Aerial view of the "Arbutus" - Key West, Florida

Title

• Aerial view of the "Arbutus" - Key West, Florida

Image Number

• DM1084

Year

• 1985

Series Title

• General: Dale M McDonald Collection

General Note

• Accompanying note: "The Arbutus was an old 175' to 180' Coast Guard buoy tender that was owned by Mel Fisher's Treasure Salvors operation and used as a 'Sentry' vessel over the Atocha wreck site following the capsizing of the tug boat North Wind, which claimed the lives of several people including one of Mel's sons and daughter-in-law."



General Note

• "Later on, the Arbutus was towed to the 'Quicksand's', west of the Marquesas, and was used as one of Mel Fishers tower ships. These ships were used as reference points in searching the wreck site. Once, while as the 'Sentry' vessel over the Atocha wreck, it was accidently strafed and bombed by a reserve Navy squadron out of Tennessee. Remarkable, they didn't hit the ship or it's startled occupant."



General Note

• "The vessel sank of it's own accord at it's current location in the Quicksand's. It was also used by Jimmy Buffett for a back cover shot for his record album 'Songs You Should Know By Heart'."

Photographer/Personal Author

• McDonald, Dale M., 1949-2007.

Physical Description

• 1 photoprint - col. - 8 x 10 in.

Subject Term

• Shipwrecks--Florida--Key West
• Aerial views--Florida--Key West

Geographic Term

• Key West (Fla)--Aerial photographs

Subject Corporate

• Arbutus (Ship)

Learn more about the Dale M McDonald Collection »