FRANKFORT, MI - The Griffin, lost on the Great Lakes since 1679, and a wooden hull recently discovered in Lake Michigan have caught the public imagination, but the two are not the same.

Last week, Michigan authorities dove to the wreck in 80 feet of water near Frankfort. They confirmed what was suspected from earlier photos: That the hull couldn't possibly be the historical ship.

Also known by the French equivalent Le Griffon, explorer Rene-Robert Sieur de La Salle built and commanded the ship on behalf of King Louis XIV. During its maiden voyage, the Griffin departed from the area near present-day Green Bay, Wis. The ship and its crew of six was never seen again.

The two Muskegon County men who discovered the wreck, Kevin Dykstra and Frederick J. Monroe, have not responded to requests for comment since the authorities' announcement. The two went public with photos of the wreck in late 2014, saying they thought it might be the Griffin.

Michigan's Maritime Archaeologist, Wayne R. Lusardi, one of two guys who actually made the dive June 9, recently spoke to MLive Muskegon Chronicle and went into more detail about reasons why the wreck could not be the Griffin.

"It was pretty evident, based on a number of things," he said.

1. The type of vessel. The hull was about 80 feet long, by Lusardi's measurement - roughly twice the estimated length of the Griffin, he said. He said the wreck is a tugboat, built in the late 19th century or early 20th century. Dykstra once said one formation on the boat looked like the beak of a Griffin's figurehead, but Lusardi said the formation was a quagga-mussel encrusted strap, called a gudgeon, attached to the sternpost to support the rudder.

2. Cause of sinking. The wooden hull near Frankfort appeared charred from burning, Lusardi said. It's possible the boat caught fire and sunk, or was set on fire while being scuttled, Lusardi said. Neither of those two scenarios seem to fit with what's known about the Griffin's disappearance, he said.

3. Lack of artifacts. "There was a definite lack of artifacts and other materials on the boat," Lusardi said.

4. Presence of steam equipment. Finally, Lusardi said, he found the hull's steam boiler turned on its side near the tug's stern - technology from a different century than the Griffin. "The wreck is a tug boat," Lusardi said. "It has a steam boiler and riveted steel plates encasing the boiler."

Lusardi said there were lines attached to the boat which suggest it had been marked with a buoy at some time -- but not necessarily by divers. Sailors could have marked the wreck as a snag or the area could have been tagged as a good fishing spot, he said. What's certain is that Dykstra and Monroe were the first to report the wreck to the state.

"We appreciate the cooperation of Dykstra and company to provide information and coordinates to the state," Lusardi said.

He's started a file on the ship and will look through historical references to see if the vessel can be identified.

Stephen Kloosterman is a reporter for MLive Muskegon Chronicle. Email him at sklooste@mlive.com or follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+

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