Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Preston’s Store Boat
  • Year Built: 1932
  • Type: Bumboat (small retail/service vessel)
  • Hull Material: Likely wood (typical for bumboats of the period)
  • Number of Decks: 1
  • Final Location: Lake Huron (specific coordinates not recorded)
  • Date Lost: August 10, 1934
  • How Lost: Explosion
  • Final Cargo: General retail goods

Vessel Type Description
Preston’s Store Boat was a small bumboat, essentially a floating retail shop supplying goods directly to other ships, marinas, or lakeside customers. These vessels were common on the Great Lakes during the early 20th century, providing groceries, hardware, and other daily needs in remote areas.

History
Built in 1932, the vessel was operated as a travelling store, delivering or selling supplies to boaters, fishermen, and isolated shoreline customers. On August 10, 1934, while operating in Lake Huron, Preston’s Store Boat experienced a sudden and unexplained explosion. The vessel quickly sank following the blast.

Contemporary reports disagreed on the exact number of crew or passengers lost; some sources state there were fatalities, while others suggest the loss of life was minimal or none. The nature of bumboats, carrying flammable goods such as kerosene, cooking fuels, and other general merchandise, could have contributed to the severity of the explosion.

Final Disposition
The vessel was destroyed and lost on the bottom of Lake Huron. There is no record of salvage.

NOTMARs & Advisories
No current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) are associated with this wreck.

Located By & Date
The wreck has not been positively located or documented by sonar or dive teams.

Current Condition & Accessibility
Presumed destroyed by the explosion, no survey or dive assessment exists to date.

Resources & Links

Conclusion
Preston’s Store Boat is a rare example of the Great Lakes “bumboat” trade and highlights the hazards faced by these small, often lightly built service craft. Its loss is a reminder of the dangers of transporting mixed retail goods, including flammables, on inland waters.

Keywords
Preston’s Store Boat, Lake Huron, bumboat, general merchandise, maritime explosion, 1930s shipwreck, Great Lakes history