26 December, 2019 Boat ride to the Gulf

We have met another looper who owns a Pilgrim 40, Dancing Bear; beautiful vessel, custom built in Canada for rivers and canals and protected waters. PILGRIM 40  Only about 40 were made.  He started his loop around St Louis, MO with his black lab.  He started the crossing on 14 Dec, but went dead in the water about 25 miles out. Smoke and engine overheat.  He was towed back into Carrabelle after spending a long night anchored in 3-6 foot seas.  He has had work preformed and all seems in order now.  He asked us if we wanted to go with him while he took his boat out for a bit to check systems and verify the work preformed was satisfactory.  We jumped at the chance and grabbed our PDF, cell phone and hand held VHF radio. We eased out of the slip and down the Carrabelle river channel toward St. George sound.  Boat and engine preforming satisfactorily.  Clearing the no-wake zone advanced the throttle to achieve 7 mph---same speed as Serenity.  Boat was quiet and smooth as the helm is well forward and slightly raised from main cabin and engine bay.  Eased the bow out into the Gulf via the East pass.  Clear skies, sunny with 10-12 Kt winds and a swell from the SE of about 2 feet, occasional 3 footer.  No real wind chop until we got beyond the lee of Dog Island. (map) We were surprised how easily the boat rolled and porpoised; boat is shallow draft and flat bottom.  Yet it is pretty heavy.  Hum.  It was good for us to get out into the gulf and experience 2-3 footers that would have been on our bow in the direction we need to travel.  Lesson learned.  Returning we were joined by playful dolphins.  We have always suspected they were riding the bow wave of Serenity but we cannot see them.  On the Pilgrim it was easy.  Kim was on the bow having a great time.

Single getting a breath

Two about to splash 

Two out of the water

Returning to port, the ability to maneuver a 40 foot boat in winds and tidal current utilizing both a bow and stern thruster was pretty impressive.  Paralleled the face dock; touched the joy stick of the thrusters and slid over touching the dock.  Step off and secure the lines.  Almost a no brainer.  Beautiful boat, roomy and comfortable.