Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Wave Crest C 83414

Explore the wreck of the Wave Crest, a wooden schooner that sank in 1900 during a storm on Lake Ontario.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Wave Crest
  • Type: Schooner
  • Year Built: 1867
  • Builder: D. Anderson
  • Dimensions: Length 110.1 ft (33.6 m); Beam 24.3 ft; Depth of hold 9.7 ft
  • Registered Tonnage: 215 tons (gross); 182 tons (net)
  • Location: Near Oak Orchard Point, New York
  • Official Number: 83414
  • Original Owners: Albert Gurney, Sylvester Brothers of Kingston, S. Middleton of Kingston, Robert C. Smith, Jr.
  • Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Wave Crest was a wooden two-masted schooner built in 1867 in Brockville, Ontario, by D. Anderson. It featured a round stern, standing bowsprit, and carvel-built construction. Schooners like the Wave Crest were commonly used for transporting bulk goods such as grain, timber, and coal across the Great Lakes, and the vessel played an essential role in the Lake Ontario shipping network.

Description

The Wave Crest was constructed with a wooden hull and had a single deck. It was designed for the transportation of goods across the Great Lakes, showcasing the typical features of a 19th-century schooner.

History

The Wave Crest changed ownership several times during its career:

The schooner continued to operate on Lake Ontario and neighboring waters for more than three decades before its final voyage.

Significant Incidents

On November 15, 1900, the Wave Crest foundered in a gale off Oak Orchard Point, New York, on Lake Ontario. The schooner was caught in a severe storm, which overwhelmed the vessel and caused it to sink. There are no details about the crew’s fate, but the ship was lost along with its cargo.

Final Disposition

There is no known record of the Wave Crest‘s wreck being located or salvaged. The vessel’s remains are likely at the bottom of Lake Ontario near Oak Orchard Point, New York.

Current Condition & Accessibility

There are no navigational hazards currently associated with the wreck of the Wave Crest. The waters off Oak Orchard Point have seen many shipwrecks due to the region’s frequent and severe storms.

Resources & Links

References are being reviewed for this wreck.

The wreck of the Wave Crest underscores the perilous conditions that schooners faced on Lake Ontario, particularly during the late fall months when gales were frequent and often deadly for the vessels caught in them.