Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Ogarita
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1864
- Builder: Conneaut, Ohio
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 604 tons
- Location: Off Thunder Bay Island, Michigan
- Coordinates: N45° 06.326′ W83° 13.077′
- Original Owners: Buffalo, New York
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Ogarita was a wooden-hulled schooner, typical of the mid-19th century Great Lakes cargo vessels. Designed for transporting bulk cargoes such as grain, coal, and lumber, schooners like the Ogarita were essential to the economy of the region during their heyday. At 604 tons gross, the Ogarita was one of the larger schooners of its time, capable of handling substantial cargoes efficiently.
Description
Launched in 1864 in Conneaut, Ohio, the Ogarita served for over four decades as a cargo carrier on the Great Lakes. Its career spanned a period of significant transition in maritime technology, from the dominance of sail-powered vessels to the rise of steam-powered ships.
History
On October 25, 1905, the Ogarita met its tragic end off Thunder Bay Island, Michigan, when a fire broke out aboard the vessel. Despite the devastating fire, all six crew members escaped unharmed, successfully abandoning the ship before it was completely destroyed. The specific cause of the fire remains undocumented.
Significant Incidents
- The Ogarita was lost to fire on October 25, 1905.
- All six crew members escaped unharmed.
Final Disposition
The Ogarita was entirely consumed by fire and was lost off Thunder Bay Island in Lake Huron. The remains likely sank or were scattered due to the fire and subsequent structural collapse. No specific records detail the current condition or location of the wreck.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the Ogarita has not been definitively located, and no coordinates are available in historical records.
Resources & Links
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The Ogarita was a testament to the schooner era of Great Lakes maritime commerce, serving the region for over 40 years. Its destruction by fire off Thunder Bay Island in 1905 marks a poignant end to its service and adds to the rich maritime history of the Great Lakes. Thunder Bay Island, known for its shipwrecks, serves as a reminder of the perils faced by sailors and the legacy of the vessels that navigated these waters. The story of the Ogarita continues to hold historical significance for researchers and enthusiasts of Great Lakes maritime history.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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