Lake Huron, the second largest of the Great Lakes and the third largest fresh water lake of the world, accommodates many shipwrecks. Large number of ships have sunk in the Straits of Mackinac, many of them not yet found. One of the shipwrecks that has been discovered is William Young.
This shipwreck was found in 2002 off South Graham Shoal in Lake Huron. It is located in Lake Huron, 1.25 mi/2.01 km east of Mackinac Bridge. She was built in 1863 and when she foundered, she had been converted from a schooner-barge to a tow-barge. The William Young was lost on October 5, 1891, while carrying a cargo of coal that still fills her holds.
The William Young has all of her fittings and gear intact, sitting upright in 120 ft/36.57 m depth of water. When she hit the bottom, her bow split open, the top deck cabins were swept away, while the anchors still hang on each side. Due to her late discovery, she has not been looted and there is much to be seen. Her wheel, deadeyes, pulleys and other equipment are some of them.
A portion of the bow deck is about 50 ft/15.24 m astern, while more are to be discovered. There is usually some current that can be strong in some cases and visibility also varies.
