Bluewater Assists in Motoryacht Delivery From Maryland to the Tennessee River

Jul 28, 2025 | Magazine | 0 comments

The first trip with a new boat is many times the most memorable, and this was certainly the case for Bluewater customer Kevin Boutin when he took delivery of his 2024 Elling E4 in the winter of 2025. His first outing was not the typical shakedown cruise to get familiar with a new boat, but was instead a 28-day voyage beginning in Annapolis, Maryland and ending on Pickwick Lake in northeastern Mississippi. The 2,000 mile trek comprised nearly a third of the famous Great Loop, crossing through eight states and multiple waterways, bays, and rivers throughout the journey.
Kevin Boutin relaxes on the aft deck of his Elling E4 with a wide smile, cruising under clear blue skies.
See this article in our Summer 2025 issue of OnBoard Magazine
Kevin’s search for a new boat began several years earlier, when he and his wife, Liliana, began looking for a full displacement trawler to replace their 39’ Kadey-Krogen. While searching, they came across the Elling brand, and heard about their reputation for building solid, quality boats, but decided it was not quite what they were looking for at the time. After a few years of deliberation, Kevin and Liliana ultimately concluded that they needed something faster than what was available in the full displacement marketplace, especially at their home port on the Tennessee River, where currents can surpass three knots and effectively bring a slow trawler to a near-standstill.

That is when the couple widened their search to semi-displacement boats and recalled their brief introduction to Elling. Built in the Netherlands, Elling builds a range of motoryachts from 45 to 65 feet, all of which meet ocean-going Category A standards for safety and stability. The brand also advertises their ability to self-right when capsized, giving owners peace of mind on extended offshore trips. The E4 features a cockpit with walkaround decks, a spacious pilot house, and a salon, galley, three staterooms and two heads below. Add an 18-knot top speed, and this was exactly what Kevin and Liliana were looking for in their next boat.

View from inside the pilothouse looking out onto the bow of the Elling E4 as it moves cautiously through dense fog
Snow-covered deck and bow of the Elling E4 docked during winter conditions in the Chesapeake Bay

Weather Woes: EOS encountered heavy fog in Florida and snow in North Carolina

Their search eventually led the couple to Bluewater Sales Professional Scott MacDonald, who had an Elling E4 listed in Stuart, Florida. Although this was not ultimately the boat for them, it introduced them to Scott and Elling’s U.S. Representative Jack Bolel, who eventually helped locate a practically new 2024 model located in Annapolis. Kevin and Liliana, with the help of Scott and Jack, had found the exact boat that they were looking for, and closed on it on New Year’s Eve.

In addition to the many standard features on the E4, their boat came with an upgraded 600hp Cummins engine, a 30hp Volvo backup engine, bow and stern thrusters, remote docking controls, and a set of Raymarine chartplotters. The boat even came with heated floors, which were especially useful when taking delivery in the dead of winter on Chesapeake Bay!

Stunning sunrise visible through the forward windows of the Elling E4’s pilothouse while underway

A New Beginning

Liliana selected the name EOS from Greek mythology. According to Kevin, “EOS was the ancient Greek goddess of the dawn, symbolizing new beginnings, light, and hope. We felt it was the perfect fit for the exciting new adventures on the water!”

The first trip aboard EOS was nothing short of adventurous, as Kevin hired Scott to serve as the captain on their month-long voyage from Maryland to northern Mississippi. They set off on January 19, 2025, heading south through the Chesapeake Bay, and eventually to the ICW. Kevin recalled some of the early stops in Eastern North Carolina, saying “One day we were battling three-to-four-foot seas near Belhaven… In Morehead City, temperatures plunged to 14 degrees, icing the entire town and leaving our cockpit buried under four inches of snow.”

After the front passed, Kevin and Scott experienced a nice break in the weather giving them the opportunity to run outside through portions of South Carolina. Some nights they visited marinas, while other nights they anchored out along the way. One night they dealt with such strong currents that holding anchor was a struggle, and they were forced to set alarms in case they started dragging away. “It kept me on high alert through the night,” said Kevin. Another highlight during this time was witnessing a Cape Canaveral rocket launch from nearby Titusville Marina.

Golden sunset reflecting on calm inland waterway, viewed from the side deck of the Elling E4 during the 28-day journey
Interior helm station of the Elling E4 with wooden wheel and Raymarine displays, framed by a vivid winter sunset outside

The next leg of the journey brought them to the Okeechobee Waterway, where they split the state of Florida, then moved along the Gulf ICW to Mobile Bay in Alabama. Near Florida’s Big Bend in Steinhatchee, they faced fog so thick that they had to turn the boat around and wait for skies to clear at a local marina. Once in Mobile, they picked up the Tombigbee River and moved north towards the Tenn-Tom Waterway and finally to the Tennessee River. Despite being much closer to their home port, Kevin and Scott were far from being home-free. “In Demopolis, AL, pounding rain and a tornado watch kept us pinned down, and the next day we faced a strong 2-knot current heading up the Tenn-Tom Waterway, dodging floating logs and branches the entire way,” Kevin recalled. The weather and current slowed their progress, but EOS finally made it home to Safe Harbor Aqua Yacht on Pickwick Lake on the twenty-eighth day.

EOS performed remarkably well during the long voyage with no mechanical issues along the way, which gave the owners complete faith in their new boat. The trip also bolstered the relationship between Kevin and his broker, Scott. “I’ll never forget my experience with Scott over our 28-day trip—it was truly once-in-a-lifetime. Beyond helping with the purchase, Scott was a fantastic teacher throughout the delivery, constantly sharing tips, insights, and hands-on knowledge, making me even more confident and excited to own the boat.”

Elling E4 moored at a dock, reflecting in calm, glassy water under a clear sky
Dramatic orange sunset over a city skyline viewed from the water during the Elling E4’s Gulf Coast leg of the journey

EOS now resides on Pickwick Lake in a covered slip near the border of Mississippi and Tennessee. Taking delivery of their new boat in the winter gave Kevin and Liliana ample time to research destinations and plan trips for the boating season. Their first trip is planned for May, and includes a run down the Tennessee River to Florence, AL, along with some extra stops around Pickwick Lake. When asked about their summer plans, Kevin said “From Pickwick Lake, we can easily reach various destinations— places like Chattanooga, Knoxville, Nashville via the Cumberland River, and Land Between the Lakes in Kentucky. Plus, since Pickwick Lake is part of the Great Loop, the destinations don’t end with just the ones I mentioned — the possibilities are endless!” The couple is also not afraid to venture out of the river. Liliana has her sights set on a trip to the Florida Keys, and Kevin wants to visit the Bahamas and possibly even a trip far north to Canada. With one extended trip already under his belt, the opportunities truly are endless.

Submit a Comment