The Wreck Today: The Duke Luedtke lies in 70 feet of water, listing to port in the mud. Her stern is buried. There are tires attached to her sides and hoses scattered around the wreck. The pilothouse door stands open on the port side. This is an easy wreck to penetrate and explore. However as with all wreck penetration in Lake Erie, she silts up fast. Divers should not enter the wreck without taking necessary wreck penetration precautions.
Duke Luedtke
Additional information on the Duke Luedtke is on page 106 of Erie Wrecks West.
Location: 13 miles north of Avon Point, Ohio
Coordinates: LORAN: 43825.5 57396.3
GPS: 41 41.630 81 57.655
Lies: bow east Depth: 70 feet
Type: tug Cargo: none
Official #: 216022
Power: 1957 converted to diesel: Original 1890 high pressure non-condensing engine taken from dismantled tug Townsend Davis
Owner(s) Luedtke Engineering Company, Frankfort, Michigan
Built: 1917 at Cleveland, Ohio by Great Lakes Towing Company
Dimensions: 68’7” x 17’ x 11’ Tonnage: 73 gross 32 net
Date of Loss: Thursday, September 21, 1993
Cause of Loss: sprung a leak
Coordinates: LORAN: 43825.5 57396.3
GPS: 41 41.630 81 57.655
Lies: bow east Depth: 70 feet
Type: tug Cargo: none
Official #: 216022
Power: 1957 converted to diesel: Original 1890 high pressure non-condensing engine taken from dismantled tug Townsend Davis
Owner(s) Luedtke Engineering Company, Frankfort, Michigan
Built: 1917 at Cleveland, Ohio by Great Lakes Towing Company
Dimensions: 68’7” x 17’ x 11’ Tonnage: 73 gross 32 net
Date of Loss: Thursday, September 21, 1993
Cause of Loss: sprung a leak
