The Horse Ferry

The Burlington Bay Horse Ferry was discovered in the fall of 1983 during a side-scan sonar survey. In 1984, the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation and the Champlain Maritime Society (now joined with the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum) sponsored a project to record the hull's construction and appearance with overlapping photographs, producing a "photo mosaic."

The wreck is still undergoing archaeological and historical study. The identity and date of construction of the Burlington Bay Horse Ferry have not yet been determined. However, she demonstrates several significant construction features that may ultimately help us to identify this wreck. She was a two-horse-powered boat: the horses walked on a large horizontal flywheel, setting it in motion and turning the two paddle wheels by means of a simple arrangement of gears and shafts. A lever adjacent to the port wheel allowed the pilot to shift between forward, neutral, and reverse. This type of wheel mechanism was designed by Barnabas Langdon of Whitehall, New York, and is believed to have been used on the 1840s-vintage Basin Harbor (Vermont) to Westport (New York) horse ferry Eagle. Continued study of this unique vessel may provide clues to her name and date of sinking.

This wreck is extremely fragile!
Size of Wreck: 63 feet long, 23 feet wide.
She rests on the bottom with a slight list to starboard. Deck beams and some of the pine deck planks aft of the paddle wheels are preserved, but are weak and easily damaged-practice good buoyancy control and DO NOT USE THE DECK TO SUPPORT YOUR WEIGHT.

The deck structure forward of the paddle wheels is missing, exposing the frames and planking of the hull. The hull is oak. - The horizontal flywheel and gear shaft are visible in the amidships area of the hull, beneath the deck. - The gear shift lever may be seen inboard of the port paddle wheel: please do not disturb the lever. - The two paddle wheels are perhaps her most spectacular feature: the iron hubs and oak spokes are deteriorated but still complete; the paddle blades are missing.

The spokes are very fragile and can be damaged by contact with you or your equipment. Please avoid touching them and preserve the sidewheels for the enjoyment of other divers.

The break in the starboard wheel axle may be the cause of her abandonment.

SPECIAL DIVING CONDITIONS AND GUIDELINES:
The Horse Ferry Preserve - Depth of Water: 50 feet. - Experience Level: Intermediate, Advanced.

THE WRECK OF THE HORSE FERRY IS EXTREMELY FRAGILE. Bouyancy must be carefully controlled to avoid damaging this unique hull. Please do not use any part of the vessel to support your weight. - Removal of artifacts, wood, and any other objects is forbidden by law. Take nothing but photographs. Violators will be prosecuted: they also jeopardize the continuing existence of the Preserve system. - PENETRATION OF THE WRECK IS NOT PERMITTED.

Diving under the after deck will injure the hull and may injure you. - Weather conditions on Lake Champlain can change very quickly. Strong south winds will cause rough water conditions over the site. Unexpected and severe weather changes should be a constant diving consideration. - Water temperature may be cold: avoid dangerous chilling.