Lucinda Van Valkenburg
Qualified three-masted sailing interpretation, before 1887
An interpretive 3D reconstruction of the vessel afloat, in the form named above and from before its loss in Thunder Bay. It is informed by the historical record set out under History below, where the documented evidence and the interpretation are kept apart; rigging, colours and fittings are partly inferred. It is not a survey of the wreck.
Nobody knows the exact spot where this ship went down, so the marker shows the general area.
Starboard bow · complete vessel · drag to rotate, scroll or pinch to zoom, right-drag to pan. Hiding the sails shows the deck; it does not recreate the wreck.
What the model represents
From the model specification. Two lists, kept apart on purpose.
Documented
- Built by Albert Little at Tonawanda in 1862; NOAA dimensions 128×26 ft. NOAA vessel record
- NOAA’s vessel page calls the schooner two-masted, conflicting with its three-mast information sheet. NOAA vessel record
Inferred
- Underwater hull lines and draft
- Exact colors, fittings, hatch layout and rigging routes
- Absolute spar heights and sail shapes
Configuration caveat. NOAA’s 2020 information sheet calls this a three-masted schooner; its vessel page says two. This model selects three and leaves the conflict unresolved. Wreck imagery guides the centerboard trunk and full stern; sail inventory, hull lines, deck fittings and paint are interpreted.
Two numbers that are not the same thing. The waterline toggle sits at 2.70 m above the keel, a display assumption, not a measured draft. The wreck lies in about 60 ft of water; that describes the site, not the ship.
Renders from the model
History, evidence and limits
The research notes behind the reconstruction, reproduced with their citations.
Version 1.1. Metadata and presentation revised September 8, 2026; original evidence review retained.
Selected appearance
Qualified three-masted sailing interpretation, before 1887. NOAA’s 2020 information sheet calls this a three-masted schooner; its vessel page says two. This model selects three and leaves the conflict unresolved. Wreck imagery guides the centerboard trunk and full stern; sail inventory, hull lines, deck fittings and paint are interpreted.
Documented evidence
Built by Albert Little at Tonawanda in 1862; NOAA dimensions 128×26 ft. NOAA vessel record
NOAA’s vessel page calls the schooner two-masted, conflicting with its three-mast information sheet. NOAA vessel record
Reasonable interpretation
Underwater hull lines and draft
Exact colors, fittings, hatch layout and rigging routes
Absolute spar heights and sail shapes
Further sources and how they were used.
Unresolved uncertainties
No complete original lines plan is claimed. Exact loaded draft, concealed surfaces and fine fittings remain interpreted. The earlier research context below retains the source distinctions used for this reconstruction.
Evidence assessment: build a qualified interpretation. The selected vessel class, dimensions and the evidence described below support a credible overall likeness. It is not an exact or authenticated as-built replica.
Documented baseline and source differences. NOAA’s catalogue gives a 128 × 26 ft schooner built in 1862 by Albert Little at Tonawanda and sunk after collision in 1887. The catalogue calls it two-masted, whereas NOAA’s 2020 information sheet calls it three-masted. The tracker also says three. The selected three-mast interpretation does not resolve this source conflict. NOAA vessel record.
Visual evidence and comparisons. The inspected NOAA photomosaic shows surviving side structure, a centerboard trunk and a broad stern assembly. The 3DShipwrecks survey team describes distinctive fantail construction and lists 138 ft length, differing from NOAA’s 128 ft. Their wreck model was not copied or used as editable geometry.
Reasonable interpretations and limits. The model adopts NOAA’s 128 × 26 ft footprint, a full rounded upper stern interpretation, three gaff sails and two headsails. Mast stations, sail inventory, cabin, hatch positions and boat placement are comparisons with regional sailing cargo vessels. The centerboard trunk is represented above deck but no deployed board or full mechanism is asserted. The surviving wreck does not establish missing upper hull lines or paint. Keep both the two-versus-three mast conflict and the alternate reported length in the full-page research explanation.
Selected geometry references. Hull length 128 ft; beam 26 ft. Hold depth unknown (null). Model deck Y=3.9 m and waterline Y=2.7 m are illustrative construction coordinates, not surveyed draft. Wreck water depth is not vessel draft. Existing approximate map coordinates, site attribution and catalogue text were preserved.
Sources
- NOAA vessel record
- NOAA 2020 information sheet
- 3DShipwrecks Lucinda field survey
- WHS Sailing Canallers regional context
Illustration conditions
Lake, shoreline, lighting and weather are artistic staging, not evidence of a specific historical voyage. AI artwork is supplemental; the GLB and direct renders establish the delivered geometry.
Sources used for the model
- NOAA vessel record — source
Vessel identity, scale, history and surviving evidence - NOAA 2020 information sheet — source
Three-mast caption conflicts with current two-mast catalogue - 3DShipwrecks Lucinda field survey — source
Survey team’s fantail observation and conflicting 138 ft figure; mesh not reused - WHS Sailing Canallers regional context — source
Comparable hull and rig practice; not Lucinda-specific plans
Rights and respect
Removing or disturbing wreckage on Great Lakes bottomlands is a felony under Michigan Part 761, 1994 PA 451, at a fair market value of $100 or more. Positions are historical reference only — not navigation and not dive-planning data. Wreck records are published by the Michigan Underwater Preserve Council.
Treat these as graves. Lives were lost on many Great Lakes wrecks and human remains may still be present. Look, photograph, and leave everything exactly as you found it.
Model and renders were newly made for this project (2026). Three.js r160.1 is used under the MIT licence; its notice ships with the vendored files. Wreck position, depth and dates: Michigan Underwater Preserve Council. The model specification (version 1.1, revised 2026-09-08) is published beside the assets (model-spec.json).