Posted by Bruce Shipley on August 09, 19102 at 12:35:15:
In Reply to: Re: Harbor Beach, Michigan wrecks posted by Bruce Shipley on August 09, 19102 at 12:17:14:
: : I am very interested in shipwrecks off of Harbor Beach, previously called Sand Beach.
: : We have explored several shallow water wrecks and found a old boiler and other parts
: : to a steam engine. Does anyone have any information on old steam engines? There is a large
: : "A" frame structure with what looks like a cam and piston with a gear on the outside and a shaft
Sorry about the fist message with nothing in it, but didn't know how the system worked.
I know nothing about steam engines, but was going to make the comment about the "boiler" off of the south pier in Harbor Beach (HB). I grew up in HB and in my teens was fortunate to have a family sailboat (18')that I extensively, about every summer day, sailed in the vicinity of the harbor. My Dad would not let me go out in a west wind until I was 16 and then I had to stay in the harbor. It really was a good policy as it is an awfully big lake.
More than once while sailing out the south gap of the harbor I would sight the boiler just below the surface. We lined up the south end of the south pier with the north crook of the main pier and that was general location. One time during low water in the lake I mentioned to everyone on board that the wreck was close by, just at that moment a wave broke over the top of the boiler and just to the starboard of the boat. Needless to say this scared the beejeebers out of us. During high waters we often felt the centerboard hit the top of the wreck.
Sorry, I can't give you any informtion on steam engines or the wreck, but your message brought back many memories of my sailboating days.
: : coming out the other. I have some photos being developed I could e-mail to someone who could
: : help identfy it. Maybe then we could identfy the wreck.
: : Thanks! Skip