AH-WR-1647

M.F. Merrick

Schooner · Lost 1889 · Thunder Bay & Lake Huron

M.F. Merrick — Struck in the side by R.P. Ranney in dense fog and sank rapidly.

Become Captain of Record See Shipwreck on Map

Artistic recreation based on recorded historical documents. See the documented evidence.

Interpretive Reconstruction, drawn to convey the vessel's era, type and general form. See the documented evidence.

The Vessel and Her Loss

M.F. Merrick was launched at Clayton, New York, in 1863 by John Oades. Carrying furnace sand, it was struck by R.P. Ranney in dense fog on May 17, 1889. Five crewmen died and two were rescued. The upright wreck was discovered in 2011.

Vessel

Built: 1863
Builder: John Oades
Yard: Clayton, New York
Material: Not established
Length: Not established
Beam: 26 ft
Tonnage: 295 gross tons
Propulsion: Sail
Owners: Not established

Loss

Date: May 17, 1889
Cause: Collision
Location: Off Presque Isle, Michigan
Water: Lake Huron
Voyage: Port Austin, Michigan
Cargo: Furnace sand
Aboard: Not established
Lives lost: 5
Master: Not established

The Wreck Today

Depth: 310–321
Condition: Preserved hull with wheel and sand cargo remaining; rigging has fallen.
Orientation: Upright
Discovered: 2011
Protection: Within Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Position

Coordinates: 45.470° N 83.446° W
Accuracy: Surveyed position
Nearest: Presque Isle, Michigan
Region: Thunder Bay & Lake Huron

NOAA published GPS: N45°28.22457' W83°26.77704'. Converted to decimal degrees; represents wreck position, including relocation where documented.

Evidence

Overall confidence: Well documented (90/100)

Ownership, unverified configuration details, original vessel length remain unknown. Illustrations are interpretive reconstructions. NOAA gives differing depths of 310 and 321 feet.

NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary — M.F. Merrick
Construction, vessel type, beam, gross tonnage, dated loss, cargo, published GPS, depth and historical account. Explicit casualty outcome and rescue details.