The wooden two masted scow-schooner Quickstep was built in 1868 by William Stevens at Bay de Noquette, Michigan. Her official registry number was 20567. In 1874 she was valued at $1,500 and rated B2 by the Board of Lake Underwriters.
On October 6,1886, a foggy afternoon with a moderate wind blowing, the scow-schooner Quickstep, stranded on the shoals near the inlet to Detroit Harbor on Detroit Island (south of Washington Island on the Door County Peninsula). The captain and one of the owners, John Jessen, was bringing a cargo of wood and ties to Washington Island when the accident occurred.
The scow-schooner was declared a total loss, except for the rigging. Mr. Jessen collected no insurance on either the hull or the cargo which were valued at $1,000 and $230 respectively since they were uninsured.