Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Zephyr (1808)

Explore the wreck of the Zephyr, one of Lake Erie’s earliest recorded shipwrecks, lost in a storm in 1820 with tragic loss of life.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Zephyr
  • Type: Wooden Schooner
  • Year Built: 1808
  • Builder: Cleveland, Ohio
  • Dimensions: Length X ft (null m); Beam; Depth of hold
  • Registered Tonnage: 45 tons
  • Location: Approximately 12 miles east of Ashtabula, Ohio, near the Pennsylvania-Ohio state line
  • Coordinates: Approximately 12 miles east of Ashtabula, Ohio
  • Official Number: None (Pre-Registration Era)
  • Original Owners: Unknown
  • Number of Masts: Single-mast or two-mast schooner rig

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Zephyr was a wooden schooner, a type of vessel commonly used in the early 19th century for transporting goods and passengers across the Great Lakes.

Description

The Zephyr was built in 1808 in Cleveland, Ohio, and is believed to be the first vessel ever built in Cleveland. It was a small wooden vessel, typical of the time, relying on sail power for navigation.

History

The Zephyr played a crucial role in the early commerce of the Great Lakes, regularly transporting salt, general merchandise, and passengers between key trade hubs such as Buffalo, Ashtabula, Sandusky, and Detroit.

Significant Incidents

  • Loss of Life: The sinking resulted in the loss of 10 to 12 lives, including Captain Napier.
  • Final Voyage: The vessel was lost during a severe autumn storm on November 10, 1820.

Final Disposition

The Zephyr wrecked completely near the Pennsylvania-Ohio border, and no known modern surveys have located its wreck site. The remains are unlikely to be intact due to the vessel’s age.

Current Condition & Accessibility

As a wooden vessel lost over 200 years ago, the Zephyr‘s remains are unlikely to be intact. However, iron fastenings, anchors, and cargo remnants could still exist on the lakebed.

Resources & Links

References are being reviewed for this wreck.

The Zephyr (1808–1820) represents one of the earliest recorded shipwrecks on Lake Erie, highlighting the dangers of late-season shipping in the 19th century. Future underwater archaeology may uncover remnants of this historic vessel.