It was a coal freighter that overturned in a horrific storm in 1940 , sinking , along with the 32 crew aboard , 210 feet below the surface of Lake Michigan , just off the coast of Pentwater . While the shipwreck of the SS William B. Davock was finally found , upside down , by divers in 1972 , an investigation into why it sank was deemed all but impossible , due to the murkiness of the water . Until now . A group of West Michigan-based explorers believe they have determined what caused the Davock to succumb to the 30-foot waves brought on by ferocious blizzard . Scroll down for video . Mystery : The SS William B. Davock , a coal freighter built in 1907 , sank to the bottom of Lake Michigan on its way to Chicago on November 11 , 1940 , during a ferocious storm . The reason for its sinking was unknown . Wreck : The ship sits upside down on the shore of Lake Michigan , 210 feet below the surface and just off the coast of Pentwater . Because of the way it sits and the murkiness of the water , investigations were n't possible . The Michigan Shipwreck Research Association ( MSRA ) , a nonprofit underwater archaeological organization , were able to make their way down to the wreck on a clear day last fall . The dive allowed for the first-known footage of the ship to be taken . The footage , taken by MSRA diver Jeff Vos , of Holland , showed a broken rudder and snapped propeller blade . 'The waves were so strong , they must have snapped the rudder 's connection , at which point it swung so far over that it struck the propeller , ' Vos told Michigan Live . 'With no power or steering , the Davock would have been at the mercy of the storm . ' The Davock had little warning the storm was to hit on November 11 , 1940 . With 75 mph winds , 30-foot waves and rain turning to snow , it is still referred to as 'the most disastrous day in the history of Lake Michigan shipping ' . Discovery : During a dive last fall , the Michigan Shipwreck Research Association ( MSRA ) , a nonprofit underwater archaeological organization were able to capture the first-ever footage of the wreck , determining a rudder the broke in the storm struck the propeller ( pictured ) Taking coal to Chicago , the Davock went down five miles out from Little Sable Point between Ludington , Michigan and Pentwater , Michigan . Another ship , cargo carrier the SS Anna C. Minch , also went down , along with all 24 aboard , while several other ships were damaged and ran aground . MSRA board member , Craig Rich , further explained what caused the Davock to sink . 'It would have sent the ship into what we call a shivering mode , ' he told MLive . 'Without the rudder , it would n't have been able to steer and without the propeller working properly you ca n't drive it forward . 'The ship would have gone into the trough of the wave sideways which would have swamped the ship . ' ' X ' marks the spot : The shipwreck of the Davock five miles out from Little Sable Point between Ludington , Michigan and Pentwater , Michigan . The freighter was en route to Chicago when it sank . The MSRA was motivated to delve deeper into investigating the Davock after the waters of Lake Michigan started to clear in recent years . 'We decided to give it a shot , ' Rich said . `` The divers did n't even use a light for the discovery . 'It 's not as warm as it is in the Caribbean , but it 's certainly starting to rival it in clarity . 'It was a warm , sunny day . 'The ambient light was amazing . ' The SS William B. Davock was a lake freighter that was constructed in 1907 by Great Lakes Engineering Works in St. Clair , Minnesota .
The ship William B. hull capsized during a storm on November 11 , 1940 . It sank 210 feet below the surface of the Michigan , landing upside down . Its landing and the murkiness of the water made investigations difficult . Divers were able to get the ship last fall and take footage . They determined the rudder involved in the storm and snapped the propeller . With no power or propulsion , the ship succumbed to tidal waves .