Fourteen Foot Shoal Light

Infobox_Lighthouse


caption = The light in 2001 (note the solar panels that provide the current power.)
location = Lake Huron, Michigan
coordinates = coord|45|40|47.3|N|84|26|6|W
yearbuilt = 1929
yearlit = 1930
automated = 1930
yeardeactivated =
foundation = Pneumatic/sub
construction = Reinforced concrete/steel
shape = Conical on a rectangular house
marking = White w/red trim
height = Tower - convert|36|ft|m [ [http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/lists/towers.htm Terry Pepper, database on heights and focal planes.] ]
elevation = Focal plane - convert|55|ft|m [National Park Service, [http://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/light/14foot.htm Maritime Heritage Program, Inventory of Historic Lights, Fourteen Foot Shoal Light.] ]
lens = Fourth order Fresnel lens
currentlens = 250 m.m. Tidelands acrylic optic Fresnel lens
range = convert|10.4|mi|km [ [http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pubs/LightLists/V7COMPLETE.PDF Volume 7, U.S. Coast Guard Lightlist (PDF).] ]
characteristic = 0cculting W 4 secondsOperates year round.
fogsignal = HORN: 1 blast ev 15s (2s bl) [ [http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pubs/LightLists/V7COMPLETE.PDF Volume 7, U.S. Coast Guard Lightlist (PDF).] ] Diaphone.
ARLHS = USA-306
USCG = 7-11765

The lighthouse at Fourteen Foot Shoal was named to note that the the lake is only 14 feet deep at this point, which is a hazard to navigation, ships and mariners.

This light is located at the Northern End of Lake Huron, Michigan, U.S.A. where it is necessary for boats heading to Chicago to pass through a narrow strait and still avoid shallow water. The most common path is to go south of Bois Blanc Island (Michigan). In this channel, the Poe Reef Light marks the northern end of the safe channel and the Fourteen Foot Shoal light marks the southern side of the channel.

The United States Lighthouse Service intended from the time of design that this light would be automated [http://www.lighthousesRus.org/HuronNE.htm#MI83 (possibly the first such instance)] and operated by radio control from the nearby Poe Reef Light. In 1925 a temporary acetylene buoy was installed here and construction of the permanent light began in 1929 such that the light could begin operation in 1930. [ [http://www.terrypepper.com/Lights/huron/fourteen/index.htm Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light, Fourteen Foot Shoal Light.] ]

The original light was a fourth order Fresnel lens. The focal plane is 56 feet. It now has a 250 m.m. acrylic optic Fresnel lens, and assuming it is properly installed and adjusted, has a maximum visible range of nine nautical miles (approximately 10.4 statute miles). [ [http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/closeups/illumination/acrylic/250mm/250mm.htm 250 m.m. acrylic optic lens, Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light.] ] A diaphone fog horn is attached. [National Park Service, [http://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/light/14foot.htm Maritime Heritage Program, Inventory of Historic Lights, Fourteen Foot Shoal Light.] ]

A private boat is, of course, the best way to see this light close up. Short of that, Sheplers Ferry Service out of Mackinaw City offers periodic lighthouse cruises in the summer season. Its "Eastbound Tour" includes passes by Round Island Light, Bois Blanc Island and Light, Poe Reef Light and Fourteen Foot Shoal. Schedules and rates are available from Shepler's. [ [http://www.sheplerswww.com Sheplers Ferry Service.] ] [ [http://www.terrypepper.com/Lights/huron/fourteen/index.htm Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light, Fourteen Foot Shoal Light.] ]

References

Bibliography and further reading

* "A Tour of the Lights of the Straits." Michigan History 70 (Sep/Oct 1986), pp. 17-29.
* [http://www.michiganlighthouse.org/bibliography.html Bibliography on Michigan lighthouses.]
* Crompton, Samuel Willard & Michael J. Rhein, "The Ultimate Book of Lighthouses" (2002) ISBN 1592231020; ISBN 978-1592231027.
* Hyde, Charles K., and Ann and John Mahan. "The Northern Lights: Lighthouses of the Upper Great Lakes." Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1995. ISBN 0814325548 ISBN 9780814325544.
* Jones, Ray & Bruce Roberts, "American Lighthouses" (Globe Pequot, September 1, 1998, 1st Ed.) ISBN 0762703245; ISBN 978-0762703241.
* Jones, Ray,"The Lighthouse Encyclopedia, The Definitive Reference" (Globe Pequot, January 1, 2004, 1st ed.) ISBN 0762727357; ISBN 978-0762727353.
* Noble, Dennis, "Lighthouses & Keepers: U. S. Lighthouse Service and Its Legacy" (Annapolis: U. S. Naval Institute Press, 1997). ISBN 1557506388; ISBN 9781557506382.
* Oleszewski, Wes, "Great Lakes Lighthouses, American and Canadian: A Comprehensive Directory/Guide to Great Lakes Lighthouses", (Gwinn, Michigan: Avery Color Studios, Inc., 1998) ISBN 0-932212-98-0.
* Penrod, John, "Lighthouses of Michigan", (Berrien Center, Michigan: Penrod/Hiawatha, 1998) ISBN 9780942618785 ISBN 9781893624238.
*
* Putnam, George R., "Lighthouses and Lightships of the United States", (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1933).
* United States Coast Guard, "Aids to Navigation", (Washington, DC: U. S. Government Printing Office, 1945).
* [http://www.uscg.mil/History/weblighthouses/h_lhbib.asp United States Coast Guard, "Aids to Navigation Historical Bibliography".]
*
* Wagner, John L., "Michigan Lighthouses: An Aerial Photographic Perspective", (East Lansing, Michigan: John L. Wagner, 1998) ISBN 1880311011 ISBN 9781880311011.
* Wargin, Ed, "Legends of Light: A Michigan Lighthouse Portfolio" (Ann Arbor Media Group, 2006). ISBN 9781587262517.
* Wright, Larry and Wright, Patricia, "Great Lakes Lighthouses Encyclopedia" Hardback (Erin: Boston Mills Press, 2006) ISBN 1550463993

External links

* [http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080520/SPECIAL01/80519001 Detroit News, Interactive map on Michigan lighthouses.]
* [http://lighthouse.boatnerd.com/gallery/Huron/fourteenfootshoal.htm Edin, Colt, and Wobser, David, Boatnerd.com, Fourteen Foot Shoal Light.]
* [http://www.lighthousesrus.org/HuronNE.htm Interactive map, pictures, descriptions of Northern Lake Huron lights.]
* [http://www.lighthousecentral.com/lighthouse_gallery.php4?lighthouse=Fourteen%20Foot%20Shoal%20Light Lighthouse Central, Fourteen Foot Shoal light "The Ultimate Guide to East Michigan Lighthouses" by Jerry Roach] (Publisher: Bugs Publishing LLC - July 2006).] ISBN 0974797715; ISBN 9780974797717.
* [http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/miel.htm Lighthouse Digest, Fourteen Foot Shoal Light, University of North Carolina.]
* [http://www.lighthousefriends.com/macstraits.html Lighthouses in the Mackinac Straits.]
* [http://www.michiganlights.com/fourteenfootshoallh.htm Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy, Fourteen Foot Shoal Light.]
* [http://www.michiganlighthouse.org/Lighthouses/lighthouse_detail.php26.htm Michigan Lighthouse Fund, Fourteen Foot Shoal Light.]
* National Park Service, [http://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/light/14foot.htm Maritime Heritage Program, Inventory of Historic Lights, Fourteen Foot Shoal Light.]
* [http://www.terrypepper.com/Lights/huron/fourteen/index.htm Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light, Fourteen Foot Shoal Light.]
* U.S. Coast Guard [http://www.uscg.mil/history/weblighthouses/LHMI.asp 's complete list of Michigan lights with photographs and descriptions, including Fourteen Foot Shoal Light.]
* [http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pubs/LightLists/V7COMPLETE.PDF Volume 7, U.S. Coast Guard Lightlist (PDF).]