How big should your boat be for Lake Erie?
How big should your boat be for Lake Erie? Selecting a Boat for Lake Erie. Although a boat does not exist that is big enough to handle Lake Erie - with safe boating conditions, the minimum size that I would recommend is 21 feet. And if you can afford it, buy a fiberglass boat. For safety and comfort, fiberglass boats (with closed bows) can't be beat.
What was the worst shipwreck on Lake Erie?
The SS G. P. Griffith was a passenger steamer that burned and sank on Lake Erie on 17 June 1850, resulting in the loss of between 241 and 289 lives.
Does Lake Erie have a lot of shipwrecks?
Although there are likely over 2,000 shipwrecks in this massive lake, only about 270 have been discovered. This number grows with every year. Interestingly, many of the discovered shipwrecks in the lake are located near Kelleys Island.
Why do so many boats sink in the Great Lakes?
The primary reason for shipwrecks on the Great Lakes is stormy weather, specifically in the upper portions of Lake Michigan, Lake Huron and Lake Superior. In the late fall and early winter, weather can be particularly treacherous. Most Great Lakes shipwrecks occurred in the late fall.
How deep is Lake Erie on average?
Measuring 241 miles across and 57 miles from north to south, the lake's surface is just under 10,000 square miles, with 871 miles of shoreline. The average depth of Lake Erie is only about 62 feet (210 feet, maximum).
How many ships have gone missing in the Great Lakes?
An estimated 6,000 vessels were lost on the Great Lakes with approximately 1,500 of these ships located in Michigan waters. These are unique resources. The history of Michigan can be traced by the material records of its shipwrecks. They are a wood and steel chronicle of the history of naval architecture on the lakes.