Robert Gaskin C 57231

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

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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.