William Maxwell
Fish Tug · Lost 1908 · Thunder Bay & Lake Huron
A fish tug that broke its propeller on Thunder Bay Island reef and ran ashore.
Become Captain of RecordSee Shipwreck on Map
The Vessel and Her Loss
William Maxwell was built by J.P. Smith at Chicago in 1883. The fish tug struck the reef off Thunder Bay Island on September 19, 1908. Its propeller broke on the rocks and it ran ashore. The vessel broke apart, leaving stern timbers and machinery on the reef.
Vessel
- 1883
- J.P. Smith
- Chicago, Illinois
- Not established
- Not established
- 8 ft
- 43 gross tons
- Not established
- Not established
Loss
- September 19, 1908
- Grounding
- Reef extending from the southeast end of Thunder Bay Island, Lake Huron
- Lake Huron
- Not established
- Fish
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
The Wreck Today
- 12 ft
- Stern deadwood, shaft and broken propeller remain on the reef.
- Not established
- Not established
- Within Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Position
- 45.033° N 83.192° W
- Surveyed position
- Thunder Bay Island, Michigan
NOAA GPS N45°01.990′ W83°11.493′, converted directly to decimal degrees.
Evidence
Overall confidence: Documented (88/100)
NOAA reports an 8-foot beam; original vessel length, propulsion details and casualties are not established. The complete-hull artwork is interpretive, not a depiction of the fragmentary remains.
NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary — William Maxwell
Type, build year, builder and place, beam as published, gross tonnage, fish cargo, dated grounding and broken propeller, GPS, depth and surviving fragments.
