Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Sunbeam
- Type: Wooden Anti-Submarine Patrol Boat (later private yacht)
- Year Built: 1917
- Builder: Brooklyn Navy Yard, New York
- Dimensions: Exact dimensions not available
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Niagara River, near Chippawa, Ontario
- Coordinates: Approximate area near Chippawa, Ontario
- Original Owners: Seymour Lasker
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Type: Wooden Anti-Submarine Patrol Boat (later private yacht)
Description
The Sunbeam was constructed at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in 1917 for the U.S. Navy, serving as an anti-submarine patrol boat during World War I. After the war, it was sold to Seymour Lasker, who intended to convert it into a private yacht.
History
Construction and Military Service: The Sunbeam was built for the U.S. Navy and operated in coastal and inland waters as an anti-submarine patrol vessel during World War I.
Post-War Ownership: Following the war, the vessel was declared surplus and sold to Seymour Lasker, who planned to convert it into a private pleasure yacht.
Significant Incidents
Final Incident:
- Date: May 1923
- Location: Niagara River, near Chippawa
- Event Summary: Lasker and three companions departed New York intending to travel to Lake Michigan. Due to a navigational error, they entered the Niagara River instead of Lake Erie. After docking at Chippawa for the night, the vessel broke loose, drifted downstream, and ran aground near the Old Scow, less than a mile from Horseshoe Falls.
- Outcome: The vessel tipped over and ran aground. Salvage efforts were abandoned due to high costs.
Final Disposition
Post-Incident Events:
- Lasker sold the stranded vessel to local daredevil Red Hill Sr. for one dollar. Hill also deemed salvage too expensive, leaving the Sunbeam to deteriorate.
Deterioration: Over the years, the Sunbeam was gradually broken apart by ice and river currents, with the wooden hull completely disintegrating by the late 1930s.
Remnants: Occasionally, parts of the engine and propeller shaft are visible during periods of low water in the Niagara River.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Visibility: No major remnants are accessible or intact; only small components, such as the engine or propeller shaft, may occasionally be visible during low water levels.
Access: The wreck site is not suitable for diving due to the strong currents and hazardous location in the Niagara River.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”uss-sunbeam” title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The Sunbeam serves as a lesser-known counterpart to the nearby Old Scow, symbolizing the hazards of the Niagara River. While the Sunbeam no longer exists as a tangible wreck, its story remains an intriguing chapter in the region’s history, blending human error, nature’s power, and maritime lore.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
Join Shotline to read more →