6 Theories of the Edmund Fitzgerald

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Choosing to remove a video after community feedback and undertake a comprehensive re-make is a serious integrity move. Few YouTubers hold themselves to that high a standard. Thanks for your diligence and superior content.

My grandfather sailed the lakes for 14 years, including on the Fitzgerald from 70 to 74. My Aunt was born in 72, Mom was born in 74, so he took a job in the shipyards so he wasn't gone most of the year. Had alot of stories to tell about the lakes, many of them pretty terrifying. He said the waves used to come onto ship on the rear, ride the length of the deck, and plow into the pilot house. He always subscribed to the theory that the Fitz nose dived, hit the bottom, and then twisted in half. He knew most of the men on the Fitz that went down that night. Grandma said it was a pretty rough ordeal for him, on many levels.

It's mind blowing that the Arthur M Anderson is still in service today.

To say: " okay I get your point of view, I'll take your comments on board and re do this video" marks you out as someone to watch further. I don't subscribe often, but your humility and teachability commend you . To be able to look at a situation from multiple angles and adapt your point of view is a mark of maturity.

I grew up in Toledo Ohio and my dad was a shipkeeper for ASC. It amazes me that so many more of these freighters haven’t gone down. Every winter they come into Toledo and lay up for the winter and most if not all of them would have to have the bottoms welded back together as they’d constantly split. Instead of retiring these old freighters they just continue welding them. I’ve heard atleast 3 captains and chiefs say that the company would rather pay out a wrongful death suit than to replace the ship because it was cheaper. But man did I love staying up on these big boats throughout the winter and summers when they’d be layed up throughout the year. Nothing more relaxing than throwing a mattress down on the floor of the pilot house, crank the ac, and listen to the radio traffic and watch the thunderstorms. 🌩️ I really miss it though.

R.I.P Gordon Lightfoot and the 29 sailors who were lost

I am a Great Lakes Sailor. Weather can turn a calm lake, into a washing machine. The Fitz actually had a double bottom. They filled the bottom with water when empty to make it ride smoother. When loaded, it's empty. If they hit the schoal, it could have filled the bottom. That would have allowed them to keep going with the pumps running. The "3 sisters" hit the first one, followed closely by the 2nd and 3rd. It's brutal!

I think it's brilliant that this guy has read people's comments, looked into it further and floated other theories. Responding to the comments is a great thing to do!

I worked at a medical supply store in Brainerd with someone from Castle Danger near Two Harbors. He said his brother sailed on the Fitz around 1973 and after a short time, “Couldn’t wait to get off that death trap.” The ship had had problems with hogging from what I’ve read. I also believe it’s a combination of things as not one of the theories by themselves explain everything.

A half hour Waterline Stories to start off the weekend, most excellent. Love the longer form videos, keep it up!

I always liked the idea of a rogue wave, but I think it's a combination of factors. The welds, the keel separating, and a large wave. Given she was the first of her type to use compartmentalised construction, it might not have been as strong as later ships using that method. She must have gone down quickly that there was no mayday.

9:47 Theory 1: Poor maintenance 11:16 Theory 2: Overloaded 12:47 Theory 3: Deck hatches insecure 16:53 Theory 4: Lost vent covers 17:52 Theory 5: Hull damage from scraping on shoal 21:39 Theory 6: The Three Sisters

I'm not a mariner, I don't even swim well, but i enjoy your content and how carefully and considerately you present these stories Thank you.

I admire you for saying that you could do better and you did! great job man, thanks for sharing with us all this research you did

I’d be willing to bet my bottom dollar that the keel issue, combined with the three sisters waves, and the fact that it had taken on MORE weight from water intrusion is probably what did her in .. if they had loaded the ship to over its freeboard would allow , then MORE weight in the form of water got in, and if the fitz hit the three sisters, it would have overcome the ships ability to stay together with the broken keel, and it would’ve broke Fitzgeralds back and that’s why she disappeared soo fast and is lying in two pieces on the bottom .. the life rafts being torn and ripped from the derricks is a good sign that the three sisters did in fact hit the fitz.. the Anderson was able to survive the three sisters because her keel was still fully intact, but even she sustained substantial deck damage from them .. I don’t believe the 6 fathom shoal had anything to do with it.. The two sections are two far apart for it to have broken up when it hit the sea floor .. it broke apart at the surface and hydrodynamic forces caused them to separate fairly far apart, much like the titanic

Whatever theory or combined theories that would explain how the Edmund Fitzgerald sank so quickly is probably correct. I think of Captain McSorely (sp?) being on the bridge of the Edmund Fitzgerald in that dire situation. He had to be very close to a radio or phone. However, he didn't even have a chance to say that his ship was sinking. That's how fast it happened. That's telltale in and of itself. Could it be that one or both of those 30'-35' waves that Captain Cooper of the Anderson reported somehow caused the bow of the Edmund Fitzgerald to dip below the surface of the water and then pointing downward she just keep right on going to the bottom as if it was swallowed by the heavy seas? That combined with the fact that she was listing and had already taken in a lot of water makes sense to me as to why the Edmund Fitzgerald not only sank but did so very suddenly and rapidly. Great video! Very no-nonsense, clear and to the point!

Ever since I found this Channel about 6 months ago I absolutely adore watching all of the videos and catching up on all the other videos. As much as I want to I simply cannot watch this video. My parents had just gotten married and he sailed on the lakes for a job. I can tell you she was so scared because at that time they didn't know who had gone down. My dad sailed the Munson that year but he knew every man on board the Fitz. I've heard the stories from him over the years and the last words anyone ever heard from them "We're holding our own" has always been gut wrenching. One thing I can say is the chief mate would NEVER have sailed unless everyone single hatch was dogged securely. He was well known for that on every trip not just the last one. I have no doubt that he double checked every one of those hatches especially because they knew what weather they had. All the years my dad sailed I hated Novembers the most. November Witches are no joke and I was worried every time. I wish I could watch this episode but I just can't. It's just too close to home. Even now that my dad retired it's still hard. I just know all about the Fitz and hate to have reminders even all these years later. I am looking forward to next video though.

My grandfather was on the Anderson that night! As he told me the fitz was picked up from the stern by the first wave of the three sister's and was driven into the lake bed!! The subsequent 2 other waves swamped the rest of the ship and the bow never came out of the first wave, cheers

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum located at Michigan's Whitefish Point Light-Station is a must see for anyone interested in the loss of the Edmund Fitzgerald or any of the other hundreds of ships lost along the Lake Superior Shipwreck Coast. My wife and I finally made it to the museum last year and were deeply moved by the displays there, especially of the Edmund Fitzgerald's ship's bell. It was a both gratifying and poignant visit there. Gratifying in that as a young man I got to meet Phil Nuytten, the inventor of the "Newtsuit" several times and actually listened to him ponder on the idea of a hard shell exo diving suit before he finally invented it in 1979. His Newtsuit was used to explore the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Poignant in that there is an observation platform from which, if the weather had allowed the lights of the Edmund Fitzgerald would have been visible from Whitefish Point just before it sank.