I grew up on Lake Ontario in the area known as the "Bermuda Triangle of the Great Lakes" which is an area with hundreds of ships sunk. This area goes from Kingston, to Long point to Main Duck Island. At the time we had a large farm (600+ acres and about 2 miles of waterfront.) Many ship boilers were visible 1/2 mile out into the lake, sitting in only 4-5 feet of water. There was even a French supply ship that went down with a load of silver that was the pay for the soldiers, in the 1600s, and this treasure has never been found. Many times I have seen over 20' rollers. 15 knots of wind will get you 6-7 foot ones, with a wavelength of 40-50'. Two years ago for our annual regatta it blew 38 knots, measured from about 7' above the ground. The best sailors of the fleet stared at the 12' breaking rollers with a glazed look.
http://www.divercity.on.ca/wrecks.htmhttp://www.boatnerd.com/swayze/shipwreck/ 
