The SS Appomattox was a notable wooden-hulled bulk freighter constructed in 1896 in West Bay City, Michigan, by the shipyard of master shipbuilder James Davidson. As the largest wooden steam-powered bulk carrier ever to operate on the Great Lakes, she measured an overall length of 330 feet (100 meters), with a hull length of approximately 319.80 feet (97.48 meters). Her beam was 42 feet (13 meters), and her hull depth was 23 feet (7 meters). The vessel had a gross register tonnage of 2,643 tons and a net register tonnage of 2,082 tons, reflecting her significant cargo capacity. Propelled by a 1,100-horsepower triple expansion steam engine built by Frontier Iron Works of Detroit, the Appomattox was powered by two Scotch marine boilers manufactured by Wickes Brothers of Saginaw, Michigan. The boilers measured approximately 12.3 feet by 12.16 feet. Due to her considerable length, she incorporated extensive metallic reinforcements, including cross bracing, a keelson, plates, and arches, along with siphons and pumps to maintain buoyancy. Designed primarily for cargo transport on the Great Lakes, she specialized in carrying iron ore eastward and coal westward. The vessel often towed the steamer barge Santiago, which was 324 feet long, enabling her to carry over 3,000 tons of bulk cargo alone, with combined capacities nearing 8,000 tons. Her service ended tragically on November 2, 1905, when, during a foggy voyage along Lake Michigan, she grounded off Atwater Beach near Shorewood, Wisconsin. Severe bottom damage prevented her refloat, and despite efforts by wrecking tugs and rescue services, her hull cracked and flooded. The wreck was abandoned in November 1905, and her machinery was later removed by the Reid (or Reed) Wrecking Company. Today, her remains lie in shallow waters (15-20 feet deep) near Atwater Beach, consisting of her lower bilge, port and starboard sides, and engine beds, making her a popular dive site and a significant relic of Great Lakes maritime history. Her remnants were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.