Portage US 19942

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Portage
• Type: Wooden, single-decked schooner
• Year Built: 1862
• Builder: William Brown
• Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage: 260 tons
• Depth at Wreck Site: 7.62 m / 25 ft
• Location: Approximately 8 miles west of Port Rowan, Ontario
• Official Number: 19942
• Original Owners: Sylvester Doolittle, J. Joyce, F. Horton

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Vessel Type: Wooden, single-decked schooner

Description

The Portage was a wooden, single-decked schooner built in 1862 by William Brown. Originally owned by Sylvester Doolittle, it had a registered tonnage of 260 tons.

History

1862: Enrolled first at Sandusky, Ohio; later with Oswego, New York.
1865: Recorded at Oswego with 224 gross tons.
1871: Owned by J. Joyce, described as a scow-schooner.
1872: Underwent repairs.
1874: Ownership transferred to F. Horton of Erie, Pennsylvania.
1878, July: Loaded with 400 tons of coal bound from Fair Haven, New York to Toledo, Ohio when caught in a gale and sank near Port Rowan.

Significant Incidents

• Date of Loss: 26–27 July 1878
• Location: Approximately 8 miles west of Port Rowan, Ontario, in ~25 ft of water off Lake Erie’s north shore
• Cause: Foundered in a sudden gale while transporting 400 tons of coal; took on water and sank near shore
• Casualties: None recorded
• Salvage: Part of the cargo was recovered the following spring

Final Disposition

The Portage sank during a gale while carrying coal. The wreck lies in approximately 25 ft of water, making it accessible for surveys and dives.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The hull foundered and likely settled on a sandy bottom in approximately 25 ft of water. Remains such as framing and any machinery might still lie in situ. The shallow depth near shore suggests that visual or sonar survey is feasible from small craft or shore. However, wreckage may be obscured by sediment or spring driftwood, requiring sonar for precise location.

Resources & Links

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The Portage, a 260-ton schooner built in 1862, met its demise on 26–27 July 1878 after taking on water and foundering during a gale off Port Rowan, Ontario. Fully laden with 400 tons of coal, her crew survived and much of the cargo was later salvaged. The wreck lies in shallow water (~25 ft), making it amenable to survey efforts. To enrich this profile, further research in maritime logs, insurance records, and period newspapers is recommended.