Shotline Diving’s Glossary Terms.

A

Abandoned

(Maritime): The decommissioning of a vessel, leaving it to deteriorate naturally, either afloat or beached.

Aft Capstan

Aft Capstan:  • Definition: A vertical drum near the stern used for handling heavy ropes, chains,...

Alexandria Bay, New York

Alexandria Bay, New York  • Definition: A village in the 1000 Islands region of the St....

Alpena Storm

The “Alpena Storm” of October 16, 1880 The “Alpena Storm”, named after the ill-fated steamer Alpena,...

Alpena, Michigan

Alpena, Michigan  • Known for its cement production, Alpena is home to one of the largest...

Amherst Island

Amherst Island Overview:  1. Geography:  • Amherst Island is approximately 20 km (12 miles) long and 7...

Anchor Chain

Anchor Chain:  • Definition: A heavy chain used to secure the anchor to the ship, providing...

Apostle Islands

Apostle Islands (Wisconsin, USA)  • Definition: A group of 22 islands off the northern Wisconsin shore.  •...

Archives of Ontario

https://www.archives.gov.on.ca The provincial archive of Ontario, holding collections on government records, private papers, and local business...

Artificial Reef

Artificial Reef An artificial reef is a human-made underwater structure placed on the seabed, designed to...

Avro Anson

Avro Anson: A British twin-engine aircraft widely used by the Royal Air Force and other...

B

Barge

Barge: A flat-bottomed vessel designed for transporting heavy goods over rivers, canals, and protected waters....

Bark

Bark (or Barque): A sailing vessel with three or more masts, where the foremast and...

Barkentine

Barkentine (or Barquentine): A sailing vessel with three or more masts, where the foremast is...

Barque

Barque (or Bark)  • Definition: A vessel with three or more masts, square-rigged on the forward...

Bascom and Gillham

Bascom and Gillham  Maritime historians or authors recognized for their extensive research and documentation of the...

BCAPT

British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP): A large-scale program initiated during World War II by...

Beaver Island

Beaver Island (Michigan, USA)  • Definition: The largest island in Lake Michigan.  • Significance:  • Known for its...

Belly Dumper

List of belly dumpers found so far Cornwall N 45 01.660 W 74 50.690 Lake Huron N...

Bilge

Bilge: The lowest part of a ship’s interior, where water and other debris can collect....

Bilge Pump

Bilge Pump:  • Definition: A pump designed to remove water from the bilge, the lowest compartment...

Boldt Castle

A grand mansion built on Heart Island by George C. Boldt, a wealthy hotel magnate,...

Bonnie Castle Dive Park

Bonnie Castle Dive Park, Alexandria Bay, NYBonnie Castle Dive Park is a designated scuba diving...

Bootlegger

Glossary Term: Bootlegging (Maritime Context)Definition: In maritime history, bootlegging refers to the illegal transport of goods,...

Border Steamship Corporation

Border Steamship Corporation The Border Steamship Corporation was another key player in Great Lakes shipping, with...

Bowling Green State University

https://greatlakes.bgsu.edu/vessels Link:

Brandon Baillod

Brendon Baillod – Maritime Historian and Shipwreck Discoverer Background and Expertise Brendon Baillod is a renowned Great...

Breakwater

A breakwater is a man-made structure built offshore, typically parallel to the shoreline, to protect...

Brig

or Brigatine  • Definition: A two-masted vessel with square sails on both masts.  • Significance: Common during...

Brigantine

Brigantine: A two-masted sailing vessel with a square-rigged foremast and a fore-and-aft rigged mainmast. Brigantines...

British Register of Shipping for Inland Waters

An official record of vessels operating in British-controlled inland waters, such as the Great Lakes...

Brockville, Ontario

Brockville, Ontario  • Definition: A city on the St. Lawrence River, known as the “City of...

Buffalo River

Buffalo River  • Definition: A river in Buffalo, New York, connecting to Lake Erie and serving...

Buffalo, New York

Buffalo, New York  • Once a primary grain port, Buffalo marked the western end of the...

Bulk Carrier

A bulk carrier is a type of cargo vessel specifically designed to transport unpackaged bulk...

Bulk Freight “Rabbit”

Glossary Term: Bulk Freight “Rabbit" The term “rabbit” was a Great Lakes shipping nickname used...

Bulkhead

Bulkhead: Vertical partitions or walls within a ship that divide the vessel into compartments, providing...

Bureau Veritas Great Lakes Register

Bureau Veritas Great Lakes Register (1919)  • A registry published by Bureau Veritas, an international classification...

C

C. Patrick Labadie Collection

The C. Patrick Labadie Collection is a renowned archive of historical materials documenting the maritime...

Cabin Cruiser

A cabin cruiser is a type of recreational motorboat equipped with a cabin that provides...

Canada Steamship Lines

Canada Steamship Lines (CSL)  A major Canadian shipping company founded in the early 20th century, specializing...

Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association

Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association (CHAA) The Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association (CHAA) is an organization dedicated to...

Canadian Ship Registers

https://greatlakesmuseum.ca  A repository of ship registration data maintained by the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes,...

Canadian War Museum

https://www.warmuseum.ca A national museum dedicated to Canada’s military history. Its exhibits and collections include information on...

Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (CWHM) The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (CWHM), located in Hamilton, Ontario, is...

Canal Schooner

A canal schooner is a type of sailing vessel specifically designed to navigate narrow and...

Cape Vincent

Cape Vincent, New York  • Definition: A small village located where the St. Lawrence River meets...

Cape Vincent Eagle

Cape Vincent Eagle  • Publication Period: The Cape Vincent Eagle was published from approximately 188? to...

Capstan

Capstan: A rotating machine used on ships to wind ropes or cables, typically for raising...

Capt. J.W. Hall

Captain Captain J.W. Hall was a prominent 19th-century Great Lakes mariner, known for his long...

Carleton Island

 A historically significant island used during the American Revolution and War of 1812, with ruins...

Carvel Planked

A shipbuilding technique where wooden planks are fastened edge-to-edge to a frame, creating a smooth...

Caulking

The process of sealing seams between planks to ensure a vessel is watertight

CBC News

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) is Canada’s national public broadcaster, established in 1936. CBC News...

Centerboard

Glossary Term: CentreboardDefinition: A centreboard is a pivoting or retractable keel-like structure used in sailing vessels...

Chatham Weekly Planet

A 19th-century newspaper published in Chatham, Ontario, that covered local news, politics, and commerce. It...

Chicago

Chicago is a major port city located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan in...

Chippewa Bay

A scenic bay located in the St. Lawrence River, renowned for its natural beauty, historical...

Clayton

 • Clayton, NY: Town of Clayton Official Website  • Definition: A historic river town in the...

Cleveland

Cleveland, Ohio  • Historically a shipbuilding centre and a key player in the Great Lakes iron...

Clinker-built

Clinker-Built ConstructionClinker-built (also known as lapstrake) is a traditional method of wooden boat construction in...

Condenser

Definition: A condenser on a ship is a mechanical device designed to condense steam back into...

Conversion

Conversion: The process of modifying a vessel’s structure and equipment to serve a different function than...

Cornwall, Ontario

Cornwall: A key port on the Canadian side of the St. Lawrence River. Historically significant...

Cunningham’s patented self-reefing topsail

Cunningham’s Patented Self-reefing Topsail: An innovative type of sail designed by Captain Cunningham in the...

Custom-House Measure

Custom-House Measure: A tonnage measurement used for customs and regulatory purposes, often reflecting the cargo-carrying...

Cutter

Cutter  • Definition: Similar to a sloop but with two or more headsails and a bowsprit.  •...

D

David Swayze Shipwreck File

David Swayze Shipwreck File and Mirrored Baillod.com Definition: The David Swayze Shipwreck File is...

Deck

Deck: The horizontal surface covering each level of a ship. Wrecks often show collapsed or...

Deck Winch

Deck Winch:  • Definition: A mechanical device used for hoisting or adjusting cargo, sails, or lines.  •...

Dennis Gerber

Notable Achievements:Wreck Exploration: • Dennis has worked with maritime heritage organizations to promote the preservation...

Dennis R. McCarthy

Dennis R. McCarthy is a prominent figure in the Thousand Islands region, particularly in Cape...

Department of Marine and Fisheries Annual Reports

https://publications.gc.ca/ (Searchable resource) Annual reports issued by the Canadian government’s Department of Marine and Fisheries during...

Detroit

Detroit, Michigan  • Known as the “Motor City,” Detroit’s port has supported auto manufacturing by transporting...

Detroit Free Press

The Detroit Free Press is one of Michigan’s oldest and most widely circulated newspapers, founded...

Detroit Marine Historian

Detroit Marine Historian Newsletter by Year ie(1952)  • A publication dedicated to documenting and sharing the...

Detroit River

Detroit River  • Definition: A 51-km (32-mi) river linking Lake St. Clair to Lake Erie, forming...

Draft

Draft: The vertical distance between the waterline and the lowest point of a ship’s hull....

Dredge

Dredge: A vessel or piece of equipment used to excavate material from the bottom of...

Drummond Island

Drummond Island (Michigan, USA)  • Location: Near the eastern end of Lake Huron, close to the...

Duluth

Duluth, Minnesota / Superior, Wisconsin  • The Duluth-Superior Port is the largest and busiest on the...

E

Erik Heyl: Early American Steamers

Erik Heyl’s “Early American Steamers” is a comprehensive multi-volume reference series documenting the history, design,...

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