W.M. Sandi-pat – Lake Erie Tug Shipwreck

Explore the elusive wreck of the W.M. Sandi-Pat, a Canadian tug believed to have foundered in Lake Erie. Details remain scarce, making it a mystery for divers.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: W.M. Sandi-Pat
  • Type: Tug
  • Year Built: [Unknown, likely mid-20th century]
  • Builder: [Unknown]
  • Dimensions: Length: [TBD]; Beam: [TBD]; Draft: [TBD]
  • Registered Tonnage: Not recorded
  • Location: Off Point aux Pins, Ontario, western Lake Erie
  • Coordinates: Unknown
  • Official Number: [To be determined]
  • Original Owners: Original and subsequent owners unknown
  • Number of Masts: Not applicable

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The W.M. Sandi-Pat was a Canadian steel-hulled tug, believed to have operated in Lake Erie’s western basin. Her name suggests a personal or family naming tradition common to smaller tugs and workboats of the era. While details of her dimensions and propulsion are scarce, she was almost certainly diesel-powered, with a design suited for short-haul towing, harbor duties, and shoreline support work.

Description

The W.M. Sandi-Pat was a Canadian steel-hulled tug, believed to have operated in Lake Erie’s western basin. Her name suggests a personal or family naming tradition common to smaller tugs and workboats of the era. While details of her dimensions and propulsion are scarce, she was almost certainly diesel-powered, with a design suited for short-haul towing, harbor duties, and shoreline support work.

History

Service details for the Sandi-Pat remain elusive. Oral tradition and limited archival references suggest she was active in the Point aux Pins area, a region long recognized for shoaling, strong westerlies, and sudden squalls that have claimed multiple vessels. At some point in the mid-20th century, the tug reportedly foundered off Point aux Pins. No official casualty lists or insurance claims have yet been located.

Significant Incidents

  • Reportedly foundered off Point aux Pins, Ontario.

Final Disposition

The tug is believed to have been lost near Point aux Pins, Ontario, but her wreck site has not been confirmed or charted. The vessel is not a recognized dive site, and no known salvage or recovery was reported.

Current Condition & Accessibility

No verified discovery. The wreck is listed as a possible unlocated loss. Further archival and hydrographic research is needed to confirm her fate and resting place.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”w-m-sandi-pat” title=”References & Links”]

No casualties confirmed; no memorials identified. Further research in Essex County archives may clarify crew records.

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