Rumored to be the only five-masted schooner ever to sail the Great Lakes, the David Dows was launched from Toledo, Ohio, in 1881. Measuring a massive 265 feet in length, she was widely recognized as the largest schooner on the lakes at the time. However, her immense size made her unwieldy for regular sailing, and she spent much of her brief career being towed as a barge.
Just eight short years after her proud launching, disaster struck. While being towed through heavy seas, the massive vessel’s back was broken by the force of the punishing waves, and she quickly went down. Because she sank in relatively shallow water, her tall masts initially breached the surface, creating a serious navigational hazard until the harsh winter ice eventually sheared them off. In 1908, a portion of her hull was also removed or flattened by salvagers.
Despite these historical impacts, the David Dows remains an amazing shipwreck to explore. Resting in just 40 feet of water, her sprawling wreckage offers a fantastic experience for divers of all skill levels. We visit the David Dows out of Hammond Marina.
