Shipwreck Maitland

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Database Information Shipwreck Maitland

Basic Information

Name(s)  Maitland
Registry  US
Official Number 16320
Vessel Type Barkentine
Builder Henry Marlton
Year Built 1861
Year Sank 1871
Hull Material Wood
Engines None

Dimensions

Length 137 ft
Width 25 ft
Depth 13 ft

Vessel History

Complete Historic Information Link – https://greatlakeships.org/2900437/data ;  https://www.michiganpreserves.org/straits-of-mackinac-shipwreck-preserve/

Wreck Site Information

Lake Michigan
State or Province Michigan
Depth 85 ft
GPS Coordinates N 45° 48.250′ W 084° 52.547′
Site Description Identifying features of a shipwreck that has been robbed of many of its pieces is difficult so some of this interpretation is a guess. The hull of the Maitland is very intact except for the collision point. The deck is also relatively intact except it is missing decking forward and on the starboard side. The anchors are missing but the windlass is extant and includes a unique feature that is guessed to be a rocking control arm. There is also a foresail traveler on the centerline of the forecastle deck. There is no bowsprit, which is assumed to have broken off in the collision or sinking, or catheads extant. The forecastle deck it mostly intact but missing some planking on the port side. There is a large tow bitt on the centerline and four rail bitts on each side of the large bitt. Aft of the tow bitt is an unidentified cylindrical structure which is assumed to be either what is left of a pump or capstan that may have been partially removed. There is a similar cylindrical structure forward of the aft cabin. Part of the fife rail surrounding the foremast hole is visible. There are three cargo hatches — two large hatches and a center smaller hatch. The centerboard trunk is extant but the structures around it are puzzling. The centerboard winch is aft of the main mast hole which means the mast would have had to straddle the centerboard trunk to the step which is very unusual. The two athwartship short beams on the deck aft of the center hatch may have been the attachment point for a boom cradle or a sheet winch. There is another set of them forward of the cabin base which makes the boom cradle the most likely candidate. The aft cabin sat on the main deck and was not recessed below the deck. The mizzen mast hole is visible within the base outline of the cabin. The roof of the cabin appears to be laying on the bottom on the starboard side of the wreck. The ships wheel is missing but the steering mechanism and rudder are extant.