Lake Michigan Shipwrecks: South Haven to Grand Haven

Sand bars, unpredictable river channels and a scarcity of harbors make the southeast coast of Lake Michigan a challenge to Great Lakes sailors. From its first recorded history more than 200 boats have been wrecked in the 46 miles of shore between South Haven and Grand Haven in Michigan. Some have been rescued to sail again, others have found a permanent home on the sandy beaches or in the offshore waters. The stories are told as they were reported in contemporary newspapers, on life saving station reports or later written down by the participants themselves, retaining the excitement and often tragedy of the event as it unfolded.