Ogarita
Later towing-barge interpretation, before 1905
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 a part shows what sat beneath it; it does not recreate the wreck.
What the model represents
From the model specification. Two lists, kept apart on purpose.
Documented
- NOAA distinguishes the original 1864 three-masted barkentine from its later two-masted towbarge form. NOAA vessel record
- NOAA catalogue dimensions 173×39 ft; the broad beam remains a stated source-based baseline. NOAA vessel record
Inferred
- Underwater hull lines and draft
- Exact colors, fittings, hatch layout and rigging routes
Configuration caveat. NOAA distinguishes the original three-masted barkentine from the later two-masted towbarge modeled here. Mast positions, cabin and hatches use photographed contemporary consorts. Exact upper works, hull lines and unusually broad recorded beam remain uncertain.
Two numbers that are not the same thing. The waterline toggle sits at 3.30 m above the keel, a display assumption, not a measured draft. The wreck lies in about 30 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
Later towing-barge interpretation, before 1905. NOAA distinguishes the original three-masted barkentine from the later two-masted towbarge modeled here. Mast positions, cabin and hatches use photographed contemporary consorts. Exact upper works, hull lines and unusually broad recorded beam remain uncertain.
Documented evidence
NOAA distinguishes the original 1864 three-masted barkentine from its later two-masted towbarge form. NOAA vessel record
NOAA catalogue dimensions 173×39 ft; the broad beam remains a stated source-based baseline. NOAA vessel record
Reasonable interpretation
Underwater hull lines and draft
Exact colors, fittings, hatch layout and rigging routes
Visual evidence and comparisons. NOAA’s surviving bow, keelson and sidewalls support a wooden freight hull. Two-mast late consorts such as Harvey Bissell and John T. Johnson supply comparative spars and a low aft accommodation form. Their photographs are not portraits of Ogarita and do not fix its mast stations.
Sources and use.
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 evidence and comparisons below support a credible overall likeness. This is not an exact or authenticated as-built replica.
Documented baseline and source differences. NOAA distinguishes the original three-masted barkentine, built in 1864, from the later two-masted schooner towbarge, lost in 1905 with coal. This model selects the latter. The catalogue gives 173 × 39 ft; the tracker’s 174 ft is a close alternative, but the notably broad beam remains a catalogue-based provisional scale.
Reasonable interpretations and unresolved details. No square-sailed barkentine rig is carried into the selected towing phase. Two bare masts with reduced furled gaff gear, a small bow spar, hatches and stern cabin form a plausible late working appearance. The exact hatch count, mast height, cabin footprint, hold volume and paint are unresolved. The broader recorded beam is not silently corrected using an unrelated ship.
Visible qualification. NOAA distinguishes the original three-masted barkentine from the later two-masted towbarge modeled here. Mast positions, cabin and hatches use photographed contemporary consorts. Exact upper works, hull lines and unusually broad recorded beam remain uncertain.
Sources
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
Identity, dimensions, history and surviving evidence - NOAA Harvey Bissell photograph — source
Previously inspected two-mast towing configuration, used only as a contemporary comparison, not a portrait of this ship. - NOAA John T. Johnson photograph — source
Previously inspected reduced two-mast consort; comparison only
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).