Old Club Yacht – Lake St. Clair Yacht Shipwreck

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Old Club Yacht
• Type: Motor Yacht
• Year Built: 1920s
• Builder:
• Dimensions: 48 ft (14.6 m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage:
• Location: St. Clair Flats, Lake St. Clair
• Original Owners: Unknown

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Vessel Type: Motor Yacht

Description

Design:

• A 48-foot motor yacht built in the 1920s, featuring a wooden hull.
• Equipped with twin engines mounted side-by-side, located approximately 15-19 feet aft of the bow, unusual for this type of vessel.
• Long drive shafts and exhaust pipes extend toward the stern.
• Despite being a twin-screw vessel (two propellers), it was fitted with a single rudder, which may have impacted its maneuverability.

Features:

Brass hardware is still present on the wreck, offering an intriguing glimpse into the vessel’s fittings and construction quality.

History

The vessel was likely used as a pleasure craft or private yacht during the 1920s, an era when motorized yachts began to gain popularity among the affluent for leisure activities. These yachts were commonly seen navigating the Great Lakes and surrounding waterways.

Significant Incidents

Incident Details:

• The motor yacht burned to the waterline before sinking in the St. Clair Flats.
• The cause of the fire is unknown, but such incidents were not uncommon during the early 20th century, often caused by fuel leaks, engine malfunctions, or onboard heating systems.
• The wreck lies largely intact despite its fiery demise, with engines, drive shafts, and rudder still visible.

Final Disposition

Current Condition:

• The hull is largely burned, with significant fire damage evident throughout.
• Twin engines and other components, including long drive shafts and brass hardware, are identifiable and provide interesting exploration opportunities.
• The stern area with the single rudder remains partially intact.

Accessibility:

• Exact location and depth are not specified, but the St. Clair Flats are typically shallow and navigable for divers and small vessels.
• The site is suitable for experienced divers due to the presence of debris and the potential for entanglement hazards.

Visibility: Likely variable depending on weather, water conditions, and sediment levels.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Significance:

• Historical Value: The wreck is an example of early 20th-century motor yacht design and reflects the craftsmanship and leisure culture of the period.
• Archaeological Interest: The twin-engine configuration and single rudder provide unique design characteristics for study.

Resources & Links

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The burned and sunken 1920s motor yacht in the St. Clair Flats offers an exciting dive site for exploration and study. With its twin engines, long drive shafts, and single rudder, the wreck provides a fascinating snapshot of early motor yacht engineering. Though its identity and full history remain unknown, the wreck preserves a piece of the region’s maritime legacy, waiting to be further uncovered by divers and researchers.