Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Verano US 224830 (Idler, Paul Reese II)

Explore the wreck of the Verano, a mid-20th-century yacht that foundered in 1946, now a dive site rich in history and mechanical artifacts.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Verano
  • Type: Steel-hulled motor yacht (screw-driven)
  • Year Built: 1925
  • Builder: Consolidated Shipbuilding, Morris Heights, NY
  • Dimensions: 88 ft × 16 ft × 8 ft; 102 gross tons, 69 net tons
  • Registered Tonnage: 102 gross tons, 69 net tons
  • Depth at Wreck Site: 16.76 m / 55 ft
  • Location: Approximately 8 miles north of South Haven, Lake Michigan
  • Official Number: US 224830
  • Original Owners: J. R. Baumgartner (prior), Maynard Dowell (purchased August 1946)
  • Number of Masts: None

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Steel-hulled motor yacht (screw-driven), sometimes used for cargo.

Description

The Verano was originally built as the yacht Idler, renamed Paul Reese II in 1933, and later Verano in 1935. She served as a private leisure yacht and occasionally supported light commercial operations. Operated by Baumgartner during the Depression years, she was well-maintained but had a history of minor leaks and list issues.

History

On August 28, 1946, Verano departed Chicago under the command of three crew—Chester Granath, Fred Stenning, and cook Ben Murasaki—headed to Holland, Michigan, for overhaul and repainting at Jesiek’s Boat Yard. Despite calm weather, the yacht foundered approximately 8 miles north of South Haven, Lake Michigan, likely due to underlying mechanical or hull weaknesses; no definitive cause was determined by the Coast Guard. The overturned lifeboat later washed ashore, and the bodies of all three men were recovered; one victim was even found wearing a lifejacket backwards.

Significant Incidents

  • Foundered on August 28, 1946, under calm weather conditions.
  • All three crew members perished in the incident.
  • Overturned lifeboat washed ashore, leading to recovery of the bodies.

Final Disposition

The wreck was located by divers in August 1994, resting upright in about 55 feet of water off South Haven. Notable remains include dual engines and the dashboard—keys still in the ignition, preserved on the vessel’s dashboard.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the Verano is well-preserved, offering a valuable recreational dive site. The intact dashboard and engines provide a time-capsule snapshot of 1920s yacht mechanical systems.

Resources & Links

References are being reviewed for this wreck.

The Verano was a prestigious mid-20th-century yacht that met an unexpected end on August 28, 1946, when she foundered off South Haven without warning. While her small crew tragically perished, her well-preserved wreck lies today as a valuable recreational dive site—offering rich insight into yacht construction, mechanical systems, and mid-century yachting culture.