-masted wooden schooner designed for nearshore freight and package trades on Lake Michigan, typical of numerous small schooners built in the mid-19th century.
Description
A modestly built vessel of 35 tons, the Nina Bailey had a single deck with a fore-and-aft rig, shallow draft, and broad beam for carrying smaller cargoes or coastwise trade. Such schooners were commonly used for light general cargoes or local lumber shipments between small ports.
History
- 1873: Built at Ludington, Michigan by Collins shipyard.
- 1879: Registered as owned by Bailey and partners, Pentwater, Michigan.
- November 1, 1880: Lost at St. Joseph, Michigan, while attempting to enter the North Pier. The schooner became waterlogged and out of control, capsized, and broke apart on the pier. It was sailing light at the time of the wreck.
Significant Incidents
- November 1, 1880: The Nina Bailey capsized while entering the North Pier at St. Joseph, Michigan, due to becoming waterlogged and out of control.
Final Disposition
Total wreck at St. Joseph, Lake Michigan, after capsizing on 1 November 1880.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No modern archaeological surveys; presumed fully broken up by wave action.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”nina-bailey-us-18767″ title=”References & Links”]
The Nina Bailey reflects the working schooners of Lake Michigan’s regional trade in the late 19th century. Designed for simple, reliable coastal commerce, her relatively short career ended in typical conditions for schooners of that era — overwhelmed by weather near harbor structures. The incident underscores the dangers of shallow harbor entrances on the Great Lakes.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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