Tacoma man’s been working on his dream catamaran for 17 years. He’s almost finished
Hugo Beutel was in a retrospective mood.
“Me and a friend of mine, we got the idea of maybe getting into the building of catamarans, power and sail,” Beutel said through a thick beard and even thicker New York accent Friday morning.
“It just didn’t work out that way,” the 57-year-old marine industry veteran then added, matter of factly.
That’s Beutel’s story in a nutshell.
But only part of it.
To be fair, Beutel did build exactly one custom, nearly 40-foot long, 22-foot wide sailing catamaran, by hand, its two hulls and underside painted an unmistakable shade of bright yellow.
It took 17 years.
Sure, the vessel — which goes by the name Casa Del Sol — isn’t finished yet. But it’s close.
On Friday, it was tucked snug inside Beutel’s Dome District shop, HJB Marine, as it has been since the beginning.
While the making-a-business-out-of-it part didn’t exactly pan out, Beutel acknowledged, he does have something to show for it.
The catamaran has been a passion project for him, on the side, and a work in progress since shortly after 9/11.
The former Marine, who got into boat work somewhat by chance at 24 and moved to the Pacific Northwest in the late 1980s, started shaping the first hull in late December 2001. To pay the bills, he owns and operates a one-man shop repairing and servicing many of the pricey yachts you see cruising the waterfront
“This will be the first one and the last one. I’m getting too old,” Beutel said of his one-of-a-kind catamaran, tugging at his coveralls like suit lapels.
“It was one of those dreams you have,” he said. “It’s one of the things on the bucket list.”
When Beutel’s catamaran is dropped into the water for the first time — which he expects to happen later this month or in early February — there’s little question he will have earned checking the sizable dream off that list. The hours he’s spent after work and on Saturdays would be nearly impossible to tally, the dollars spent sobering.
Beutel has endured business challenges, personal challenges and recessions along the way, he said, never giving up on the vessel he set his eye on because of its unique sleek look, speed and comfort.
Why keep going?
“Why not?” he simply said.
“If you work in the boating industry, you have to be nuts, you know? That’s the thing. You gotta be crazy, especially when you want to build one,” Beutel explained. “Then you’re even crazier yet.”
Objectively, Beutel didn’t appear unhinged or unreasonable Friday morning, but he did look a little nervous — and for good reason.
He was preparing his massive catamaran to be hoisted onto an even more massive truck and driven down Pacific Avenue and onto Route 509.
Early Saturday, at 5 a.m., the watercraft would be headed out into the world for the first time, accompanied by police and civilian escorts for safety.
The boat is destined for a new home at a boatyard five miles away along Marine View Drive.
“It’s the width,” Beutel explained of the early-morning production, which requires special permits and will cost “10 grand,” he said.
“There’s a lot of idiots out there. I’m afraid someone will hit it,” he explained of his fears.
“This is my blood sweat and tears, you know?”
Though moving the boat now wasn’t necessarily by choice — Beutel said he’s parting with his landlord and leaving his longtime shop location — he also realizes it’s a pretty big step toward achieving his ultimate goal as far as the catamaran is concerned.
The move has forced his hand, and in truth, he knows his boat is so close to being on the water that now he can practically feel it beneath him.
Ultimately, as has always been the plan, Beutel said he plans to sell his handmade catamaran.
Some day, anyway. All that’s left is the interior work and some touch-ups.
It’s a prospect he acknowledged is going to be tough, like “losing a family member, your dog, your pet, you know?” he said.
First, however, Beutel has other plans.
“I would love to take it for a ride,” he said, finding a brief sliver of sun sneaking into his shop and allowing himself to daydream.
“I’m gonna go cruise it down Johnny’s Dock over there. … I’m going to put right in front of them, so you can’t miss it,” he said with a smile. “I’m gonna put down the waterfront, all the way down to Ruston Way, all the way down to Gig Harbor.”
“Like I said,” Beutel added, “it’s fulfilling my dream.”
At long last.
So happy sailing, Hugo.
Hopefully, soon.
