Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Restless
- Type: Wooden sloop (single-masted sailing vessel)
- Year Built: 1889
- Builder:
- Dimensions: 31 ft (9.45 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Off Rocky River, Ohio
- Number of Masts: 1
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Type: Wooden sloop (single-masted sailing vessel), about 31 ft in length
Description
The vessel was recorded in a July 30th gale, where she foundered (took on water and sunk). Very little additional detail—cargo, crew size, or specific circumstances—has been recorded. alcheminc.com, history.navy.mil
History
The Restless illustrates the dangers facing even small private craft during mid-summer gales on Lake Erie. As a small sloop, Restless exemplifies the persistence of sail-powered recreational or utility vessels into the 20th century. This incident highlights the limited documentation typical for minor maritime losses, presenting opportunity for local historical or archaeological investigation.
Significant Incidents
- Foundered during a storm on July 30, 1908.
- All on board survived; no casualties reported.
Final Disposition
After foundering, the Restless sank. Given its small size, there’s a possibility the remains lie in relatively shallow water near Rocky River’s shoreline or just offshore. The hull, likely fragmented, would now be wooden debris, possibly buried or scattered.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Research and survey opportunities include checking local newspaper archives such as the Cleveland Plain Dealer and Rocky River Beacon for reports on the sinking, requesting records from U.S. Life-Saving Service stations, coordinating a dive or remote-sensing survey offshore, and engaging local dive clubs or historians for anecdotal memories or artifact finds from the 1908 wreck.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”restless-1889″ title=”References & Links”]
The Restless serves as a reminder of the perils faced by small vessels on the Great Lakes and the importance of preserving maritime history through research and exploration.
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
- Type: Wooden sloop (single-masted sailing vessel), about 31 ft in length
- Registry: U.S.
- Built: 1889
- Loss Date: July 30, 1908
- Location: Off Rocky River, Ohio, Lake Erie, in a storm setting.
- Casualties: None indicated — all on board survived.
The vessel was recorded in a July 30th gale, where she foundered (took on water and sunk). Very little additional detail—cargo, crew size, or specific circumstances—has been recorded. (alcheminc.com, history.navy.mil)
Final Disposition
- After foundering, the Restless sank. Given its small size, there’s a possibility the remains lie in relatively shallow water near Rocky River’s shoreline or just offshore. The hull, likely fragmented, would now be wooden debris, possibly buried or scattered.
Historical Significance
- Illustrates the dangers facing even small private craft during mid-summer gales on Lake Erie.
- As a small sloop, Restless exemplifies the persistence of sail-powered recreational or utility vessels into the 20th century.
- This incident highlights the limited documentation typical for minor maritime losses, presenting opportunity for local historical or archaeological investigation.
Research & Survey Opportunities
| Research Area | Actions |
|---|---|
| Local Newspaper Archives | Check Cleveland Plain Dealer, Rocky River Beacon (July–August 1908) for sinking report, possible rescue details. |
| Coast Guard/Lifesaving Logs | Request records from U.S. Life-Saving Service stations near Rocky River or Cleveland. |
| Shoreline Reconnaissance | Coordinate a dive or remote-sensing survey (side-scan sonar, magnetometer) just offshore Rocky River to locate wreck debris. |
| Community Outreach | Engage local dive clubs or historians to share anecdotal memory or artifact finds from that 1908 wreck. |
Summary Profile
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name | Restless |
| Built | 1889 (wooden sloop, ~31 ft) |
| Loss Date | July 30, 1908 |
| Location | Off Rocky River, Lake Erie |
| Cause | Foundered during storm |
| Casualties | None reported |
| Remains | Likely shallow, broken-up wrec |