The replica of the ship that brought the Pilgrims to America is ready to begin a six-month restoration project.

Plimoth Plantation, which owns the Mayflower II, says the ship will depart from Plymouth harbor Friday afternoon for the Mystic Seaport in Connecticut. The 57-year-old ship will be pulled by a tugboat.

Plans call for the ship to arrive in Mystic on Sunday, after stops in New Bedford and New London, Connecticut.

If the repairs go on schedule, the Mayflower II will be back in Plymouth in May for the summer tourist season. But seaport officials have said it could return to Mystic for additional work over the next two winters to get it in shape to sail in 2020, the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims' arrival.

More From WBSM-AM/AM 1420