Dan Hansen grew up boating and fishing throughout the Pacific Northwest and knows the region’s unpredictable weather and rough seas well. Summers on Puget Sound shaped his childhood, and after college he and his father bought a 25-foot Bayliner that served him for more than 15 years of fishing and family outings. When it was time to upgrade, Hansen began looking closely at newer designs that could handle local conditions comfortably and safely.
He first noticed Cutwater’s smaller models at the Seattle Boat Show five years ago, but it wasn’t until the 2020 show that he saw the Cutwater C-32 Coupe and felt compelled to buy. “I saw the Cutwater 32 and thought it’s something I would really like to have,” he says. He and his partner, Jill Marilley, made a spur-of-the-moment decision at the show after reviewing the numbers and deciding the purchase was feasible.
Hansen took delivery of the boat on February 28, 2020. Within weeks the pandemic forced Washington state into lockdown and closed marinas, leaving him uncertain about the timing of his new investment. Those concerns quickly faded. “In hindsight, it was the best thing we ever did. You can socially distance very easily on a boat,” he reflects. When restrictions eased in mid-May, Hansen spent nearly every weekend aboard through September, logging about 200 hours in six months. Most of that time was spent fishing for lingcod, shrimp, salmon, halibut and crab, while family cruises with Marilley and his children provided downtime between trips.
The C-32 Coupe appealed to Hansen for its thoughtful, functional interior and solid value. He praises the finish and attention to detail, noting that the boat offers “a lot of bang for the buck.” The layout is intentionally flexible: the dinette lowers to form an extra berth, and beneath it sits a midship cabin with a porthole and reading light, a space where his son slept during summer weekends and a week-long Fourth of July outing. Along with the forward master stateroom featuring an island berth, the arrangement comfortably sleeps four and can accommodate up to five. The C-32 also includes a full galley, a second refrigerator and an electric grill—features that make family days and overnight trips more comfortable.
While the interior meets Hansen’s family needs, the boat’s sea-keeping and performance convinced him it was the right choice for the Pacific Northwest. He often crosses the straits to the San Juan Islands, where tides and winds can combine to produce 4- to 5-foot whitecaps. “I was impressed with the way the boat handles in that weather,” Hansen says. “I’ve never been scared, and I’ve always felt like I’ve been in control of the boat.”
The C-32’s capability comes from its hull design: a double-stepped, deep-V hull that gets the boat on plane quickly, paired with patented Laminar Flow Interrupters for smooth, positive cornering. Powered by twin 300-hp Yamaha F300 outboards, the boat can reach speeds in the upper-40-knot range and cruise comfortably at around 30 knots. For busy owners like Hansen and Marilley—both civil engineers—those speeds make it easier to get from Point A to Point B and maximize limited time on the water.
Hansen had planned a longer trip through Canada into Desolation Sound in 2020, but border closures kept him closer to home in the San Juans. He now has a longer cruise in mind for spring: a 150-mile run through the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the tip of Washington state to fish for lingcod and various bottom species, including Pacific halibut. Those waters are known for rough conditions and small craft advisories, yet so far Hansen hasn’t encountered seas the C-32 couldn’t manage.
Even in the off-season he enjoys the boat, thanks to a cabin diesel heater that makes cooler-weather cruising comfortable. While only a few Puget Sound boaters cruise year-round, Cutwater designs are built to handle all seasons—whether facing stiff winter chop or tied to a mooring on a warm July night as the family fires up the electric grill.
“The typical cruising season here starts in May and runs through September or October,” Hansen says, “but we intend to use the boat all year long.” For a boater who values safe handling, flexible accommodations and efficient performance, the Cutwater C-32 Coupe has proven to be a practical, enjoyable choice for Pacific Northwest waters.
Specifications
LOA (engines up): 39’10”
Beam: 10’0”
Draft: 33”
Displacement: 11,500 lbs.
Power: (2) 300-hp Yamaha F300 outboards
Fuel capacity: 300 gallons
Water capacity: 80 gallons
Base Price: $294,937