Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: ONAWA
- Type: Gas-screw yacht or tug
- Year Built: 1902
- Builder: Elco Co., Bayonne, New Jersey
- Dimensions: 42 × 14 × 6 ft; Gross Tonnage: 17 GRT, Net Tonnage: 15 NRT
- Registered Tonnage: 17 GRT / 15 NRT
- Location: Cheboygan, Michigan
- Official Number: 155440
- Original Owners: Jack Toutle, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan (1946 through loss in 1954)
- Number of Masts: 2-masted
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Type
The Onawa is classified as a gas-screw yacht or tug, featuring a wooden hull and two masts.
Description
Description
The Onawa was a small wooden vessel built in 1902, measuring 42 feet in length, 14 feet in beam, and 6 feet in depth. It had a gross tonnage of 17 and a net tonnage of 15.
History
History
Owned by Jack Toutle from 1946 until its loss in 1954, the Onawa operated primarily in Lake Huron, based out of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. It was likely used for towing, recreation, or utility operations in the Soo area.
Significant Incidents
Significant Incidents
- October 6, 1954: The Onawa was destroyed by fire in Cheboygan, Michigan, resulting in a total loss with no casualties reported.
Final Disposition
Final Disposition
The Onawa was recorded as a total fire loss. Although there are indications of possible partial recovery, the wreck was not preserved, and no remains are accessible in navigable waters.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Current Condition & Accessibility
There are no archaeological remains of the Onawa; it is considered a historic fire incident rather than a diveable wreck.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”onawa-1902″ title=”References & Links”]
Conclusion
The Onawa’s story reflects the fate of a modest wooden yacht/tug that ended in a fire in October 1954. While no injuries occurred, the vessel was completely destroyed and likely scrapped afterward, marking its loss as a historical note in Great Lakes fire incidents.
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.
Identification & Basic Info
- Name: ONAWA
- Built: 1902 by Elco Co., Bayonne, New Jersey
- Hull Material: Wood
- Type: Gas‑screw yacht or tug (wooden hull, 2‑masted)
- Dimensions: 42 × 14 × 6 ft; Gross Tonnage: 17 GRT, Net Tonnage: 15 NRT
- Official Number: 155440 (project.geo.msu.edu, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, HipPostcard)
Ownership & Operation
- Owner: Jack Toutle, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan (from 1946 through loss in 1954)
- Operational Area: Lake Huron, based out of Soo, Michigan (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Purpose: Likely used for towing, recreation, or utility operations in the Soo area
Final Disposition
- Date of Loss: October 6, 1954
- Location: Cheboygan, Michigan — Lake Huron (Pinterest, project.geo.msu.edu, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Cause: Fire — vessel burned to a total loss
- Casualties: None reported
- Recovery: Possible partial recovery documented in records; no wreck surviving in navigable waters (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Incident & Loss Narrative
The ONAWA, a small wooden gas-screw yacht or tug, was destroyed by fire on October 6, 1954, in Cheboygan, Michigan. She burned completely, with no loss of life. The loss was recorded as a total fire loss. Official documentation suggests she may have been recovered afterward for limited salvage, but the wreck was not preserved; the container no longer remains intact or accessible in situ (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Archival Sources & Context
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – “O” section: Detailed listing of ONAWA’s specifications, ownership, fire-loss details, and casualty notation (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
- Contextual listings: A broader 1954 Great Lakes fire record confirms ONAWA’s loss among others during that season .
Wreck & Site Status
- Recorded Wreck Location: None — vessel burned at dock or on water at Cheboygan; likely dismantled or removed post-fire.
- Current Site: No archaeological remains; considered a historic fire incident rather than a diveable wreck.
Research Summary & Verification
| Data Point | Verified Detail |
|---|---|
| Vessel Construction | 1902, Elco Co., Bayonne, NJ |
| Owner & Location | Jack Toutle, Soo, Michigan (1946–1954) |
| Incident Date & Place | Oct 6, 1954 — Cheboygan, MI |
| Vessel Specs | 42′ × 14′ × 6′; wood; 17 GRT / 15 NRT |
| Loss Type | Fire — total loss, no casualties |
| Wreck Status | Likely salvaged/removed post-fire; no remains |
Next Research Avenues
- Newspapers: Search Cheboygan Tribune, Sault Ste. Marie Evening News (Oct 1954) via Newspapers.com or local archives for fire reports and salvage details.
- Harbor Records: Cheboygan port logs may contain incident and abandonment records.
- Marine Registries: Consult USCG and NARA archives for ONAWA’s registration and abatement papers post-loss.
Conclusion
ONAWA’s story is that of a modest wooden yacht/tug whose service ended abruptly in a fire in October 1954. Thankfully no injuries occurred, but the vessel was completely destroyed and likely scrapped afterward. Its loss is documented, though no physical remnants survive, situating ONAWA more as a historical footnote in Great Lakes fire incidents rather than an underwater archaeological site.
onawa-1902 1954-10-06 20:05:00