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COYOTE
Photo: Shipwrecks Around Boston, by William P Quinn
Type: Steamer
LOA: 267'L x 40'B Construction: Wood Date of Loss: Scuttled, January 11, 1932 Reason: Grounded, repairs too costly Depth of Water: 170 fsw History:
The Coyote's keel was laid in 1918 and she
served as a coal steamer under various ownerships until her demise on October
15, 1923 when she capsized and sank at the dock in Chelsea Creek. In
March of 1923 she had struck a rock while en route to to New Bedford harbor.
The damaged she sustained was considerable and the cost of the repairs
exceeded the value of the vessel. As a result, she was sold for
scrap and rotted away at a dock for 8 years until she was towed out and dumped
off Boston in January of 1932. She was still carrying some of her cargo
of coal when she sank.
Today, the Coyote lies in 170 ft of water in
the Boston dumping grounds. She sits upright and is largely intact
except for the decking, which has collapsed. All that remains of the
deck are crossbeams, which are laced with heavy monofilament and netting.
The wreck is large and poses considerable entanglement hazards. The
minimum depth is 155 ft to the top of the wreck, with washouts of about
170-175'. Like many large semi-intact wrecks, it is possible to get
deeper inside the wreck than outside it. Generally, visibility averages
20-25' of dark water. This wreck is slightly more advanced than some
others in the same depth range, primarily because of the risk for entanglement
from the spider-web like lines covering it.
The wreck was originally located by fishermen
in the summer of 1989. It's identity was subsequently confirmed by a
group of divers lead by Capt. Eric Takakjian that same year. The wreck
had been forgotten over the years, but was relocated in 2001 by divers from
Northern Atlantic Dive Expeditions. While searching for the Coyote, a
small dredge barge was located about 1/4 mile from the wreck. The
wreck has perhaps 5 feet of relief at the highest point in sits in 165-170
ft of water.
Photos:
Another view of the sunken Coyote - listing to port.
Photo: Shipwrecks Around Boston by William P Quinn 
The starboard side rail
The port side rail (left) and inside the wreck
(right) decaying bulkheads
Crossbeams and interior supports - notice the
entanglements covering the wreck
Looking up towards a remaining portion of the
upper deck and decaying bulkheads inside
Propeller shaft and machinery
 
Debris collapsed near the forward part of the wreck (left) and a water tank
that feeds the boilers (right)
 
Two boilers that drove the steamer.
 
More hang-ups and debris - lots of mono and line and net!
 
The propeller shaft and it's remaining housing. And at the stern, the
prop itself
The breathtaking stern in 50+ feet of
visibility! On the right, the propeller blade stands out boldly as the
stern rises up behind it.
Nets and line drape the massive wreck - the wreck
is huge!
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