Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Wave
- Type: Wooden Schooner
- Year Built: 1854
- Builder: Fairport, Ohio
- Dimensions: Length 57 ft (17.4 m); Beam 15 ft (4.6 m); Depth of hold 2 ft (0.6 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 16 tons (old measurement)
- Location: Off Inverhuron, Ontario, Lake Huron
- Official Number: None (Pre-dates official U.S. vessel registration system)
- Original Owners: Thomas Warwick (deceased in wreck)
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Wave was a small wooden schooner, primarily used for cargo transport across the Great Lakes.
Description
The Wave was built in Fairport, Ohio, in 1854. It was primarily used for transporting grain, wheat, flour, and other agricultural products across the Great Lakes, as well as short-haul freight shipments between Ontario, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin ports.
History
The Wave likely operated along the Lake Erie and Lake Huron shipping lanes, transporting wheat and flour from Ohio grain-producing regions to Ontario markets.
Significant Incidents
- Date of Loss: October 7, 1858
- Location: Off Inverhuron, Ontario, Lake Huron
- Cause: Storm
- Cargo at Loss: Wheat and flour
- Loss of Life: 2 (Captain Thomas Warwick and one crew member)
Final Disposition
The Wave was caught in a storm off Inverhuron, Ontario, while carrying wheat and flour. The storm overwhelmed the small vessel, leading to its sinking with the loss of two lives. The captain, Thomas Warwick, and one crewman perished, while the fate of any remaining crew members is unknown.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Given the small size and wooden construction, most of the Wave‘s structure would have deteriorated. Some metal fastenings, cargo remnants (such as barrel hoops and milling equipment), or ballast stones may still exist on the lakebed. Sonar or magnetometer surveys near Inverhuron Provincial Park may locate scattered debris from the wreck, but no known dives or recovery efforts have documented her remains.
Resources & Links
References are being reviewed for this wreck.
The Wave (1854–1858) was a small but hardworking wooden schooner that carried grain and flour across the Great Lakes. She sank in a storm off Inverhuron, Ontario, with the loss of her captain and one crew member. Though her wreck has never been found, she remains a reminder of the dangers faced by 19th-century sailors, particularly those navigating Lake Huron’s unpredictable waters.