Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Otsego (1882)

Explore the wreck of the Otsego, a wooden schooner lost in a storm in 1886 near Port Austin, Michigan.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Otsego
  • Type: Wooden-hulled two-masted schooner
  • Year Built: 1882
  • Builder: R. Gagne, Au Sable, Michigan
  • Dimensions: 50 × 14 × 5 ft; 24 GRT, 22 NRT
  • Registered Tonnage: 24 GRT, 22 NRT
  • Location: Port Austin, Michigan
  • Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Otsego was a wooden-hulled, two-masted schooner, designed for coastal trade on the Great Lakes.

Description

Built in 1882 by R. Gagne in Au Sable, Michigan, the Otsego measured 50 feet in length, 14 feet in beam, and had a depth of 5 feet. She was registered at 24 gross tons (GRT) and 22 net tons (NRT).

History

The Otsego served in the Great Lakes trade for four years before her loss. Her last voyage occurred on November 1, 1886, when she was caught in a severe storm near Port Austin, Michigan.

Significant Incidents

  • The Otsego was overwhelmed by a storm on November 1, 1886, leading to her sinking and total loss.

Final Disposition

The Otsego was declared a total loss after the storm. No casualties were reported during the incident.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck likely lies in shallow coastal waters near Port Austin, with broken hull timbers, deck hardware, and rigging debris present. There are no known modern dive or sonar surveys of the site, and it is not marked by navigation warnings or buoys.

Resources & Links

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The loss of the Otsego highlights the dangers faced by wooden schooners in the late 19th century. Surveying her remains could provide valuable insights into the construction and maritime practices of the era.

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: Otsego
  • Built: 1882 by R. Gagne, Au Sable, Michigan
  • Type: Wooden-hulled two-masted schooner
  • Dimensions: 50 × 14 × 5 ft; 24 GRT, 22 NRT
  • Last Voyage: November 1, 1886
  • Location: Port Austin, Michigan, Lake Huron
  • Cargo: Not documented
  • Casualties: None reported — “Loss of life: none” (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Loss Circumstances

  • The Otsego was caught in a severe storm on November 1, 1886, near Port Austin. The storm overwhelmed the wooden schooner, causing her to founder and be wrecked. She was declared a total loss. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Wreck Site & Condition

  • Final Position: Near Port Austin harbor, Lake Huron
  • Condition: Likely lies in shallow coastal waters with broken hull timbers, deck hardware, and rigging debris. No modern dive or sonar surveys are known, and no navigation warnings or buoys mark the site.

Sources & Verification

Research Gaps & Potential Next Steps

AreaRecommended Research
Technical SpecsConfirm exact tonnage and build details via Port Huron enrollment logs and shipping registries dated 1882.
Loss NarrativeSearch November 1886 editions of Port Austin Record, Detroit Free Press, and regional papers for descriptions of the storm, eyewitness accounts, and cargo data.
Cargo & OwnershipExamine shipping manifests or insurance files for any recorded cargo—if any—or owner details.
Wreck SurveyInitiate a side-scan sonar survey or targeted dive in shallow waters outside Port Austin to locate structural remains.
Archival PlansCheck state archives (MI Archives) for builder’s plans, insurance maps, or marine survey sketches.

Historical Significance

The loss of the Otsego illustrates the vulnerability of small wooden schooners plying Lake Huron late in the 19th century. Wrecked during her fourth year at sea, her disappearance underscores the peril posed by seasonal gales to coastal traders. Surveying her remains would offer insight into late-1800s schooner construction, rigging methods, and storm damage signatures—critical for small-vessel maritime archaeology.

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