Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Rocket
- Type: Wooden-hulled scow-schooner
- Year Built: 1879
- Builder: Likely at Sand Beach, Michigan
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: string
- Location: Offshore Lake Michigan, near Frankfort, Michigan, approx. 40 miles north of Frankfort
- Coordinates: string
- Official Number: string
- Original Owners: string
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A scow-schooner—designed for economical transport of bulk goods (likely lumber or stone) over inland lakes. Its broad, shallow design prioritized payload over seaworthiness in heavy weather.
Description
The Rocket featured a wooden flat-bottom hull with two masts and simple rigging. With minimal freeboard, she was efficient in calm conditions but vulnerable to swamping during storms.
History
Built circa 1879, records show little prior incident history, suggesting a brief service life before her loss in 1882.
Significant Incidents
- Waterlogged and capsized in a storm; total loss.
- None; crew survived by clinging to wreck and rescued by steamer Araxes and Pt. Betsie Lifesaving crew.
Final Disposition
While carrying cargo, the Rocket encountered a sudden squall offshore Lake Michigan. She became waterlogged, swamped, and capsized in deep water, sinking sternward. Her hull was not recovered and remains lost.
Current Condition & Accessibility
There are no documented salvage efforts, surveys, or rediscovery of the wreck. Like many scow-schooners, the Rocket’s remains likely rest in deep, remote waters offshore.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”rocket-1879″ title=”References & Links”]
Rocket’s loss is emblematic of the risks faced by shallow-draft cargo schooners on the Great Lakes—effective in fair weather, but extremely vulnerable in squalls. Her crew’s successful rescue underscores maritime preparedness, while her wreck remains a footnote among deep-water ship losses.
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: Rocket
- Year built: 1879 (likely at Sand Beach, Michigan)
- Type: Wooden-hulled scow‑schooner (two-masted, shallow‑draft cargo sail barge)
- Date lost: 30 May 1882
- Location: Offshore Lake Michigan, near Frankfort, Michigan, approx. 40 miles north of Frankfort
- Loss type: Waterlogged and capsized in a storm; total loss
- Casualties: None; crew survived by clinging to wreck and rescued by steamer Araxes and Pt. Betsie Lifesaving crew (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Wikipedia)
Vessel Type
A scow‑schooner—designed for economical transport of bulk goods (likely lumber or stone) over inland lakes. Its broad, shallow design prioritized payload over seaworthiness in heavy weather.
Description
The Rocket featured a wooden flat-bottom hull with two masts and simple rigging. With minimal freeboard, she was efficient in calm conditions but vulnerable to swamping during storms.
History
Built circa 1879, records show little prior incident history, suggesting a brief service life before her loss in 1882.
Final Disposition
While carrying cargo, the Rocket encountered a sudden squall offshore Lake Michigan. She became waterlogged, swamped, and capsized in deep water, sinking sternward. Her hull was not recovered and remains lost .
Rescue & Survival
The crew clung to the overturned hull until rescued by the steamer Araxes. They were subsequently landed by the Point Betsie Lifesaving Station crew—demonstrating both resilience and effective lifeboat coordination in adverse conditions (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Located By & Date Found
There are no documented salvage efforts, surveys, or rediscovery of the wreck. Like many scow‑schooners, the Rocket’s remains likely rest in deep, remote waters offshore.
Notmar & Advisories
No historic or modern Notices to Mariners linked directly to this wreck. The offshore shoals north of Frankfort continue to pose hazards; caution is advised during spring storms.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – “Rocket” entry, including build details and loss summary (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Conclusion
Rocket’s loss is emblematic of the risks faced by shallow-draft cargo schooners on the Great Lakes—effective in fair weather, but extremely vulnerable in squalls. Her crew’s successful rescue underscores maritime preparedness, while her wreck remains a footnote among deep-water ship losses.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
- Keywords: scow‑schooner, waterlogging, capsizing, Frankfort storm, 1882 shipwreck
- Categories: Wooden cargo vessels, offshore storm wrecks, 19th-century Great Lakes maritime history
- Glossary:
- Scow‑schooner: A flat-bottomed barge with masts for sail, designed for heavy load transport.
- Waterlogged: Filled with water to near-displacement capacity, risking capsizing.
- Freeboard: The height of the deck above the waterline, affecting seaworthiness.