The USS Pilgrim (SP-1204) was a United States Navy patrol vessel that served from 1917 to 1919, with a rich history dating back to her original construction in 1893. Built by Pusey and Jones in Wilmington, Delaware, she was initially a private, steel-hulled sailing yacht designed for racing, with a sail area of 10,261 square feet. Despite her speed during a 1893 race off Sandy Hook, she was deemed too poor at helm to compete effectively for the America's Cup, leading to her sale. In 1894, she was converted to steam propulsion for use as a private yacht owned by Lamont G. Burnham. Over the years, Pilgrim changed hands multiple times, serving various roles including a yacht for Wendell H. Wyman and later as a fishing vessel after refitting with new engines. Her home port shifted from Boston to Beaufort, North Carolina, after being purchased by Hugh C. Jones, and later operated by the Beaufort Fish Scrap and Oil Company. During World War I, the U.S. Navy acquired her under a free lease in mid-1917, commissioning her as USS Pilgrim (SP-1204). Assigned to the 5th Naval District, she patrolled the North Carolina coast, particularly in Pamlico Sound and Onslow Bay, until her decommissioning on 7 January 1919. After her naval service, she was returned to her civilian owners and continued operating, including fishing out of Mayport, Florida, during the 1920s and 1930s. Eventually, in 1935, Pilgrim was abandoned and repurposed as a breakwater at Harkers Point, North Carolina, where her hull was filled with concrete to prevent movement. Her remains still lie at Harkers Point, serving as a maritime relic that highlights her diverse maritime career spanning racing, private yachting, fishing, and military service.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.