Identification & Site Information

  • Name: SAILOR BOY
  • Former Names: None
  • Official Number: 116393
  • Date Built & Launched: 1891
  • Builder: Wheeler & Williams, West Bay City, Michigan (Hull #79)
  • Original Owner: Likely a regional passenger transport company, specific early ownership not documented
  • Registration Number(s): 116393
  • Measurements Length: 91 ft (27.74 m) Beam: 24 ft (7.32 m) Depth: 7 ft (2.13 m)
  • Gross Tonnage: 163 tons
  • Net Tonnage: 112 tons

Vessel Type

The SAILOR BOY was a wooden-hulled passenger Propeller Steamer, designed for short-haul transportation on the Great Lakes, primarily serving regional routes in Lake Superior near the Keweenaw Peninsula.

Description

Built in 1891 by Wheeler & Williams in West Bay City, Michigan, the SAILOR BOY was a relatively small passenger vessel, reflecting the typical design of local steamers that connected small ports and remote communities along the Great Lakes’ rugged shores.

With a length of 91 feet, a beam of 24 feet, and a Draft of 7 feet, she was nimble enough to navigate tight channels like the Portage Ship Canal while still offering sufficient space for passengers and light freight. Her wooden Hull was characteristic of vessels built during this transitional period, just before steel hulls became the standard for Great Lakes steamers.

History

The SAILOR BOY operated primarily in Lake Superior, serving as a regional transport vessel in the Keweenaw Peninsula area. She was likely engaged in:

  • Passenger transport between mining communities, logging camps, and small towns
  • Light freight services, possibly including goods related to the timber and mining industries
  • Supporting industrial operations around Hancock and Houghton, Michigan, particularly near the Portage Ship Canal
  • The vessel would have been well-known to locals, providing an essential link in a region where rugged terrain made overland travel challenging.

Final Disposition

On May 12, 1923 (though some sources cite 1921 or 1924), the SAILOR BOY met her fate when she caught fire while docked at Stringer’s Sawmill, approximately 100 yards east of Wright’s Point near Hancock, Michigan, in the Portage Ship Canal.

The fire spread rapidly, likely fueled by the vessel’s wooden structure and the presence of flammable materials commonly found around sawmills. Despite the severity of the blaze, no lives were lost, suggesting the crew and any passengers were able to evacuate safely.

After the fire, the remains of the wreck drifted or were towed a short distance, coming to rest off Osceola Point, near Hancock. The vessel was declared a Total Loss.

Located By & Date Found

The wreckage of the SAILOR BOY remains off Osceola Point in the Portage Ship Canal. Divers and maritime historians have documented the site, with images available from the Historical Collections of the Great Lakes (HCGL)showing the vessel both in service and as a wreck.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) specifically reference the SAILOR BOY wreck. However, divers and mariners should exercise caution in the area due to submerged hazards and variable currents in the Portage Ship Canal.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The SAILOR BOY represents a class of small, versatile steamers that were vital to the economic and social fabric of the Great Lakes region during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Although her service was ultimately cut short by fire, her wreck continues to offer insights into the maritime history of Lake Superior and the industrial heritage of Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. Her remains near Hancock serve as a submerged time capsule, preserving the memory of a bygone era of Great Lakes navigation.