Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Sarona C 116254

Explore the wreck of Sarona, a 32-ton wooden yacht built in 1902, scuttled after serving as a leisure craft in Muskoka lakes.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Sarona
  • Type: Yacht
  • Year Built: 1902
  • Builder: D. Smith Shipyard, Toronto, Ontario
  • Dimensions: 72 ft × 11 ft × 8 ft
  • Registered Tonnage: 32 tons
  • Location: Muskoka lakes or Georgian Bay near Huntsville/Bracebridge
  • Official Number: 116254
  • Original Owners: Huntsville & Bracebridge Tanning Co. (C.O. Shaw), Ontario
  • Number of Masts: Single-screw

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Sarona was a modest-sized wooden yacht, likely outfitted with plush accommodations suitable for recreational or light commercial use. Her length and beam suggest a slender, graceful yacht form with a midship engine room and fore-and-aft cabin layouts typical of early 20th-century pleasure crafts.

Description

Sarona was a modest-sized wooden yacht, likely outfitted with plush accommodations suitable for recreational or light commercial use. Her length and beam suggest a slender, graceful yacht form with a midship engine room and fore-and-aft cabin layouts typical of early 20th-century pleasure crafts.

History

Sarona was built in 1902 at D. Smith Shipyard in Toronto, Ontario. The yacht was initially owned by the Huntsville & Bracebridge Tanning Co., suggesting its use for company inspections or as an executive vessel, providing leisure travel on Muskoka lakes.

Significant Incidents

  • Scuttling: Sarona was scuttled, although the exact date and location remain undocumented. It is believed she was intentionally sunk in a sheltered area once she became obsolete or too costly to maintain.

Final Disposition

The method of disposal for Sarona was scuttling. The date and specific location of the scuttling are not documented, but it is suggested that it may have occurred in the Muskoka lakes or a bay in Georgian Bay close to Huntsville or Bracebridge.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Details regarding the current condition of Sarona are not available. Further research may be needed to ascertain her status and accessibility for diving.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”sarona-c-116254″ title=”References & Links”]

Sarona, a 32-ton wooden yacht built in 1902 for the Huntsville & Bracebridge Tanning Co., served as a leisure or inspection craft before being intentionally scuttled to end her service life. Detailed records of her disposal remain elusive and would likely benefit from regional archival investigation.

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.

Identification & Technical Data

  • Name: Sarona
  • Official Number: 116254
  • Year Built: 1902
  • Built at: D. Smith Shipyard, Toronto, Ontario
  • Propulsion: Single-screw yacht
  • Gross Tonnage: 32 tons
  • Hull Dimensions: 72 ft × 11 ft × 8 ft
  • Engine: 5″ × 10″ × 6″ installed by Goderich Engine Co.

Vessel Type & Description

Sarona was a modest-sized wooden yacht, likely outfitted with plush accommodations suitable for recreational or light commercial use. Her length and beam suggest a slender, graceful yacht form with a midship engine room and fore-and-aft cabin layouts typical of early 20th-century pleasure crafts.

Ownership History

  • Assigned Owner (1902): Huntsville & Bracebridge Tanning Co. (C.O. Shaw), Ontario
    Suggests use either as a company inspection or executive vessel, providing leisure travel on Muskoka lakes.

Final Disposition

  • Method: Scuttled
  • Date & Location: Remain undocumented. Likely intentionally sunk in a sheltered area once the yacht became obsolete or too costly to maintain. Possible scuttling location includes Muskoka lakes or a Georgian Bay bay close to Huntsville/Bracebridge.

Research Gaps

While the vessel’s origins and specs are clear, major gaps remain:

  • Scuttling details: date, reason, exact location
  • Registry cancellation records in Ontario archives
  • Company rationale: Whether scuttling was due to damage, disuse, or finance

Recommended Research Steps

  • Ontario Transport Canada Archives: Investigate registry cancellation and scuttling permit records (likely early–mid-20th century).
  • Local Newspapers (Huntsville/Bracebridge): Search for surrender or disposal notices (1902–1950).
  • Company Records of Huntsville & Bracebridge Tanning Co.: Potential mention of asset write-off or disposal.
  • Hydrographic Survey Maps: Early charts of Muskoka region may note wreck or scuttled yacht zones
  • Heritage Organizations: Contact Muskoka Heritage Place or Bracebridge museum for anecdotal or photographic materials.

Summary

Sarona, a 32-ton wooden yacht built in 1902 for the Huntsville & Bracebridge Tanning Co., served as a leisure or inspection craft before being intentionally scuttled to end her service life. Detailed records of her disposal remain elusive and would likely benefit from regional archival investigation. If you’d like, I can proceed to access Transport Canada archives, Muskoka newspaper databases, or connect with local heritage groups to help pinpoint her scuttling.

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