Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: R. Gaskin
- Type: Schooner / Barge
- Year Built: 1863
- Builder: Kingston, Ontario, Canada
- Dimensions: 132 ft (40.2 m); Beam: Approximately 25 ft (7.6 m); Depth of hold: Approximately 9 ft (2.7 m)
- Registered Tonnage: ~220 tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 20 m / 60 ft
- Location: St. Lawrence River, near Brockville, Ontario, Canada
- Coordinates: 44° 35.358′ N, 75° 40.625′ W
- Official Number: 57231
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Originally two masts, removed during conversion to barge
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The R. Gaskin was initially a standard Great Lakes schooner, built to transport grain, lumber, and other cargoes between Ontario and Quebec ports. As shipping economics changed, she was converted to a lake barge — a typical commercial evolution for aging schooners in the 1880s. Barges like the Gaskin were used for bulk cargoes and salvage support work, towed by steam tugs on the river.
Description
Constructed of white oak with iron fastenings, the Gaskin had a deep hold to accommodate large cargo volumes and a flat, wide beam for stability. After being rerigged as a barge, her masts were removed, and heavy towing bitts were added to the bow and stern. Her wooden hull remains relatively well-preserved today due to the cold, freshwater environment of the St. Lawrence River.
History
The R. Gaskin worked for nearly 25 years as a schooner before being converted to a salvage barge. On 18 September 1889, while assisting in the salvage of the steamer William Armstrong, which had sunk near Brockville, the Gaskin foundered. Witness reports suggest she was overwhelmed by currents or perhaps a shift in her load of salvage equipment, taking on water and sinking rapidly. No lives were reported lost.
Her loss was noted by local marine insurers and salvage companies, as she represented a significant investment in the growing ship-recovery trade on the St. Lawrence.
Significant Incidents
- 18 September 1889: The R. Gaskin foundered while assisting in the salvage of the steamer William Armstrong.
Final Disposition
The Gaskin was declared a total loss and left on the riverbed, with no serious recovery attempt due to her barge status and minimal insurance coverage. Her wooden remains have become a fixture of Brockville’s underwater heritage.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Hull largely intact, with visible deck framing and machinery elements. Cold freshwater conditions have helped preserve timbers. Marine life includes perch, bass, freshwater sponges, and other river species inhabiting the wreck. Accessibility is recommended for intermediate-level divers with current management skills.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”robert-gaskin-c-57231″ title=”References & Links”]
The R. Gaskin is a remarkable window into 19th-century maritime practice, showcasing how vessels adapted from schooners to barges to meet changing commercial demands. Her role in salvage operations — and her loss while engaged in recovering another ship — underscores the hazards faced by those who worked the river. Today, she serves both as an important historic site and as a dynamic artificial reef, preserving a chapter of Canadian shipping heritage under the St. Lawrence.
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.
R. Gaskin (Official Canadian Registry No. 57231, Launched 1863
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name(s): R. Gaskin
- Registration Number: Canadian Registry 57231
- Year Built: 1863
- Builder: Kingston, Ontario, Canada
- Vessel Type: Originally a two-masted wooden schooner, later converted to a lake barge
- Dimensions:
- Length: 40.2 m (132 feet)
- Beam: Approximately 7.6 m (25 feet)
- Depth of hold: Approximately 2.7 m (9 feet)
- Gross Tonnage: ~220 tons
- Final Resting Place: St. Lawrence River, near Brockville, Ontario, Canada
- Coordinates: 44° 35.358′ N, 75° 40.625′ W
- Date Lost: 18 September 1889
- Depth: 20 m (60 feet)
Vessel Type
The R. Gaskin was initially a standard Great Lakes schooner, built to transport grain, lumber, and other cargoes between Ontario and Quebec ports. As shipping economics changed, she was converted to a lake barge — a typical commercial evolution for aging schooners in the 1880s. Barges like the Gaskin were used for bulk cargoes and salvage support work, towed by steam tugs on the river.
Description
Constructed of white oak with iron fastenings, the Gaskin had a deep hold to accommodate large cargo volumes and a flat, wide beam for stability. After being rerigged as a barge, her masts were removed, and heavy towing bitts were added to the bow and stern. Her wooden hull remains relatively well-preserved today due to the cold, freshwater environment of the St. Lawrence River.
History
The R. Gaskin worked for nearly 25 years as a schooner before being converted to a salvage barge. On 18 September 1889, while assisting in the salvage of the steamer William Armstrong, which had sunk near Brockville, the Gaskin foundered. Witness reports suggest she was overwhelmed by currents or perhaps a shift in her load of salvage equipment, taking on water and sinking rapidly. No lives were reported lost.
Her loss was noted by local marine insurers and salvage companies, as she represented a significant investment in the growing ship-recovery trade on the St. Lawrence.
Final Dispositions
The Gaskin was declared a total loss and left on the riverbed, with no serious recovery attempt due to her barge status and minimal insurance coverage. Her wooden remains have become a fixture of Brockville’s underwater heritage.
Located By & Date Found
The wreck location was well known immediately after its sinking in 1889, but modern divers relocated and documented the site in the 1960s. It has been actively dived since then, with charted coordinates confirmed by Save Ontario Shipwrecks surveys.
Notmars & Advisories
There are no current Notmar (Notices to Mariners) hazards posted specifically for the Gaskin wreck, but standard Brockville Narrows current and navigation advisories apply. Consult Canadian Coast Guard Chart 1416 for updates.
Shore Dive Information
- Shore Access Location: Brockville, Ontario, through local dive charters (shore entry generally not recommended due to current)
- Entry Type: Dive boat charter
- Depth Range: 18–21 m (60–70 feet)
- Current & Conditions: Strong river currents, with typical visibility 5–15 m (16–50 feet), thermocline present in summer
- Points of Interest: Hull structure, wooden deck framing, supporting marine life
- Skill Level: Intermediate to advanced
- Safety & Emergency Info:
- Nearest hyperbaric chamber: Ottawa General Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario
- Nearest 911 address: Brockville, ON
- Canadian Coast Guard Prescott Radio: VHF 16
- U.S. Coast Guard Station Alexandria Bay (for cross-border incidents): VHF 16
- Local Regulations: Dive flag required, vessel traffic awareness strongly advised
- Best Time to Dive: June–September, outside of strong spring currents
- Driving Directions: Google Maps | Apple Maps
- Additional Resources: SOS Thousand Islands Chapter, local dive shops in Brockville
Current Condition & Accessibility
- Condition: Hull largely intact, with visible deck framing and machinery elements. Cold freshwater conditions have helped preserve timbers.
- Marine Life: Perch, bass, freshwater sponges, and other river species inhabit the wreck.
- Accessibility: Intermediate-level dive with current management skills recommended.
Resources & Links
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Save Ontario Shipwrecks
- Great Lakes Ships Database – BGSU
- Brockville Historical Society
- 3D Shipwrecks
Conclusion
The R. Gaskin is a remarkable window into 19th-century maritime practice, showcasing how vessels adapted from schooners to barges to meet changing commercial demands. Her role in salvage operations — and her loss while engaged in recovering another ship — underscores the hazards faced by those who worked the river. Today, she serves both as an important historic site and as a dynamic artificial reef, preserving a chapter of Canadian shipping heritage under the St. Lawrence.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
- Keywords: R. Gaskin, Brockville shipwreck, schooner-barge conversion, St. Lawrence River, salvage history
- Categories: Great Lakes shipwrecks, Ontario dive sites, 19th-century vessels, barge conversions
- Glossary Terms: schooner, lake barge, foundered, salvage operations, freshwater wreck preservation
If you want, I can also build you a dive-planner handout or create a map overlay for a dive briefing — just say the word!
Robert Gaskin (partial) by Christian Rémillard on Sketchfab
Gaskin Wreck (partial with errors) by GooseDiving on Sketchfab
You must be logged in to post a comment.