Hunting New England Shipwrecks

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Lightship LV-39 From old postcard (author's collection)	Dramatic night scene on a lightship (author's colledtion)

Shipwreck Data
Vessel Name	Brenton Reef Lightship (LV-39)
Other Names	Also served on other stations
Vessel Type	Lightship - with two masts (with oil lamps and daymarkers)
Owner
Length / Beam / Draft (feet)	119' / 26' /
Tonnage
Hull Construction	Wood
Propulsion	Sails, but usually towed by a tug
Cargo
Built	1875 at Pelham, NY (David Carl)
Date of Loss	1975
Reason for Loss	Old vessel sank while in tow to Beverly, MA
Fatalities	None
Location	4 miles east of Marblehead, MA
Coordinates (Lat/Lon)	42-29.740 N / 70-43.625 W
Coordinates (Loran C)
Water Depth (feet)	180'
Typical Visibility (feet)
Wreck Condition	Upright and partially intact
Diving Considerations
Other Information	The LV-39 served as a lightship from 1875 to 1939. Early in her career, she served on several different stations, then served as the Brenton Reef Lightship (off Rhode Island) from 1897 to 1935, when she was retired.from service. In later years the vessel was used as a floating restaurant and for other purposes. The old ship finally sank in 1975 while under tow off Marblehead, MA. For more information and pictures of the LV-39, check out the following sites: Northern Atlantic Dive Expeditions http://www.northernatlanticdive.com/shipwrecks/brenton_reef/brenton_reef_39.htm Boston Deep Wrecks http://bostondeepwrecks.com/wrecks/lightship.html