Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Unknown No. 8
- Type: Suggested bulk-cargo wooden canaller
- Year Built: Unknown (likely 19th to early 20th century)
- Builder: Unknown
- Dimensions: At least ~100 ft (30.5 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: Unknown
- Depth at Wreck Site: 0.9 m / 3 ft
- Location: Shoreline near Furnessville, Indiana
- Coordinates: Not published
- Official Number: Unknown
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Suggested bulk-cargo wooden canaller (per DNR listing).
Description
According to the Indiana DNR *Shipwrecks – Lake Michigan Coastal Program* listing, the known remnant of Unknown No. 8 is a bow section about 13 feet in length. The listing suggests the vessel may originally have been around 100 feet or more in total length. No other structural, machinery, or hull details have been publicly documented. The wreck lies in extremely shallow water (~3 ft), making full structural survey difficult and increasing the likelihood of sediment burial or damage over time.
History
No historical records, registry entries, ship registers, or newspaper accounts have yet been correlated to Unknown No. 8. Given the limited fragment and shallow exposure, its identity remains speculative.
Significant Incidents
- The vessel likely succumbed to deterioration, abandonment, or shoreline damage.
- Over time, the remaining bow may have collapsed or been partially buried in sediment.
- The small, shallow fragment may be one of the few surviving visible pieces above the mudline.
Final Disposition
The vessel likely succumbed to deterioration, abandonment, or shoreline damage. Over time, the remaining bow may have collapsed or been partially buried in sediment. The small, shallow fragment may be one of the few surviving visible pieces above the mudline.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Access is likely via shore or wade entry near the Furnessville, Indiana shoreline. Conditions include very shallow water, sedimentation, wave wash, and possible exposure depending on lake level. The depth ranges from 0 to ~3 ft (0–0.9 m). Emergency contacts include USCG Sector Lake Michigan and the Indiana DNR heritage or underwater resources office. Permits are likely required under Indiana underwater heritage/archaeological law.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”unknown-no-8-furnessville” title=”References & Links”]
No information is available on crew, casualty counts, or memorials. Because the wreck is unidentified and fragmentary, such details have likely been lost or were never documented.
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