Paddy Murphy

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: PADDY MURPHY
• Type: Tugboat (Towboat)
• Year Built: 1882
• Builder: Saugatuck, Michigan
• Dimensions: Length: 68.8 ft (21 m); Beam: 17.4 ft (5.3 m); Depth of hold: 8.9 ft (2.7 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 42.21 tons
• Depth at Wreck Site: 3 m / 10 ft
• Location: Dover Bay, west of Cleveland, Ohio
• Coordinates: 41°29.576'N, 81°56.431'W
• Original Owners: Patrick Murphy, Henry Gilman, Thomas Axworthy

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The PADDY MURPHY was a wooden tugboat, launched in 1882 from Saugatuck, Michigan. With a screw propulsion system, it was designed for towing operations within harbors and coastal waters. The vessel served as an essential asset in moving larger ships and barges, indicative of the hardworking tugboats employed on the Great Lakes during the late 19th century.

Description

The PADDY MURPHY was a wooden tugboat, launched in 1882 from Saugatuck, Michigan. With a screw propulsion system, it was designed for towing operations within harbors and coastal waters. The vessel served as an essential asset in moving larger ships and barges, indicative of the hardworking tugboats employed on the Great Lakes during the late 19th century.

History

Construction and Early Operations
Built: 1882 in Saugatuck, Michigan.
Original Owners: Patrick Murphy and Henry Gilman.
Primary Use: Towing services in Chicago, Illinois.

Change of Ownership
Acquired by Thomas Axworthy of Cleveland, Ohio, in 1888, marking a shift in its operational base to Lake Erie.

Final Voyage
On April 23, 1888, the PADDY MURPHY was towing the schooner Republic to Lorain, Ohio, when it caught fire near Dover Bay. Despite efforts to save the vessel, the fire consumed the tug down to the waterline. The vessel sank in shallow water, approximately 10 feet (3 meters) deep. The loss marked the end of its short but significant operational career.

Significant Incidents

• The vessel was destroyed by fire and sank to the bottom of Dover Bay.
• Its location near Bay Village, Ohio, is a known site, though the wreck is likely severely deteriorated due to the fire and subsequent exposure to the elements.

Final Disposition

The vessel was destroyed by fire and sank to the bottom of Dover Bay. Its location near Bay Village, Ohio, is a known site, though the wreck is likely severely deteriorated due to the fire and subsequent exposure to the elements.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Depth: 10 feet (3 meters), easily accessible to divers.
Condition: Likely fragmented and charred due to fire damage, with further deterioration over time. The shallow location in a well-trafficked area may have led to additional disturbances.

Resources & Links

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The PADDY MURPHY, a tugboat built in 1882 and lost to a fire in 1888, exemplifies the pivotal role of small working vessels in the maritime economy of the Great Lakes. Its sinking near Dover Bay, west of Cleveland, Ohio, marks a tragic end to a vessel that served a critical function in towing operations. The wreck, though deteriorated, remains a point of interest for historians and divers, preserving the memory of an essential chapter in Great Lakes maritime history.