Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Okonra
- Type: Wooden screw propeller vessel
- Year Built: 1858
- Builder: Owen Sound, Ontario
- Dimensions: Length 59.8 ft (18.2 m); Beam 13.2 ft (4.0 m); Depth of hold 5.8 ft (1.8 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 10 RT (1867); 52 RT (1877)
- Location: Wiarton Dock, Georgian Bay, Lake Huron
- Original Owners: Captain E. Dunn
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden screw propeller, small-scale utility vessel, primarily engaged in passenger service, towing, and log rafting operations in Georgian Bay.
Description
- Hull Material: Wood
- Length: 59.8 ft (18.2 m)
- Beam: 13.2 ft (4.0 m)
- Depth: 5.8 ft (1.8 m)
- Gross Tonnage: Initially 37 GT, later 77 GT
- Net/Registered Tonnage: 10 RT (1867); 52 RT (1877)
- Decks: One
- Propulsion: Screw (single propeller)
- Powerplant: Steam engine (specifics unknown)
History
- 1858: Constructed at Owen Sound, Ontario by Captain E. Dunn, who also retained ownership throughout the vessel’s entire operational life.
- 1867: Underwent a rebuild and was remeasured at 37 gross tons and 10 registered tons.
- 1869: Listed as operating in passenger and towing service across Georgian Bay.
- 1872–1875: Transitioned primarily to towing log rafts, a common use for smaller steamers in the timber trade.
- 1877: Final measurements indicated at 59.8 × 13.2 × 5.8 ft with 77 gross and 52 registered tons.
- 1878, September 5: Caught fire while docked at Wiarton, Ontario. Vessel was completely destroyed by fire.
Significant Incidents
- Burned at dock on September 5, 1878, resulting in total loss.
Final Disposition
The Okonra burned at dock at Wiarton, Ontario, and was a total loss. No fatalities were reported. The wreck remains were not preserved or marked.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No documented rediscovery or archaeological survey. Remains likely destroyed or dismantled post-fire.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”okonra-1858″ title=”References & Links”]
Okonra was a versatile Georgian Bay work vessel and is representative of the small wooden propellers that formed the backbone of localized commerce and timber operations during the mid-19th century. Her destruction by fire at Wiarton dock ended a two-decade service career under the same captain-owner, E. Dunn.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Okonra
- Year Built: 1858
- Built At: Owen Sound, Ontario
- Final Location: Wiarton Dock, Georgian Bay, Lake Huron
- Date Lost: 5 September 1878
- Cause: Burned at dock
Vessel Type
Wooden screw propeller, small-scale utility vessel, primarily engaged in passenger service, towing, and log rafting operations in Georgian Bay.
Description
- Hull Material: Wood
- Length: 59.8 ft (18.2 m)
- Beam: 13.2 ft (4.0 m)
- Depth: 5.8 ft (1.8 m)
- Gross Tonnage: Initially 37 GT, later 77 GT
- Net/Registered Tonnage: 10 RT (1867); 52 RT (1877)
- Decks: One
- Propulsion: Screw (single propeller)
- Powerplant: Steam engine (specifics unknown)
History
- 1858: Constructed at Owen Sound, Ontario by Captain E. Dunn, who also retained ownership throughout the vessel’s entire operational life.
- 1867: Underwent a rebuild and was remeasured at 37 gross tons and 10 registered tons.
- 1869: Listed as operating in passenger and towing service across Georgian Bay.
- 1872–1875: Transitioned primarily to towing log rafts, a common use for smaller steamers in the timber trade.
- 1877: Final measurements indicated at 59.8 × 13.2 × 5.8 ft with 77 gross and 52 registered tons.
- 1878, September 5: Caught fire while docked at Wiarton, Ontario. Vessel was completely destroyed by fire.
Final Disposition
The Okonra burned at dock at Wiarton, Ontario, and was a total loss. No fatalities were reported. The wreck remains were not preserved or marked.
Located By & Date Found
No documented rediscovery or archaeological survey. Remains likely destroyed or dismantled post-fire.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted.
Resources & Links
- C. Patrick Labadie Collection
- Steamboat Era in the Muskokas by Richard Tatley
- Historical Marine Register Records, Canada
Conclusion
Okonra was a versatile Georgian Bay work vessel and is representative of the small wooden propellers that formed the backbone of localized commerce and timber operations during the mid-19th century. Her destruction by fire at Wiarton dock ended a two-decade service career under the same captain-owner, E. Dunn.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
Tags: wooden propeller, Georgian Bay, logging tug, steam vessel, 19th century, fire loss
Glossary:
- Screw Propeller: A steam-powered vessel with a single propeller for propulsion
- Log Rafting: Practice of towing large bundled timber logs across waterways
- Wiarton: A port town on Georgian Bay, central to Ontario’s timber trade