S.L. Dowell (1899)

3D Model

Originally built as the Griffin at Friday Harbor in 1899, the S.L. Dowell is a 45ft long wooden tug. After 23 years in service and a refit, the boat struck an obstruction near Mercer Island in 1922 and sank quickly.

George Wahl (skiper) and William Holslar (engineer) jumped from the sinking boat to the scow that the tug was towing at the time, escaping their fate in the chilly waters of Lake Washington. No lives were lost in the sinking of the tug.

Today, the tug lays in just under 200ft/60m of freshwater and is easily accessible to technical divers. The ship’s name is painted on the stern and is still legible and careful divers can peek their head inside the wheelhouse and see the ship’s wheel and several pieces of wood furniture.

The 2021 version of the 3D model of this wreck was created over the course of three dives to update a model originally created in 2016.

Depth: 195 feet / 59 meters

Location: Lake Washington, Seattle, USA

Photogrammetry by Kees Beemster Leverenz

Lighting by Alex Adolfi