Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Okonra
  • Year Built: 1858
  • Built At: Owen Sound, Ontario
  • Final Location: Wiarton Dock, Georgian Bay, Lake Huron
  • Date Lost: 5 September 1878
  • Cause: Burned at dock

Vessel Type

Wooden screw propeller, small-scale utility vessel, primarily engaged in passenger service, towing, and log rafting operations in Georgian Bay.

Description

  • Hull Material: Wood
  • Length: 59.8 ft (18.2 m)
  • Beam: 13.2 ft (4.0 m)
  • Depth: 5.8 ft (1.8 m)
  • Gross Tonnage: Initially 37 GT, later 77 GT
  • Net/Registered Tonnage: 10 RT (1867); 52 RT (1877)
  • Decks: One
  • Propulsion: Screw (single propeller)
  • Powerplant: Steam engine (specifics unknown)

History

  • 1858: Constructed at Owen Sound, Ontario by Captain E. Dunn, who also retained ownership throughout the vessel’s entire operational life.
  • 1867: Underwent a Rebuild and was remeasured at 37 gross tons and 10 registered tons.
  • 1869: Listed as operating in passenger and towing service across Georgian Bay.
  • 1872–1875: Transitioned primarily to towing log rafts, a common use for smaller steamers in the timber trade.
  • 1877: Final measurements indicated at 59.8 × 13.2 × 5.8 ft with 77 gross and 52 registered tons.
  • 1878, September 5: Caught fire while docked at Wiarton, Ontario. Vessel was completely destroyed by fire.

Final Disposition

The Okonra burned at dock at Wiarton, Ontario, and was a Total Loss. No fatalities were reported. The wreck remains were not preserved or marked.

Located By & Date Found

No documented rediscovery or archaeological survey. Remains likely destroyed or dismantled post-fire.

NOTMARs & Advisories

None noted.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

Okonra was a versatile Georgian Bay work vessel and is representative of the small wooden propellers that formed the backbone of localized commerce and timber operations during the mid-19th century. Her destruction by fire at Wiarton dock ended a two-decade service career under the same captain-owner, E. Dunn.

Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms

Tags: wooden propeller, Georgian Bay, logging Tug, steam vessel, 19th century, fire loss
Glossary:

  • Screw Propeller: A steam-powered vessel with a single propeller for propulsion
  • Log Rafting: Practice of towing large bundled timber logs across waterways
  • Wiarton: A port town on Georgian Bay, central to Ontario’s timber trade