US businessman Paul Hochhauser knew early on that boating was for him, but now the whole family is enjoying his new Ferretti Carbon Copy
When I was building my business I was on call all the time. A friend invited me out one Sunday afternoon on Long Island Sound in his 6.09 metre boat; I forgot all about the business and just enjoyed myself. Then his uncle took me out on his 8.22 metre boat and once again I felt so relieved. It didn’t take much to persuade me that boating was for me. I wound up buying my first boat, a 6.4 metre Trojan with a 75hp outboard; it had a stand-up head and a place for the kids to take a nap. That was 50 years ago.
My first yacht was a 13.41 metre Hatteras, which I had for several years, but my favourite was a 23.46 metre Hatteras motor yacht that I kept for about 10 years. My previous Carbon Copy, a 30.78 Hargrave, is now for sale, and now we have this beautiful new 30.48 metre Ferretti. But I had a lot of other boats in between before I could make this happen.
We are keeping the name Carbon Copy. My father initially was in the coal business; our company was called Carbo and there was a good grain of coal called carbon, so we just named the boat Carbon Copy to make it sound good.
We went to Italy last summer and saw the boat under construction. What sold me was the master stateroom on the main deck. We added some closets, just small details really to make it work for us. My wife, Judy, is still trying to figure out this fast, sleek Ferretti, but I always had a desire for one, so during the pandemic I decided to go for it. The boat has four staterooms plus the master; however, we have six children, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, so when we bring along the whole family, we have to get hotel rooms. Whoever is available, we invite for the weekend and we go cruising. We water ski and do all the activities that kids love.
A trip to Nantucket with the whole family is a very special memory. We anchored out, went swimming, and the kids sent down a big inflatable plastic swan that became the platform for the week. One of our favorite spots is Portland, Maine; it has the best food, and Wentworth by the Sea in New Hampshire has an excellent marina. Another favorite cruising ground is the Exumas for the crystal-clear water and the proximity of the islands. It’s just beautiful, the natives are friendly and it rubs off. We plan on keeping the boat in Boca (Raton) where we live in winter and then at the Sag Harbor Yacht Club where I am a member. I haven’t told the members yet, keeping it a little bit of a surprise. We plan to do a shakedown cruise to Ocean Reef, and hopefully go to the Virgin Islands and the Bahamas for the winter.
Boating has become a family affair. After my son and I sold the fuel business, he had an opportunity to buy Ocean Bay Marina in Merrick, New York; it wasn’t planned but boating is a part of our life now. My grandchildren pull in the lines, they help wash down the boat; the whole family hangs out together, it’s a wonderful life.
This article is taken from the February 2022 issue of BOAT International. Get this magazine sent straight to your door, or subscribe and never miss an issue.
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