St. Andrew – or maybe the Gertrude?
| Depth: | 52′ to 60′ |
|---|---|
| Dimensions: | 136′ x 26′ x 11′ |
| Cargo: | Corn |
| Cause of Sinking: | Cut by ice |
| Built: | 1855 Cleveland Ohio by George W. Jones |
| Date Lost: | April 27, 1868 |
| Construction: | Wood, 2 mast schooner |
| Propulsion: | Wind |
| Skill Level: | Beginner to Intermediate |
| Location: |
Shipwreck: N45° 42.051′ W084° 31.795′Mooring: N45° 42.044′ W084° 31.809′ |
This wreck was long believed to be the St. Andrew, but always perplexed everyone since the Peshtigo could not be located nearby. Two conflicting sets of newspaper stories gave the accident location in different places, one in Lake Huron near Cheboygan, and the other placed it off Beaver Island in Lake Michigan. In 2019 a pair of deep wrecks below Beaver Island were confirmed to be the St.Andrew and Peshtigo, as they were found to be sunk bow-to-bow, with the masts fallen over onto each other, just as the Chicago newspapers had reported.
We are unable to make a confident determination of the true identity of our shipwreck. We have a couple of good choices (again, with conflicting newspaper accounts) but are constrained somewhat by the known discovery and recovery of an 1857 coin found in the mast step of our wreck. Our current “most likely” identity was launched in 1855, so we would have to find an explanation for the later date – perhaps the mast had to be replaced in 1857?
History
Uncertain at this time, we’ll post more once we make a confident identification.
Present Condition
The shipwreck lies in 65 feet of water 11 miles southeast of the Mackinac Bridge, in Lake Huron. She is moored on her bow. She is upright and fairly broken up. She is a great dive for beginning divers or when the west winds make access to other dive sites difficult. The centerboard, windlass, and major sections of the hull are here, but the deck has fallen to the side, and the hull sides are falling over.
Mooring Buoy Status
Buoy was reinstalled on May 16, 2026.
Buoy suffered major damage from a vessel strike in September 2025. Please use care in approaching this mooring, don’t get too close when picking up the mooring.
Mooring is just off the bow, a small line will help guide you to the wreck when visibility is poor.
Mooring is available from late-May to mid-September, the moorings make for easier location, safer diving and protect shipwrecks from damage from anchors and hooks.
