Pilgrim Belle in Plymouth Harbor
History
United States
Name	Pilgrim Belle
Namesake	The Pilgrims
Owner	Captain John Boats
Operator	Pilgrim Belle Cruises LLC
Builder	River Head Marine
Acquired	1993
In service	1993
Status	In service
General characteristics
Length	65 ft (20 m)
Propulsion	2 paddle wheels 2 John Deere diesel engines
Speed	10 kn (19 km/h)
Capacity	90 passengers
Sensors & processing systems	Marine VHF radio GPS Radar

Pilgrim Belle is a small, paddle-driven excursion boat in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Built in 1993, the Belle is owned and operated by Captain John Boats, which owns multiple fishing boats in Plymouth. She shares a pier with the 1956-built replica ship Mayflower II.

Design and construction

Pilgrim Belle was built by River Head Marine^[1] in 1993. She has a top speed of 10 knots and a fuel capacity of 500 gallons.^[1] She was built to a design by naval architect Bill Preston, which resembles classic Mississippi River paddle-wheel steamboats.

Service history

Entering service in 1993, she has been a staple of Plymouth Harbor ever since. During the winters of 2003 to 2008, she operated out of Delray Beach, Florida, while continuing to operate out of Plymouth during the summer.^[2][3] The presence of paddle-wheels allows the boat to utilize her paddles to turn instead of a rudder or azimuth thrusters, making her able to turn in place. Because of this, she does not need any assistance past mooring lines when maneuvering into her pier. The boat does three types of cruises^[4]:

• Harbor Cruise: Leaving from Frazier State Pier^[5], the boat does a tour of Plymouth Harbor with narration from the captain about the history of the town. During these voyages, she has a fully stocked galley. The route brings Pilgrim Belle to circle around Duxbury Pier Light, known locally as "Bug Light", and back to her pier. The total duration is around 75 minutes.
• Sunset Cruise: As the name suggests, this is similar to the harbor cruise, but at sunset.^[4] Because of being later in the day, these excursions are tailored towards adults and feature a full-service bar. The total duration is around 90 minutes.
• Private Charters: Pilgrim Belle is available for charters, which could include weddings, class reunions, birthdays, or corporate outings.^[4]

References

External

• Official Website of Captain John Boats, who own and operate the vessel
• Official Website of Bug Light, which is a sight on the harbor cruises