Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: W. L. Davis
• Type: Wooden propeller steam tug
• Year Built: 1882
• Builder: Dean & Co., Detroit, Michigan
• Dimensions: 46 × 12 × 5 ft; 46 gross tons, 37 net tons
• Registered Tonnage: 46 gross tons, 37 net tons
• Location: Near Point Maimanse, Lake Superior, Ontario
• Official Number: C96811

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden propeller steam tug, later used in fishing operations.

Description

The W. L. Davis was a wooden propeller steam tug built in 1882. It was primarily used for towing and later adapted for fishing operations.

History

The vessel was constructed by Dean & Co. in Detroit, Michigan, and was registered under the official number C96811. It had dimensions of 46 feet in length, 12 feet in beam, and 5 feet in depth, with a registered tonnage of 46 gross tons and 37 net tons.

Significant Incidents

• Caught in a powerful Lake Superior storm, the W. L. Davis was wrecked and considered a total loss.
• The vessel was en route to or from fishing operations when the storm overwhelmed her.

Final Disposition

• Declared a total loss; no salvage was performed or documented.
• The wreck remains at the site off Point Maimanse.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the W. L. Davis is located off Point Maimanse in Lake Superior. It has not been salvaged and remains in situ.

Resources & Links

The W. L. Davis serves as a reminder of the risks faced by small wooden tugs and fishing vessels on Lake Superior during early 20th-century storms, highlighting the vulnerability of non-reinforced hulls to severe weather.