Wrecks of North Point

North Point Shoal of Thunder Bay has been the graveyard for dozens of ships. Historical documents show this long shoal was responsible for many strandings and subsequent breakups. Often the ship could be refloated and salvaged, but many times it broke its back on the rocks. The old sailboats were especially vulnerable because they needed searoom to tack into the Bay when heavy weather forced them off the main lake.

North Point Shoal was waiting at only 6 to 12 feet below the surface. With any kind of a sea running, not even shallow draft vessels could cross it. Today the Shoal is littered with various debris fields from numerous wrecks. We know the names of several ships lost there, but the debris fields of today cannot be identified. For divers, the shallow clear water and numerous parts make for interesting recreation. Each year some of these parts are swept to the shore by ice flows.

Most people do not appreciate how stout the old wooden boats were made. Here a diver examines some of the hull parts and the large spikes that pegged it all together. The right photo shows the side of the ship at the rail head and the metal strap to hold the deadeyes.