Patti and Bill Linscott were deliberate in their search for a coastal cruiser. Their goal was a capable, comfortable boat suited to the Salish Sea — the mix of open water, protected bays and tributaries that stretches from the lower arms of Puget Sound to the Strait of Georgia near northern Vancouver Island. They wanted a proven hull with good seakeeping, roomy single-level living spaces for extended stays aboard, and a vessel with character. Ultimately, those requirements led them to a Pilgrim 40, which they named Sunshine.
Sunshine wasn’t the Linscotts’ first boat. After raising five children, the couple retired to a home overlooking tree-studded islands and blue water in Des Moines, Washington, about halfway between Seattle and Tacoma. “We both had family boating experiences when we were young,” Patti says. Living next to a busy marina made it natural for them to return to boating. In the years that followed they owned several vessels, starting with a 1928 Lake Union Dreamboat, a plumb-bowed wooden classic that required extensive restoration. While that project was underway, they bought a new Ranger Tug 25 in 2006 as a capable dayboat and weekend cruiser. That tug served them well until their full retirement in 2013.
Ready to simplify to a single boat for cruising with friends from the marina, the Linscotts found the Pilgrim 40 in Portland, Oregon. This particular boat, hull number 16, was built in 1984 by H. “Ted” Gozzard at North Castle Marine/Gozzard Yachts in Goderich, Ontario. Painted maroon and white when they purchased her, they later repainted the topsides sky blue, sunshine yellow and white with acrylics while retaining the varnished mahogany window panels on the aft deck. Those custom-made window assemblies are removable yet interlock solidly and, when the aft bulkhead doors are open, they greatly expand the living area.
The Pilgrim 40 has a single 100-hp Cummins diesel that propels Sunshine efficiently at cruising speeds between roughly 7 and 8.5 knots, and electrical needs are handled by a 7.5-kW Westerbeke genset. The Linscotts made several thoughtful upgrades to enhance comfort and usability: Patti helped redesign the galley and select modern appliances; they renovated the head; and they installed updated electronics at the helm, including a Garmin multifunction display while retaining the original autopilot. Practical additions such as a rain gutter and interior wood trim around the deckhouse windows improved both function and aesthetics.
The Pilgrim 40’s deckhouse now also houses a Hammond keyboard that Bill plays most mornings when they are aboard. To make room for the instrument he removed one settee and added two loose chairs for flexible seating. The change has turned Sunshine into a welcoming spot for musical friends to drop by for impromptu jam sessions — a reminder that a cruising boat can also be a social hub.
Having spent many seasons exploring South Puget Sound, the Linscotts are now planning longer passages up the Strait of Georgia with the goal of seeing Desolation Sound. Their Pilgrim 40’s combination of seakeeping, comfortable single-level living and a thoughtful layout makes extended cruising achievable. If you’re in the region and hear keyboard music drifting across the water, look for the distinctive blue, yellow and white trawler with tugboat lines. If you hail Patti and Bill, they’re usually happy to talk about life aboard Sunshine and their experiences cruising the Salish Sea.
WALKTHROUGH
Ted Gozzard designed the Pilgrim 40 as a full-displacement hull with modest draft — approximately 3 feet 3 inches — and a full keel that offers protection for the prop and rudder. The engine room sits partially below the waterline to improve shaft angle and propulsion efficiency. With a plumb bow, rounded knuckle, forward flare and a rounded stern, the hull shape encourages steady, predictable motion in a variety of conditions. Wide sidedecks, tall bulwarks and secure rails make moving from bow to stern straightforward when handling lines or anchoring. Sliding doors on both port and starboard provide easy access to the raised pilothouse. From the pilothouse, two steps down lead to an uninterrupted sole that extends to a built-in stern bench on the aft deck. The owner’s cabin and head are located forward, offering a comfortable private space for longer voyages.
North Castle Marine/Gozzard Yachts no longer builds the Pilgrim 40, though the yard continues to produce custom sailing yachts using Ted Gozzard’s designs. Pilgrim 40 hulls remain admired for their solid construction, comfortable accommodation layout and classic, purposeful lines — traits that suit coastal cruising in regions like the Salish Sea.
Pilgrim 40
LOA: 40’0” Beam: 14’0” Draft: 3’3” Displ.: 22,000 lbs. Power: (1) 100-hp Cummins diesel Fuel: 142 gals. Water: 240 gals.
This article was originally published in the April 2024 issue.