Kadey Krogen 58

Aboard the Kadey-Krogen 58, a 250-mile trip from Annapolis to New York City is a breeze, so to speak

The September afternoon we departed the Maryland shore to head north to New York was cool and clear. The wind was light from the southwest so Chesapeake Bay sparkled with flecks of orange as the sun set. From the look of the sky, the night passage north that lay ahead of us promised fair weather and a calm sea.

But that is not what we were hearing on the weather forecasts or via the weather downloads on our cell phones. Hurricane Hanna was working its way north along the Georgia coastline and blowing roofs of cottages and dogs off their chains. The question in our minds was, “Would it accelerate and pass over us before we got to New York? Or not?”

There is nothing like heading off on a long coastal passage, partly inshore and partly offshore, knowing there is a hurricane blowing not 500 miles away. No matter how calm the sky and the sea looks where you are, you always are looking over your shoulder and waiting for the 800-pound gorilla to thump you.

Our skipper John was not making a rash decision to head north with the hurricane behind us. We had plenty of bail-out options along the way and the forecast consistently had the storm slowing and turning east of New York. So, off we set into the September twilight with the 58’s twin, John Deere 158-horsepower engines purring in the engine room.

Built for Cruising
The Kadey-Krogen 58 is the flagship of the company’s line of displacement trawler-style cruising boats and it truly feels like a flagship underfoot. Kadey-Krogen is a leader in the trawler-yacht field and pioneered displacement designs a generation ago with the introduction of the Kadey-Krogen 42, a boat that combined the comfort and amenities of a motor yacht with the sea keeping qualities of a working trawler.

The 58 was a departure for the company when it was introduced because it was the first Krogen to come with twin engines and twin screws. While a single screw arrangement might be slightly more efficient than the twins (about 10 percent), the size of the 58 at 96,830 pounds displacement and its intended use for long-haul cruising makes the power and redundancy of the twins extremely attractive.

The design could be called an “Alaskan-style trawler” due to its high flared bow, attractive but businesslike sheer, large bridge with forward slanting windows and a flying bridge. The afterdeck is wide and open and will be a good aft cockpit since it is well protected with an overhead fixed roof. Going forward, the bridge is enclosed in an open working area with the outside steering station on the starboard wing. Access to the foredeck is via a door in the bulkhead, which leads to seats and an open lounging area. The massive windlass and chain lockers will handle two 60-kilo anchors on half-inch chain, so the 58 will be completely secure and self sufficient when exploring the back of beyond.

The flying bridge, which can be covered with a folding bimini top, gives the helmsman excellent visibility all around and will be the spot for steering in tight quarters when eyeballing the shallow channels of the Bahamas.

As you would expect from an ocean-going trawler, the 58 has been set up first with boat handling and seamanship at the top of the list. Lockers are well positioned for all the gear you need for mooring, anchoring, handling dinghies and other cruising toys and leading the outdoor cruising life. The 58 we were aboard had a large Nautical Structures crane mounted on the after deck of the flying bridge that can hoist and deploy a 1,200-pound dinghy.

Safety is obviously a high priority. The bulkheads all around are high and sturdy while there are plenty of handholds to grasp as you are working on deck. A bridge deck locker has been devoted to flares and a ditch kit while the life raft can be mounted nearby or down on the lower decks.

Kadey-Krogen knows the owners of the 58 will most likely take their boats to sea and will face a wide range of wind and sea conditions. All of the major hatches and doors on the boat are heavy duty Freeman models that will withstand the force of boarding waves and breaking seas. Windows are not overly large and thus less susceptible to wave damage and are constructed with tough frames and shatterproof glass.

The 58 inspires her crew with a lot of confidence. The design is sensible and solid, the boat’s construction is thoroughly modern without being lightweight, and its deck layout will be safe and secure for those working the boat in all conditions.

As we headed up the Chesapeake that night and then turned down Delaware Bay toward the open Atlantic, we were pleased we were aboard the 58.

Living aboard
At 58 feet, the Kadey-Krogen is large enough to be considered a motor yacht and certainly the fine finish and attention to detail that the builders put into each boat also qualify it for that label. But, the difference in the 58 and the rest of the Krogen line of boats is that they are intended for owner operators and not for owners who require teams of crewmembers. That makes all the difference. Instead of the 58 being a floating gin palace with cut glass mirrors over the beds, faux marble fireplaces in the cabins and acres of shag carpet under Chippendale furniture, the boat is a true couple’s cruising boat that has its roots deeply planted in the best tradition of the sea. The 58 may be elegant but it is at heart extremely practical and sensible.
The bridge is the command center of the 58 where the crew will spend most of its time while on passage or even while cruising. With open chart spaces on both sides of the wheel, there is plenty of room to spread our charts, cruising guides and the navigational stuff of passagemaking. From the raised seat at the wheel you have good visibility and command of all the data coming in from the ship’s navigational and engineering instruments. The dinette aft of the helm seats four and will be the place for most casual meals. The dinette also doubles as a good sea berth when on passage.

The saloon is large with a bench dinette to starboard that has a folding table that serves as either a coffee table or a dining table for up to eight adults. Two easy chairs are positioned to port; these can be drawn up to the table at dinner time.
The saloon flows naturally into the large galley just forward where you will find all of the kitchen amenities you would expect in a luxurious home away from home. The counter spaces are large enough for enthusiastic cooks and there is plenty of cabinet and fridge storage for long haul cruising. The appliances on the 58 we sailed were all top of the line and would make any owner proud.

Down a flight of steps to port lies the three private cabins and two heads. The first cabin to port is a study with a good desk and storage plus a comfortable single berth settee. To starboard lies a double cabin with twin beds and plenty of hanging and storage space for a couple visiting for a week or two. Forward lies the master stateroom with a centerline double berth with large drawers and lockers beneath it.

The master stateroom has its own head that can be accessed from both the hallway and the cabin. The two guest cabins share the second head. Both heads are large and have their own shower stalls.

The 58 is fitted out with handsome cherry furniture and veneers. The light color of the wood with the hand rubbed satin finish gives even the forward cabins a pleasant amber lightness that is warm and refreshing. The joinery throughout the boat is first class, yacht-style cabinet work. Hardware on doors and ports is all stainless steel and robust. Lighting throughout is both good quality and imaginatively placed for setting various moods and styles, whether at sea and passagemaking, entertaining a gang or settling in for a romantic evening.

Over the three days we were aboard, we found that the 58 is great for living aboard and its spaces have been designed for comfort, privacy, seamanship and elegant living.

BWS thoughts
On any vessel of this type, the engine room and the installation of the engines and all systems tells you a lot about the overall integrity of the yacht. The 58’s engine room, under the saloon and down three steps from the living quarters, is a work of art and it also draws a line under the fact that the 58 is more ship than coastal cruiser.

With diamond plate floors, massive steel engine beds, gensets mounted on raised pods where they are easy to work on and all filters, manifolds and engine accessories installed where you can see and work on them, this is an engine room fit for a mega yacht. Cruisers who know that regular maintenance of the engineering systems is the key to happiness at sea will take one look at the 58’s engine room and fall in love.

With the confidence inspired by the design, construction and engineering of the 58, we motored through the Cape May Canal the next dawn and then emerged into the Atlantic where we turned north toward New York. The hurricane was still behind us and dumping huge amounts of rain over the Carolinas. Off the New Jersey shore, the sea was relatively calm and the sky only tinged with high cirrus clouds.

With the engines turning over at cruising revs we were making 9.5 knots over the bottom and on schedule to arrive in New York well in advance of the storm. The ocean waves that were rolling in from the south told us that a storm was out there but with the stabilizers humming away, the 58’s motion was incredibly level and comfortable.

Hours passed as reports of the hurricane continued to show that it was indeed coming our way. Late that afternoon, we rounded Sandy Hook, motored into New York harbor and found a secure marina berth in Jersey City just across from the lights of Manhattan.  Even so, we kept thinking, “What would the 58 be like out there in a storm?” It would be exhilarating to find out but that’s a passage for a different time and a different crew. At the end of our passage, we were glad to be safe, sound and ensconced at a safe mooring in this luxurious and powerful passagemaker.

Kadey Krogen 48 North Sea •

In the fall of 2007, the annual gathering of the Kadey-Krogen clan saw 65 of their boats cruise into Solomon’s Island, Maryland, from parts near and far, and more than 250 Kadey-Krogenites (owners), plus friends and vendors raised their glasses at the evening soiree to celebrate the boat builder’s 30th anniversary.

Along the docks were moored examples of the Kadey-Krogen heritage, the venerable Kadey-Krogen 42—the boat that started it all— the 36-foot Manatee, the 39, the Whaleback 48, the huge 54 and 58, the new 44 and the 48-foot North Sea. The family resemblance among the fleet was distinct and every sheer line, every bow and every transom spoke the same salty language of the sea. These are seagoing boats. And, their owners are all likeminded seagoing cruisers whether they cruise the waterways of America or ply the oceans of the world. As you pass through the fleet you could see how much the boats have evolved and improved over those 30 years. The gathering of owners and affiliates in Solomon’s Island in 2007 was truly a family reunion. The extended family is comprised of folk from every walk of life, every profession and business. And they are based all over America and the world. But they are still a family since they share the fundamental values of true cruisers and of skippers who know the difference between a coastal cruiser and a blue water, displacement-hull voyaging boat—a true oceangoing home.

So when they gathered at the 30th anniversary party old friends greeted each other and new friends were made. Cruising yarns were spun and plans for the coming winter cruises south laid out. The music played and the dancing went on into the night. To every man and woman it was happily conceded that this was a clan to which they were happy to belong.

And it was all because they had chosen the same type of boats and because they all share the same core values about seamanship and boat ownership. Today it also means owning boats of the highest quality.

Inside the 48 North Sea
While the Krogen 42 was the boat that launched the company, the 48 North Sea is the boat that exemplifies just how far the boats have come in the last 30 years in the ongoing search for perfection in an offshore cruising trawler that suits the needs and desires of an adventurous cruising couple.

Styled by Kurt Krogen and designed by naval architect James S. Krogen, Inc., the 48 North Sea has a long 45-foot, five-inch waterline and a displacement of 56,450 pounds at half load. The dimensions show that the 48 is a true displacement cruiser. With 1,000 gallons of fuel aboard, the 201-horsepower John Deere diesel will propel the 48 nearly 2,000 miles at 8 knots; throttle back to 7 knots and you can cross the North Atlantic without refueling—3,020 miles.

With long legs and the comfort and safety of the displacement hull, the 48 North Sea also offers strength and engineering to stand up to the rigors of the sea. Built in Taiwan—where all the more than 550 Kadey-Krogens have been built—by Asia Harbor boat builders, who build only the Kadey-Krogens, the hull, deck and internal structures are of the highest quality.

All of the major pieces of the hull, deck and superstructure are molded in high-grade female molds for consistency and strength. The hull is hand laid fiberglass with a PVC sandwich core above the waterline and solid laminate below. The cored sections of the hull reduce weight while adding stiffness to the structure and vastly improving sound and heat insulation. The solid laminate below the waterline has two laminates of vinylester resin to prohibit blistering and two layers of Kevlar mat reinforcement—the same fabric used in bulletproof vests.

To keep the superstructure light and strong, the decks and vertical elements are all laminated using vacuum bag technology and interior cores, which also add both heat and sound insulation. The hull-deck joint combines mechanical fastening with polyurethane marine sealants. All superstructure parts are bonded with sealants and fastenings, too. And, all internal bulkheads, which are heavy marine grade plywood, are bonded to the hull, floors and superstructure. Bulkheads are also encapsulated in fiberglass for added strength and longevity.

The 48 North Sea has been built to live up to its name. The boat has the deep hull form, heavy displacement and rugged construction needed to stand up capably to the rigors of crossing an ocean or sea.

Handling a 48-footer around the docks, in channels and at sea all require different design details to provide the helmsman good visibility and good protection from the elements; and, the crew needs to be able to handle docking lines or ground tackle easily and safely. That’s why the deck layout of the 48 North Sea works so well.

The side decks are wide so you have excellent access fore and aft and side deck cleats and hawse holes are placed just where you need them. The aft deck has cleats and hawse holes in the right places and a large storage locker beneath the floor for lines and fenders. The foredeck is open for working with lines but the bulwarks and rails are high enough that you will always feel secure. Handling the anchor and tackle can be done from the pilothouse but if you are working on the foredeck you will find that letting go and retrieving the anchor (or anchors) will be easy and safe.

The engineering that makes the 48 North Sea a true cruising boat starts with the design and construction. But it also extends to the details of fitting out the boat. Of note should be the all-welded aluminum doors on the side and after decks that have been built to withstand an encounter with a boarding wave.

Also, the premium equipment that comes as standard plus the additional options define the quality and capability of the boat. John Deere propulsion and Northern Lights generators are top of the line, as are ABT hydraulic thrusters and stabilizers, Sealand VacuFlush toilets and CruiseAir air conditioning.

On the outside of the 48 North Sea you will see a handsome, rugged trawler that promises safe and comfortable cruising at sea. Inside, you will find all of the engineering and detail that gives the boat the capability to make that promise come true.

Living aboard
The philosophy behind Krogen trawlers has always been to build the best liveaboard cruisers in the world since both of the company’s founders dreamed of taking their boats to exotic cruising grounds far and wide. Today, owning a Kadey-Krogen also means that you are buying a premium luxury yacht that will hold its value or even appreciate over the years.

As we noted, the deck layout provides a lot of open spaces for working and lounging on deck. The interior spaces of the 48 North Sea have been created with the same commitment to spaciousness. When you enter the saloon from the after deck, you are struck by the acre of parquet floor, by the light from the large side windows and by the warmth of the teak.

With the galley just forward, the whole living space flows together into a whole that will be very roomy for a cruising couple or family. Or, if you want to throw a party, you can easily fit a dozen friends in the saloon with twice that many scattered about the rest of the boat.

The sleeping cabins and heads are down a short companionway going forward. These cabins—with several layout options available—are large and endowed with lots of convenient storage spaces, drawers and hanging lockers. The master cabin is huge and has a large centerline queen berth, bedside night stands and plenty of ventilation.

Up a few steps from the saloon, the pilothouse of the 48 is spacious and bright. The forward slanting windows, large side windows and centerline helm give the pilothouse the feel of a ship’s bridge. The settee and table will make an excellent place for the crew to gather while on passage and can double as a good sea berth during overnight runs. The nav station has ample room for storing and spreading out charts while the chart plotters, radar and other instruments can be mounted just forward of the helm where they will be easy to read.

The flying bridge and boat deck, which is large enough to mount a sizeable dinghy, make good outdoor spaces for running the boat and for lounging in the sun. In fair weather, this is where the crew will gather and many skippers will find the visibility from the bridge to be excellent when docking or maneuvering in tight spaces. Designed for family living in roomy, warm spaces, the 48 North Sea is large enough to be a really comfortable floating home, and well enough laid out to provide all the storage, tankage and amenities that most modern cruisers really want. 30 years of Kadey-Krogen The great cruising boats Kadey-Krogen builds today all serve the company’s core values of “capability, livability, cruising and value.”

These values did not appear out of a marketing text book but flow instead from the core values of the two men who founded Kadey-Krogen—Art Kadey and James Krogen—30 years ago. James was a professional naval architect and yacht designer who was known for his rugged, simple and elegant boats. Art was a yacht broker who was looking for a cruising motorboat with heavy displacement that would carry him to the South Pacific. The fruit of their first collaboration was the Kadey-Krogen 42, a boat that was seriously ahead of its time as a dedicated cruising trawler.
Today, the company is owned by three former Kadey-Krogen owners, all of whom are involved in the day-to-day operations of creating every one of the 18 or so Kadey-Krogens that roll down the ways each year. John Gear, president, and Tom Button, vice president of operations, are based at the Stuart, Florida, facility. Vice president Larry Polster is based in Annapolis, Maryland, where he provides a northern sales office. The company also has another sales office in Seattle, Washington.

These three owners are all boaters who believe in the lifestyle of cruising under power. They have all done it. They know that by constantly improving quality, innovating with design and technology and using top shelf marine gear and equipment they can build for their cruising owners boats that are as safe and seaworthy and as comfortable and spacious as any cruising boats in the world. And, they know that if they persist in the pursuit of quality their boats will become valuable assets to their owners and families.
Those 250 Kadey-Krogenites who descended on Solomon’s Island to celebrate their boats, the cruising life and the builders who make it all possible know that, too, which is why they danced so happily into the night.

Kadey-Krogen 48 North Sea
LOA 48’6”
LWL 45’5”
Beam 16’8”
Draft 5’0”
Displacement 56,450 lbs
Ballast (lead) 4,500 lbs.
Fuel 1,000 gals.
Water 400 gals.
Kadey-Krogen Yachts
Stuart, FL 34994
Ph: 772-286-0171
www.kadeykrogen.com

Kadey Krogen 55 Expedition •

While the popularity of trawlerstyle cruisers may seem a relatively recent phenomenon, Kadey-Krogen has been quietly and steadily building offshore-capable, displacement cruisers for three decades and has more than 550 boats out there exploring the world.

To celebrate their 30th anniversary, the company has commissioned and will launch a new model that is intended to carry her owners across oceans. With a 3,000-mile range, the new boat can truly voyage anywhere in the world her owners choose to explore.

There are several design details that make a Kadey-Krogen stand out among the trawler fleet. The design of the displacement hulls, first seen in the KK 42 launched in 1977, combines highly symmetrical hull form with a fine entry at the bow with a broad wine-glass transom. The result is a balanced hull that offers minimal resistance with a smooth and predictable ride. The company has coined the phrase “Pure Full Displacement” for the hull design. The hulls’ displacement-to-length ratios have been optimized to be as efficient as possible, which helps to extend their range while maximizing average cruising speeds.

The new 55 Expedition’s hull is a further refinement of this design approach. Powered by twin John Deere 158-horsepower diesels, the underbody of the hull has twin skegs to support the drive shafts and props. The skegs protect the props from flotsam and possible groundings and add a lot of directional stability. Whether powering in the flat water of the Intracoastal Waterway or running before a following sea on the way offshore to the Caribbean, the 55’s balanced hull and underwater configuration will provide truly stable and nononsense performance that will be reassuring to all on board.

The new 55 has a modern sheer and a graceful bow that is high enough to keep green water off the decks even in stormy conditions. The superstructure and pilothouse look salty and fit the hull shape nicely. The reverse angle windows on the bridge will shed rain water and spray and look purposeful. A good-size dinghy can be hoisted and stored on the after end of the upper deck.

All Kadey-Krogens have trilevel interior plans—pilothouse, saloon and forward cabins. The 55 Expedition is no exception. The enclosed pilothouse is large enough to double as a living space while the saloon offers ample room for family living and entertaining. The master cabin all the way forward is a spacious suite with a private head and plenty of storage. The guest cabin (or cabins) is just aft of the master stateroom and has its own separate head.

The new 55’s engine room will be the envy of the cruising fleet since both engines, the generator and all engineering systems are easily accessible for routine maintenance and repairs.

To provide the globetrotting cruising range, the new 55 carries 1,800 gallons of diesel, 520 gallons of water and 280 gallons of wastewater.

For those who are looking for a commodious floating home that has the design integrity, quality of construction and built-in systems to voyage the world, the new Kadey-Krogen 55 Expedition has a lot to offer. And, the new design comes with the added value of a 30-year boat-building history.

Kadey-Krogen Yachts
Port Annapolis Marina
7080 Bembe Beach rd.
Annapolis, MD 21405
Ph: 800-247-1230
www.kadeykrogen.com