Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Point Abino
- Type: Wooden propeller-driven bulk freight vessel
- Year Built: 1872
- Builder: Buffalo, New York
- Dimensions: Length 112 ft (34.1 m); Beam 24 ft (7.3 m); Depth 8 ft (2.4 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 204 gross tons (approx. 185 metric tonnes)
- Location: St. Clair Flats Canal, Lake St. Clair
- Official Number: 150103
- Original Owners: Captain S. H. Burnham of Port Huron
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Point Abino was a wooden propeller-driven bulk freight vessel, colloquially referred to as a “rabbit” on the Great Lakes. These vessels were designed for the transportation of bulk commodities and were characterized by their relatively small size and utilitarian construction, making them suitable for navigating the shallow and narrow waterways common in the Great Lakes region.
Description
Constructed in 1872 in Buffalo, New York, the Point Abino measured 112 feet (34.1 metres) in length, with a beam of 24 feet (7.3 metres) and a depth of 8 feet (2.4 metres). With a gross tonnage of 204 (approx. 185 metric tonnes), she was built to serve the burgeoning bulk freight industry on the Great Lakes, transporting commodities such as sugar beets, which were a significant agricultural product in the region during that period.
History
Throughout her operational life, the Point Abino was engaged in the transportation of bulk goods across the Great Lakes. On November 14, 1905, while navigating the St. Clair Flats Canal on Lake St. Clair, she became stranded. The vessel was deemed too old and worn out to warrant salvage efforts. The crew was safely evacuated by the Canadian tug Dragon. Shortly after the stranding, a storm further damaged the vessel, breaking her up and leaving her wreckage near that of the N. Mills. At the time of her loss, the Point Abino was owned and operated by Captain S. H. Burnham of Port Huron.
Significant Incidents
- Stranded on November 14, 1905, in the St. Clair Flats Canal.
- All crew members were safely evacuated by the Canadian tug Dragon.
- Subsequent storm damage led to the wreck being largely broken up.
Final Disposition
Following the stranding and subsequent storm damage, the Point Abino was not recovered. Her remains were left in situ near the wreck of the N. Mills, contributing to the maritime history and underwater archaeological landscape of the St. Clair Flats Canal area.
Current Condition & Accessibility
As of current records, there is no publicly available information indicating that the wreck of the Point Abino has been located or surveyed.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”point-abino-us-150103″ title=”References & Links”]
The Point Abino serves as a representative example of the numerous utilitarian vessels that operated on the Great Lakes during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Her loss in 1905 underscores the challenges faced by such vessels, including aging infrastructure and the hazards of navigating the complex waterways of the Great Lakes. While the wreck has not been located, the story of the Point Abino contributes to the rich tapestry of maritime history in the region.
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: Point Abino
- Former Names: None
- Official Registration Number: 150103
- Date Built & Launched: 1872
- Builder: Buffalo, New York
- Construction: Wooden propeller-driven bulk freight vessel (commonly referred to as a “rabbit”)
- Tonnage: 204 gross tons (approx. 185 metric tonnes)
- Dimensions: Length 112 feet (34.1 metres), Beam 24 feet (7.3 metres), Depth 8 feet (2.4 metres)
- Date Lost: November 14, 1905
- Location of Loss: St. Clair Flats Canal, Lake St. Clair
- Cargo at Time of Loss: Sugar beets
- Cause of Loss: Stranded and wrecked; deemed too old and worn out to recover
- Crew: All crew members were safely taken off by the Canadian tug Dragon
- Final Disposition: Largely broken up in a subsequent storm; wreckage lies near that of the N. Mills
- Owner at Time of Loss: Captain S. H. Burnham of Port Huron
Vessel Type
The Point Abino was a wooden propeller-driven bulk freight vessel, colloquially referred to as a “rabbit” on the Great Lakes. These vessels were designed for the transportation of bulk commodities and were characterized by their relatively small size and utilitarian construction, making them suitable for navigating the shallow and narrow waterways common in the Great Lakes region.
Description
Constructed in 1872 in Buffalo, New York, the Point Abino measured 112 feet (34.1 metres) in length, with a beam of 24 feet (7.3 metres) and a depth of 8 feet (2.4 metres). With a gross tonnage of 204 (approx. 185 metric tonnes), she was built to serve the burgeoning bulk freight industry on the Great Lakes, transporting commodities such as sugar beets, which were a significant agricultural product in the region during that period.
History
Throughout her operational life, the Point Abino was engaged in the transportation of bulk goods across the Great Lakes. On November 14, 1905, while navigating the St. Clair Flats Canal on Lake St. Clair, she became stranded. The vessel was deemed too old and worn out to warrant salvage efforts. The crew was safely evacuated by the Canadian tug Dragon. Shortly after the stranding, a storm further damaged the vessel, breaking her up and leaving her wreckage near that of the N. Mills. At the time of her loss, the Point Abino was owned and operated by Captain S. H. Burnham of Port Huron.
Final Disposition
Following the stranding and subsequent storm damage, the Point Abino was not recovered. Her remains were left in situ near the wreck of the N. Mills, contributing to the maritime history and underwater archaeological landscape of the St. Clair Flats Canal area.
Located By & Date Found
As of current records, there is no publicly available information indicating that the wreck of the Point Abino has been located or surveyed.
NOTMARs & Advisories
There are no current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) or advisories related to the Point Abino. Mariners operating in the area near the St. Clair Flats Canal should consult the latest nautical charts and local notices for any updates.
Resources & Links
Conclusion
The Point Abino serves as a representative example of the numerous utilitarian vessels that operated on the Great Lakes during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Her loss in 1905 underscores the challenges faced by such vessels, including aging infrastructure and the hazards of navigating the complex waterways of the Great Lakes. While the wreck has not been located, the story of the Point Abino contributes to the rich tapestry of maritime history in the region.
Suggested Keywords & Categories
Keywords: Point Abino, wooden propeller vessel, Lake St. Clair shipwreck, sugar beet cargo, St. Clair Flats Canal, Great Lakes maritime history
Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake St. Clair, Great Lakes Maritime History, 19th-Century Vessels, Bulk Freight Vessels
Glossary Terms:
- Rabbit: A colloquial term used on the Great Lakes to describe small, utilitarian bulk freight vessels.
- St. Clair Flats Canal: A navigational channel in Lake St. Clair, known for its shallow waters and complex navigation routes.
- Sugar Beets: A root crop cultivated for sugar production, commonly transported by bulk freight vessels in the Great Lakes region during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- Tug Dragon: A Canadian tugboat involved in the rescue of the Point Abino‘s crew following the vessel’s stranding in 1905.
- N. Mills: Another vessel whose wreck lies near that of the Point Abino in the St. Clair Flats Canal area.