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wo weeks. That’s the answer Paul Mascaro has been giving folks for years. The question: “When is your boat going to be ready?” For seven years Paul has smiled and answered “two weeks”.

“Double Up” on land at Broad Creek, Paul Mascaro’s live-aboard home of 7 years. A nearby utility shed provided bathroom, shower and storage facilities.

For those seven years Paul Mascaro’s boat "Double Up" has been on the hard – with Paul living aboard most of that time. After hearing "two weeks" for so many years, many of his friends simply assumed that Paul didn’t want to put the boat back in the water.

After all, Paul spent not just every morning at The Bean – but most every afternoon too. Many have mentioned that they spot Paul’s distinctive VW van in the HarborCam picture almost every day.

Both retired engineers, Ken Brandon and Paul Mascaro® are often seen comparing notes mornings at The Bean. Ken (like most others) didn’t initially believe Paul when he said he would launch in December.
(Keen TownDock observers may recall that Ken and Paul were also the models for TAIL magazine )

One mid-November morning Paul mentioned that he was going to put his boat in the water. Soon.

We were not instant believers. OK. Sure. We’ll see.

But Paul grew increasingly insistant. We called Triton Yacht’s Paul Welles to verify. "I’m trying to believe it myself" Welles said, "but we have got all the permits. He says he’s going to do it."

Lets start at the beginning

In 1991 Mascaro purchased a 37’ catamaran, built as a performance cat by designer Bill Kennedy in Maine. He named her "Double Up" – and initially brought her to Annapolis, then down to Broad Creek (a few miles north of Oriental) in 1993.

It wasn’t until 1996 that the "Two Weeks" period began – that’s when Paul moved the boat onto land.

The home of "Double Up" for seven years

He had purchased waterfront property on Broad Creek – and decided that would be where the rebuild would take place.

“The boat was floated to the shore of my property. I built a railroad out of 2 × 10’s and 2 × 4’s, attached lines to some stout trees, and then pulled the boat up onto land using the primary winches.”

Using winches designed to pull on sails, Paul got the 8,800 pound boat almost to where he wanted it. A bulldozer was brought in to finish the job and get the catamaran in place.

And so, for seven years Mascaro has worked on the boat. While some folks say he may not have worked at a rapid pace, Paul would say he worked at his pace. This is a man who feels no need to have his project meet others expectations.

As he puts it, “I do different things, differently”.

Mascaro has a background as a Mechanical Engineer. In a previous life he traveled literally all over the globe building textile mills. Those engineering skills guided him in this rebuild – which included:

• A raised cabin top to provide more light & living space

• New foam cored rudders

• Twin outboard engines with remote controlled engine lifts

• Wheel Steering

• A complex instrument panel

• Composting head

• A hard canopy / quasi-pilot house

• Even a custom built stainless BBQ

One thing that was not Paul’s priority was an outside paint job.

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We’ll show the distintive exterior finish in a moment. But back to our story….

On Friday Dec 12 Paul Welles and his Triton Yachts boat hauling crew arrived. The mission – pick up the boat….haul it to Oriental….and launch her at the Wildlife ramp.

This was not your normal boat yard boat haul. First problem – getting the truck to the boat.

Triton Yachts say they can haul a boat from almost anywhere.
This was a test – the crew had to chainsaw trees down so the truck could get to the boat.

Then the truck was backed under the boat.

She was then pulled out to near the road.

This was going to be a relaunch in stages. The hauling permits didn’t allow moving the boat right away. That would have to wait until very early Sunday morning – timed so hauling the wide catamaran (22 feet across) would see little other traffic.

Sunday

TownDock.net had negotiated exclusive media rights for the event (we owe Paul several cups of coffee). Ben Casey and Keith were the TownDock team – we met Paul and the trucking crew at the location off Straight Road. It was a very wet Sunday morning.

Under heavy rain the convoy began….

Hauling a 22 ft wide load means escort vehicles both in front and behind the main truck.

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Lead by the Pamlico County Sherriffs Department, the convoy made its way to Straight Road.

The catamaran convoy on Straight Road

We traveled with Paul in his VW van aft of the convoy. He wasn’t nervous – he was having a good time watching his little ship on the highway.

Turning onto Highway 55

The view from North Street as the convoy heads down Midyette Street

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The catamaran convoy arrives at the Oriental Wildlife ramp.

Straps are untied… (This photo also shows the distinctive "natural look" that Mascaro fostered for the exterior)

She floats….

Paul checks the helm

After launching "Double Up" the boat was brought under the bridge and over to the Town Dock.

A successful Town Dock docking earns a "9" docking score – Paul gives thumbs up.

Monday morning Paul was joined by Michael Projansky and George Benedict for a trip down Adams Creek to Jarrett Bay boat yard. Paul says they’ll paint it, but adds "no fancy shiny paint – just a work boat style paint job." He has a few other things for the yard to fix while it’s there too.

“How long will it be at Jarrett Bay?” we asked.

Paul Mascaro said with a serious demeanor, “it will take them about 30 days.”

We were stunned. We were certain he’d say “two weeks.”

Thanks to all who contributed photography for this article – Rex Bragaw, Ken Brandon and Ben Casey

Posted Monday December 22, 2003 by Keith N. Smith