Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Phenix
- Type: Wooden propeller-driven steam tug
- Year Built: 1883
- Builder: A. A. Hackett at Sauble Mills, Ontario
- Dimensions: Length 54 ft (16.3 m); Beam 14 ft (4.3 m); Depth of hold 6 ft (1.8 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 37 gross / 25 net tons
- Location: Off the east shore of Main Station Island, between Main Station and the Indian Islands
- Official Number: C71144
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: None
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A compact wooden-hulled steam tug used for local towing and utility support within fisheries and small harbor operations near Goderich, Ontario.
Description
Built in 1883, Phenix featured twin-screw propulsion (a relatively modern setup for her time) to enhance maneuverability in tight channels. Her modest tonnage reflects her role as a workboat rather than a main freighter.
History
The Phenix operated primarily in the Fishing Islands cast area near Goderich, transporting supplies and assisting boats through local channels. On 30 November 1901, during a storm, she parted her anchor chain and was driven onto exposed rocky shallows between Main Station and Indian Islands. Immobilized and battered, she was declared a total loss. Later winter ice likely displaced her, sliding the wreck into deeper channel waters. Her engine and boiler were reportedly salvaged.
Significant Incidents
- 30 November 1901: During a storm, Phenix broke anchor chain and was driven onto rocky shallows, leading to her total loss.
Final Disposition
The hull broke apart and became submerged off the rocky shallows. The engine and boiler have been recovered; other components remain in situ.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No official modern archaeological survey has precisely located the wreck—though its approximate site is known beneath shallow channel waters. Wreckage was not marked but is recognized by local historians and divers.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”phenix-c-71144″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The Phenix story highlights the vulnerability of small steam tugs to late-season storms and anchor failures in channel waters. Built in 1883, she served until 1901 when a gale forced her onto rocks in a complex island passage. Though her primary machinery was salvaged, the hull remains submerged—an overlooked but valuable piece of Lake Huron’s maritime heritage.
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: Phenix (often spelled Phoenix)
- Former Names: None
- Official Number: C71144
- Date Built & Launched: 1883, by A. A. Hackett at Sauble Mills, Ontario (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Measurements: Approximately 16.3 m × 4.3 m × 1.8 m (54 ft × 14 ft × 6 ft); around 37 gross / 25 net tons
- Type: Wooden propeller-driven steam tug
- Cargo at Loss: None (utility/support vessel)
- Date Lost: 30 November 1901
- Place of Loss: Off the east shore of Main Station Island, between Main Station and the Indian Islands (Fishing Islands region), Lake Huron (glska.com, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Circumstance: In a storm, Phenix broke anchor chain and was driven onto rocky shallows in the channel. She became a total loss and later slid into deeper water. No crew was reported lost. (glska.com)
Vessel Type
A compact wooden-hulled steam tug used for local towing and utility support within fisheries and small harbor operations near Goderich, Ontario.
Description
Built in 1883, Phenix featured twin-screw propulsion (a relatively modern setup for her time) to enhance maneuverability in tight channels. Her modest tonnage reflects her role as a workboat rather than a main freighter. (michiganshipwrecks.org)
History
The Phenix operated primarily in the Fishing Islands cast area near Goderich, transporting supplies and assisting boats through local channels. On 30 November 1901, during a storm, she parted her anchor chain and was driven onto exposed rocky shallows between Main Station and Indian Islands. Immobilized and battered, she was declared a total loss. Later winter ice likely displaced her, sliding the wreck into deeper channel waters. Her engine and boiler were reportedly salvaged. (glska.com)
Final Disposition
The hull broke apart and became submerged off the rocky shallows. The engine and boiler have been recovered; other components remain in situ.
Located By & Date Found
No official modern archaeological survey has precisely located the wreck—though its approximate site is known beneath shallow channel waters. Wreckage was not marked but is recognized by local historians and divers.
Notations & Advisories
No charted markers or navigation warnings exist, but the remains likely lie in shallow channel waters—potentially hazardous for shallow-draft vessels. The site remains relatively obscure and undeclared.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – entry on Phenix – cause, location, status (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- “Shipwrecks of the Fishing Islands” summary – hull loss and situational details (glska.com)
- Michigan Shipwreck Research Association – details on twin-screw configuration (michiganshipwrecks.org)
Conclusion
The Phenix story highlights the vulnerability of small steam tugs to late-season storms and anchor failures in channel waters. Built in 1883, she served until 1901 when a gale forced her onto rocks in a complex island passage. Though her primary machinery was salvaged, the hull remains submerged—an overlooked but valuable piece of Lake Huron’s maritime heritage.
Suggested Keywords & Glossary Terms: steam tug, twin-screw propulsion, anchor chain failure, rocky shallows, Fishing Islands wreck
Categories:
- Great Lakes shipwrecks
- Lake Huron wrecks
- early steam tugs
- storm-driven losses