Despite a blessing from a Vicksburg priest and more than a month of modifications to their homemade vessel, three rafters who journeyed more than 1,000 miles down the Mississippi and Missouri rivers failed Saturday to get the blessings of the U.S. Coast Guard.

The excursion from Missouri to New Orleans will have to wait for more work on the craft made of recycled refuse.

The trip by James Burkart, 24, Libby Hendon, 24 and Laura Mattingly, 25, was interrupted five weeks ago when Coast Guard officials boarded the craft north of Vicksburg and, citing safety concerns, ordered it off the river.

The unresolved issues were the main reason the group was not permitted to continue their trip Saturday, said Chief Warrant Officer Doug Chapman, who, along with three other Coast Guard personnel, inspected the vessel.

Chapman said the letter terminating the voyage, issued by the commander of the New Orleans-based 8th District, Rear Adm. Joel R. Whitehead, indicated the three things on the raft needed attention — steering, propulsion and a sagging bow. However, only one of those — the sagging — was addressed, he said. Chapman’s declaration of unseaworthiness came at about 4 p.m., after nearly eight hours of packing and prepping the raft.

The raft received an initial inspection at the Carriage House Apartments, 1215 East Ave., where owners Bill and Nancy Libbey had allowed it to be parked since being beached.

About 11:30 a.m., Vicksburg Police escorted the craft to City Front. After watching the raft maneuver in the Yazoo River Diversion Canal at City Front, Chapman said he didn’t feet it could safely navigate the busy lower Mississippi, which is filled with 1,000-foot-long barges. He said he feared the raft could pose a hazard to the rafters and others without a more robust propulsion and steering system. An outboard motor would meet both those requirements, he said.

Chapman, who has 26 years’ experience with the Coast Guard and on the water, said this is definitely one of the most unusual watercraft he’s seen. “We normally inspect commercial and passenger vessels,” he said.

In order to continue their trip, the group agreed late Saturday to install the outboard motor, allowing them to change course more quickly and with more precision.

Until being stopped, the only power the craft had was a paddle turned by two stationery bicycles.

The compromise with the Coast Guard was orchestrated in part by the group’s lawyer, Vicksburg attorney Kelly Loyacono.

“It looks like they will get away from here Monday,” he said.

While in Vicksburg, Hendon and Mattingly worked as substitute teachers for the Vicksburg Warren School District.

Burkart, Hendon and Mattingly met while attending the University of California-Santa Cruz. They started their river journey July 21 from Burkart’s and Hendon’s hometown of Kansas City. as part of an art project.

“It’s not so much getting to a destination,” as it is “experiencing the river,” said Burkart who is heading the project. “We just know the project is over when we taste salt,” he said.

Throughout the day Saturday, up to 30 people gathered at the City Front to watch the progress of assembling and testing the raft. They included Warren County Sheriff’s deputies, Vicksburg Police officers, passengers of the Sweet Olive tour boat, including a Boy Scout Troop from Tyler, Texas, and Cafe 61 owner Daniel Boone. .

Wayne and Ida Perteet of Sallis were in Vicksburg to enjoy their anniversary weekend. They were headed to embark on a tour on the Sweet Olive and noticed all the action. They both agreed that a day on the raft might be OK, but a voyage several months might be a bit much for them.

The Rev. Chan Osborn de Anaya of Christ Episcopal Church in Vicksburg was also on hand to watch and give her blessing. Although taking a trip on the raft piqued her interest, de Anaya said, “I think I’d like it for about an hour.” Before the group got onto the boat for testing, she read from the Bible.

“The Lord shall preserve you from all evil,” she read.