Life is Good on the Krogen 44 - Kadey-Krogen Yachts

The Trawler & Ocean Motorboat MagazineJUNE 2005<strong>Life</strong> Is <strong>Good</strong>on theKrogen 44CELEBRATING OUR 10TH ANNIVERSARYFRESH STARTSPECIAL INSERTFOR SPRINGR<strong>is</strong>king Their Lives To Save YoursCome Aboard: American Tug 41

Krogen44A ThoroughlyModernInterpretation OfA Kadey-Krogen ClassicStory And Photography By Bill Parlatore

The Krogen 44Few people in our niche are unfamiliarwith the Krogen trawlers offered byKadey-Krogen Yachts. Since the late1970s, the company has continued tosat<strong>is</strong>fy a growing fleet of owners withthese capable, full-d<strong>is</strong>placement trawleryachts. The eager, cultlike following of Krogenowners <strong>is</strong> more along the lines of a large family, asall agree the liveaboard comfort of these boats <strong>is</strong>their most endearing feature.The Krogen 42 remains the most popular of theKadey-Krogen fleet, andsome 206 Krogen 42s werelaunched. They can befound in the PacificNorthwest, in Alaska, alongthe Great Circle Route andthe ICW, throughout theBahamas, and all along theU.S. coastlines. The 42 <strong>is</strong> asupremely competent cru<strong>is</strong>ingboat that remains a sought-after classic. Although it<strong>is</strong> capable of offshore passages, few use it that way,as the lifestyle of its owners <strong>is</strong> more about low-stressgunkholing than crossing oceans. It <strong>is</strong> a real<strong>is</strong>tic boatfor real<strong>is</strong>tic couples choosing to live on the waterand enjoy the many pleasures of the waterways.As I’ve commented before, the Krogen 42 lookshappy, with its jaunty angled foredeck and bow, andmost Krogen 42 owners agree that in addition toth<strong>is</strong> happy d<strong>is</strong>position, the boat has classic lines andprovides loads of usable volume for a 42-foot boat.Unfortunately, the Krogen 42 got too expensive tobuild towards the end of its run, as there were justtoo many molds required to build the boat. The costof retooling was not a viable option, so productionof the boat ceased in the late 1990s.In the years since, the Kadey-Krogen lineexpanded with a new model introduced about every3 years. Today the company sells a 39, severalvariations of a 48, and a 58. All share the capabilityand comfort that are core elements of Kadey-Krogen Yachts.The Krogen 39 was the company’s first step insignificantly ra<strong>is</strong>ing the quality levels in the Kadey-Krogen fleet, using higher-quality equipment,products and construction techniques. From gelcoatto tank material, the focus of the company <strong>is</strong> to takeproduction quality to a higher level in all areas. AndTh<strong>is</strong> cast plate provides sure footing when boarding overthe caprail just outside the pilothouse. Nice touch.th<strong>is</strong> effort has been successful. Compare any oftoday’s Krogens with an early model Krogen 42, andyou’ll see many differences behind that classic,happy profile.Several years ago, Kurt Krogen, president ofKadey-Krogen Yachts, recognized that the companyneeded to build or reintroduce a boat to replacethe Krogen 42, but he knew that simply buildinga newer Krogen 42 did not make much sense.After getting lots of input from focus groups madeup of owners with extensive experience on theoriginal, the companydetermined that a new 42would not be differentenough from the Krogen39. Many thought, though,that a slightly larger boatwould allow for a biggercockpit and permit a fixedhelm chair in thepilothouse, two featuresthat were identified by Krogen 42 owners over theyears as w<strong>is</strong>h-l<strong>is</strong>t items.With all of the above in mind, the design team—Kurt Krogen; h<strong>is</strong> marine designer brother, JimmyKrogen; and the folks at Br<strong>is</strong>tol Harbor DesignGroup—went to work. The result <strong>is</strong> the Krogen 44,a yacht that fits squarely between the 39 and 48.While it may initially appear that the new 44 <strong>is</strong> justa new version of the 42, the new Krogen 44 actuallyshares very little with its older s<strong>is</strong>tership. In fact,it <strong>is</strong> much closer in many ways to the Krogen 58,Kadey-Krogen’s flagship, and constitutes a seriousstatement of the company’s v<strong>is</strong>ion of superior qualityand craftsmanship.In fact, Kurt Krogen waited to produce th<strong>is</strong> yachtuntil production quality met h<strong>is</strong> sat<strong>is</strong>faction.“We wanted to make the quality changes first,then address production and support for our boatsand owners,” Kurt told me during my recent v<strong>is</strong>it toKadey-Krogen Yachts in Stuart, Florida. “We neededto totally revamp our production methodologies tora<strong>is</strong>e the quality of the end product. We understandthe need for improving our quality, rather thanfinding ways to simply increase volume.”To say he succeeded <strong>is</strong> an understatement. Thedifferences between the venerable Krogen 42 and thenew 44 are so vast that it <strong>is</strong> difficult to comparethem, beyond a similar profile. Every area of the boatThe eager, cultlike following of Krogen ownReprinted with perm<strong>is</strong>sion. Copyright 2005 © Trader Publ<strong>is</strong>hing Company (888.487.2953) http://www.passagemaker.com

The Krogen 44reflects improvement. Whilemost of the refinements are inequipment, constructionmaterials and advancedboatbuilding technology,other changes were made inthe design because they madesense. And according to LarryPolster, vice president ofKadey-Krogen Yachts, theKrogen 44 <strong>is</strong> built from onlythree molds, to simplifyconstruction and to eliminateseams and potential leaks.In all, the effort took 3 yearsto create, from Kurt’s initialconceptual design to thelaunch of the first Krogen 44,Number One, owned by MikeFord, who also owned thefirst Krogen 39. The new boat<strong>is</strong> faster, has more range and<strong>is</strong> a more integrated structuredue to the complex butsuperior tooling.I could l<strong>is</strong>t several pages ofchanges, but highlighting afew will give you an idea ofwhat I’m talking about. Theteak decks on the Krogen 42,much like all boats of thatera, were screwed down andthe holes bunged and sanded.Over time, these decks wouldwear, and leaks woulddevelop. Many trawlers havehad their decks refastenedand repaired due to th<strong>is</strong>building practice. Today’s teakdecks are glued down withoutmechanical fasteners, so theysuffer none of the potentialleak <strong>is</strong>sues. Th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> definitely acase of technology advancinga better, higher-qualityproduct.Instead of varn<strong>is</strong>hed-teak exterior doors that arerelatively high maintenance, the new Krogen 44features dogged, welded aluminum doors fromThe spacious aft cockpit, with ample room for comfortable seating, <strong>is</strong> a great space forentertaining. Notice the large lazarette hatch and the side door for boarding ease.Pacific Coast Marine. The difference <strong>is</strong> outstandingin every way, from improved weather protection toreduced need for maintenance.ers <strong>is</strong> more along the lines of a large family.Reprinted with perm<strong>is</strong>sion. Copyright 2005 © Trader Publ<strong>is</strong>hing Company (888.487.2953) http://www.passagemaker.com

The l<strong>is</strong>t of equipment upgrades <strong>is</strong> indeed quite long:Gebo tempered-glass windows, Cantalupi lighting,fuel fills recessed in a spill tray, integrated boat deckdrains, port and starboard bulwark side doors, double316L hawse cleats for two springlines, side deckhandrails, double anchor rollers, fore and aftshorepower, Exalto windshield wipers, full-size queenmattress in the master stateroom, Asko appliances,ergonomic stairs replacing vertical ladders….And those are just the obvious upgrades. Manyare more subtle, or inv<strong>is</strong>ible. The anchor lockeraccess from the master stateroom on the Krogen 42has been replaced by a Kevlar-reinforced coll<strong>is</strong>ionbulkhead with a watertight Freeman hatch on theforedeck for access into the chain locker. Kevlar <strong>is</strong>also used on the stem and stern to add a safetyfactor for real-world cru<strong>is</strong>ing.Another subtlety <strong>is</strong> the use of Awlgrip’s Griptexfor nonskid instead of the molded-in nonskid that sooften <strong>is</strong>n’t.And the older boats were built as base boats.Once they shipped to th<strong>is</strong> country from Taiwan,optional equipment—gensets, thrusters, stabilizers, airconditioning—was installed by the dealer. Today,everything <strong>is</strong> installed during initial construction atAsia Harbour Yachts in Taiwan. The resulting yacht<strong>is</strong> more integrated, more fin<strong>is</strong>hed. Only marineelectronics and the dinghy are left for installationstateside.Most of the above examples underscore a trend inthe industry to sell a more complete, ready-to-goyacht. Complementing a successful overall design,the new Krogen 44 <strong>is</strong> indeed more than the sum ofthese quality parts.If the Krogen 42 represented the essence of thelate Jim Krogen’s v<strong>is</strong>ion of a great cru<strong>is</strong>ing boat, thenew Krogen 44 <strong>is</strong> son Kurt Krogen’s idea of a highquality,contemporary cru<strong>is</strong>ing yacht with the sameKadey-Krogen features that make them greatliveaboards and good sea boats.Top: The purposeful foredeck <strong>is</strong> equipped to handle allanchoring chores with ease. Note the high railings and theFreeman hatch into the chain locker. Above: Fuel fills aretucked inside a molded box on the side deck, similar to theone found on the Krogen 58. Any fuel overflow will becontained in the box, which comes complete with adrawplug for easy cleanout.Let’s Go AboardOne of the first things I noticed walking up to theboat <strong>is</strong> the trademark rubrail that runs from thestern forward past the pilothouse. The rubrail on theKrogen 44 extends almost 4 inches away from thehull and really protects the hull from pilings and fueldocks. Located 36 inches up from the waterline, it <strong>is</strong>ideally placed to handle a wide range of dockingsituations. It even works as a step.(I can never understand why builders of cru<strong>is</strong>ingboats don’t see the tremendous value of a heftyReprinted with perm<strong>is</strong>sion. Copyright 2005 © Trader Publ<strong>is</strong>hing Company (888.487.2953) http://www.passagemaker.com

ubrail. Catamarans, especially, tend to lack th<strong>is</strong>important feature, although many trawler-style boatshave little more than a faint wh<strong>is</strong>per of a rubrail,sometimes not even standing proud off the caprail.It makes no sense to me at all. Don’t builders evergo cru<strong>is</strong>ing on their boats?)A 30-inch wide swim platform, complete with a21-inch-wide transom door, <strong>is</strong> one access point toget aboard. But the boat also has port and starboardbulwark side doors, an even more convenient way tostep aboard. With the side door open, the bottom ofthe step <strong>is</strong> right at the rubrail—again, 36 inches offthe water. That <strong>is</strong> perfect for floating docks. Formore extreme docking situations, such as HalifaxHarbour in Nova Scotia at low tide, there <strong>is</strong> moreaccess just outside the pilothouse doors, with a castKadey-Krogen scuff plate on the caprail, 66 inchesoff the water. Overall, these offer flexible andpractical access, especially for older retired couplesless agile than younger people, who don’t mind thetypical gymnastic acrobatics required on manyboats.Once in the covered aft cockpit, the security ofthe protected cockpit <strong>is</strong> all encompassing. Theperimeter bulwark ranges from 28 inches to over36 inches high. Combined with the overheadcovering of the boat deck, the cockpit <strong>is</strong> amarvelously protected living area from which toenjoy the world.The standard boat has teak decks in the cockpitand side decks, and the glued, 5/8-inch-thickdecking should last a very long time. Headroom inthe cockpit and covered side decks <strong>is</strong> a minimum of6 feet 8 inches, and around most of the cockpit, it’sconsiderably more.Other nice features are the ra<strong>is</strong>ed doublehawsepipe and cleats at the transom and amidships.When running springlines and stern lines whenthere <strong>is</strong> only one cleat, it <strong>is</strong> often necessary to putlines over top of one another. Having double cleatsmakes it possible to adjust one line without firsthaving to remove the line over top. It <strong>is</strong> a very nice,cru<strong>is</strong>ing-friendly feature.The cockpit <strong>is</strong> almost 7 feet long and 13 feet wideand <strong>is</strong> one of the areas of the boat that benefitsfrom the increased length of 2 feet. Ownersexpressed a desire for more area in the cockpit toexpand its utility when living aboard. A largelazarette hatch <strong>is</strong> held open by two pneumatic strutsto help in stowing bulky items, such as foldingbicycles and scuba gear, and the lazarette <strong>is</strong> the sizeof a basement.There <strong>is</strong> much to appreciate on th<strong>is</strong> side deck. Note the cleanteak decking; high, protective bulwark; stainless-steel handrail; two hawse pipe cleats; and overhead boat deck. Underway or at anchor, these decks offer security and ease foranyone moving around the boat. With well over 6 feet ofheadroom, even the tallest cru<strong>is</strong>ers are easily accommodated.Reprinted with perm<strong>is</strong>sion. Copyright 2005 © Trader Publ<strong>is</strong>hing Company (888.487.2953) http://www.passagemaker.com

The Krogen 44Moving ForwardSide decks are 19 inches wide down at your boatshoes, and there are sturdy stainless-steel handrailsalong the cabin side for moving forward safely atsea. Boat deck drains have been incorporated intothe aft fashion plate, with the drain exiting at thewaterline. Th<strong>is</strong> prevents the inevitable appearance ofblack streaks on shining gelcoat.Walking forward on the starboard side deck, Inoted the two fuel fills for the fuel tanks, recessedinto a spill tray to contain any overflow. Th<strong>is</strong> featurewas introduced on the Krogen 58.Climbing three steps brings us to the foredeck,which <strong>is</strong> coated with Griptex nonskid for securefooting. The angle of the foredeck <strong>is</strong> lesspronounced than on the Krogen 42, although Isuspect only the experienced eye of a Krogen 42owner would notice. With firm footing, walking tothe bow <strong>is</strong> very safe, and there <strong>is</strong> a superbly craftedLeft: A dressing bureauin the master stateroomand a large hanginglocker are good featuresfor a liveaboardcru<strong>is</strong>ing boat. Below:The master <strong>is</strong>land berthhas enormous storageunder, and lockersoutboard.stainless-steel railing securelymounted on top of thevarn<strong>is</strong>hed teak caprail,ranging in height from 31 to37 inches.A 9-foot-long bench seat(with storage underneath)gives a ringside seat for crewand guests in protectedwaters—such as checking outthe extreme estates that dotthe ICW’s more wealthycommunities, along LakeWashington, on GrossePoint, or along Vancouver’spicturesque waterfront.The forward shorepoweroutlets are in the center ofthe bench, which <strong>is</strong> 10 feetback from the bow.Kadey-Krogen <strong>is</strong> knownfor real<strong>is</strong>tic and competentanchoring gear, with dualbow rollers set far enoughapart to hold two differenttypes of large anchors in alarge, wide bow platformthat <strong>is</strong> well able to supportheavy ground tackle. AMaxwell 2200 windlass <strong>is</strong>standard, as <strong>is</strong> the chainstopper for the 300 feet of3/8-inch anchor chain.Reprinted with perm<strong>is</strong>sion. Copyright 2005 © Trader Publ<strong>is</strong>hing Company (888.487.2953) http://www.passagemaker.com

Above: The saloon as seen from the cockpit. Th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> the socialcenter of the boat, and with large windows, you feel you area part of the world around you. Most windows have screens.I can almost feel the breeze coming through the saloon whileanchored in parad<strong>is</strong>e, relaxing after diving for conch.Right: Steps up to the pilothouse have storage inside andnight lighting. Note the fabulous joinerwork of th<strong>is</strong> boat.Simply beautiful.As I mentioned, the watertight Freeman hatchprovides access into the anchor locker forward ofthe Kevlar-reinforced coll<strong>is</strong>ion bulkhead. The bowarea on th<strong>is</strong> boat <strong>is</strong> very shipshape.A ladder in the aft cockpit provides access to theboat deck and flybridge. While I’m no fan of thevertical ladder, on some boats it’s the only viablemeans of accessing the upper deck. The boat deckmeasures roughly 14 feet by 14 feet, an enormousfootprint for a sizable dinghy, kayaks, and othercru<strong>is</strong>ing essentials.The mast and boom are made in the United Statesand fitted when the boat arrives at Kadey-Krogen.As a unit, they have a lifting capacity of 800 pounds.The flybridge includes a centerline helm chair andtwo settees outboard of the helm console. As theboat deck and flybridge come from one mold, theReprinted with perm<strong>is</strong>sion. Copyright 2005 © Trader Publ<strong>is</strong>hing Company (888.487.2953) http://www.passagemaker.com

The Krogen 44flybridge/boat deck <strong>is</strong> a clean structure with nojoints and seams, a v<strong>is</strong>ible improvement in boatconstruction.V<strong>is</strong>ibility forward <strong>is</strong> good over the bow from theflybridge, with some restricted sight lines of crewworking the windlass or dealing with bow lines.But one would likely be operating the boat from thepilothouse in such situations, from which v<strong>is</strong>ibility ofanyone on the foredeck <strong>is</strong> outstanding.The InteriorA welded aluminum Pacific Coast Marine doorseparates the saloon from the aft cockpit. It <strong>is</strong> a largedoor, 76 inches tall and 32 inches wide, with dogs.I just loved the resounding clunk when I closed thedoor. It <strong>is</strong> the sound of quality.The Krogen 44 comes standard as a walk-aroundmodel, with side decks port and starboard. Kurtexplained some interesting compar<strong>is</strong>ons: As a walkaroundmodel, the saloon <strong>is</strong> about the same size asthat in a wide-body, the Krogen 42. The optionalwide-body Krogen 44 uses the side deck space onthe port side and the boat’s beam increase of 8inches to create the same saloon one finds on awalk-around Krogen 48.While I like the look and utility of the two sidedecks, I understand the liveaboard appeal of thewide-body layout. I suggest you spend time on bothmodels to decide for yourself which would workbetter for you.The saloon of the walk-around model <strong>is</strong> about 8feet long and 10 feet 8 inches wide. An L-shapedsettee on the starboard side has storage underneath,and the long side of the settee measures 6 feet.Yanking out the corner seat-back cushion adds tothe length, so even taller off-watch crew memberscan sleep when sea conditions drive them out of theforward living spaces.Large, screened windows that open really light upthe saloon. All are Gebo, tempered-glass units.Headroom averages 6 feet 10 inches in the saloonand galley, and a teak handrail runs down the centerof the saloon overhead. Not everyone will be able toreach it, but there are other choices for shorter crew.The sole <strong>is</strong> teak parquet.Across from the settee and its adjustable table <strong>is</strong>an open space that <strong>is</strong> perfect for a pair offreestanding Ekornes chairs.I’m a big fan of U-shaped galleys. Without havingto move around much, I can reach everything I needto cook a meal while tucked in a corner to work in aseaway. The downside, if any, <strong>is</strong> that cookingbecomes a solo sport, as there generally <strong>is</strong>n’t roomfor another unless both are engaged in staticactivities, such as peeling carrots.Somehow, the increased size of the Krogen 44translates into a bigger galley, enough to makedueling spatulas a real possibility. Another thing Inoticed <strong>is</strong> the opening port. On the Krogen 42,gazing out the galley’s opening port gave a viewright into the side fashion plate, making the portmostly useless except for ventilation purposes.Throwing scraps of food out the port to feed thef<strong>is</strong>h resulted instead in a collection of garbage on theside deck.Kurt made sure th<strong>is</strong> got fixed on the new boat.Now the 12-inch port allows you to look at thedolphins racing to dance in your bow wave.The galley measures 6 feet 6 inches long by 7 feetwide. The longest counter <strong>is</strong> a marvelous workspace 7 feet long by 26 inches wide, with a singlelarge sink slightly outboard of the middle, leaving agreat food-prep area.Reprinted with perm<strong>is</strong>sion. Copyright 2005 © Trader Publ<strong>is</strong>hing Company (888.487.2953) http://www.passagemaker.com

Above: The additional boat length really opened up the large galley. Note the opening port and long counter. Left: As all systemsare installed during the boat’s construction, the result <strong>is</strong> a cleaner installation of control panels and vents that seem betterintegrated into the boat’s interior and level of fin<strong>is</strong>h. Th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> how it should be done.A three-burner Force 10 propane stove and ovenare on the outboard end of the U-shape, with morecounter space on the forward end of the galley. ATundra refrigerator/freezer completes the U shape.A set of louvered cabinets extends 16 inches downfrom the overhead to complement under-counterstorage. Overall galley storage <strong>is</strong> excellent, and theoverhead cabinets don’t block the ability to remainengaged with crew in the saloon.Inboard of the galley footprint <strong>is</strong> the normal accesshatch into the engine room, similar to those foundon other Krogen trawlers. It <strong>is</strong> a large hatch with ashort ladder down into the space (with teak steps,not those goofy round rungs that are painful on barefeet). Three other hatches in the saloon open formajor access to all machinery in the engine room.Across from the galley on the port side <strong>is</strong> a set ofshelves and lockers that any Krogen enthusiast willrecognize instantly, with loads of readily accessiblespace for prov<strong>is</strong>ions, bottles, books, and other stuff.Th<strong>is</strong> abundance of storage space <strong>is</strong> a Kadey-Krogensignature feature. And the joinerwork <strong>is</strong> simplyoutstanding.Command CentralThere are four steps up to the pilothouse from thesaloon level. The steps are equipped with nightlighting, and the top of each opens to reveal storageinside.The Krogen 44 pilothouse definitely benefits fromthe increased length. It <strong>is</strong> 10 feet long from aftbulkhead to forward fixed windows, and 11 feetacross. What th<strong>is</strong> means <strong>is</strong> there <strong>is</strong> now room for aStidd or other high-end helm chair withoutrestricting movement around th<strong>is</strong> command center.Headroom averages 6 feet 5 inches.A ra<strong>is</strong>ed settee doubles as a watch berth andshould prove a great place to ass<strong>is</strong>t the skipper whenexploring new cru<strong>is</strong>ing grounds. The settee <strong>is</strong> a tadtoo tall on th<strong>is</strong> first boat and will be lowered a fewinches on the next boat. But it <strong>is</strong> one of the very fewtweaks Kadey-Krogen has identified for future boats.A lot of time went into th<strong>is</strong> new design for just th<strong>is</strong>reason.A full-size chart table with chart drawers <strong>is</strong> left ofthe recessed center helm console, and a matchingsurface with a deeper drawer <strong>is</strong> on the starboard side.Reprinted with perm<strong>is</strong>sion. Copyright 2005 © Trader Publ<strong>is</strong>hing Company (888.487.2953) http://www.passagemaker.com

The Krogen 44Above left: The clean and bright guest/day head. Above right: The desk and Pullman berth ofthe den/guest cabin. I would opt to replace the Pullman berth with several long shelves for theship’s office. There can never be enough practical storage space on one’s cru<strong>is</strong>ing home!The view from the inside helm <strong>is</strong> outstandingforward and to each side. Two rectangular, 16-inchwideports are on the aft bulkhead for a degree ofv<strong>is</strong>ibility astern. The 26-inch teak wheel <strong>is</strong> anotherKadey-Krogen tradition.None of the pilothouse windows open (so theydon’t leak, either), except the two aft ports, but thedogged Dutch pilothouse doors open out to the sidedecks. If you like the look and feel of a Kadey-Krogen pilothouse, you’ll love the one on theKrogen 44. It inspires confidence.Forward AccommodationsFour steps down from the saloon bring us to alayout that’s perfect for a couple. Immediately onthe port side <strong>is</strong> a full head with separate shower(with seat), a freshwater Vacuflush toilet, twoopening ports and an aft-facing vanity with sink andmirror. The liberal use of light-colored laminates,overhead lighting, and teak or cherry trim creates abright, clean-feeling head. The Corian vanity countermatches the Corian counter in the galley.Across from the large head <strong>is</strong> what Kurt calls theden, a space evolved over the years to serve as theship’s office, reading room, and occasional guestcabin. An L-shaped setteepulls out to become adouble berth, and a swingdownPullman berth overthe desk transforms theoffice into a grandchildren’sfantasy nookand bunk room.Given the fact that mostKrogen owners are retiredcouples who aren’t lookingfor regular and frequentcompany, th<strong>is</strong> den concepthas much to recommendit. I think it <strong>is</strong> a moreeffective use of space thana second dedicatedstateroom. In fact, I’d nixthe berth over the deskand add more shelves forbooks, printer, and cru<strong>is</strong>ingguides. The den does havelarge, fiddled shelves anddrawers and lockers,however, and there <strong>is</strong> alsoan engine-room accessdoor, complete withinspection port and outside light switch.Moving forward to the bow area along the25-inch-wide companionway, I found a stackedAsko washer and dryer just forward of the guesthead on the port side. From there, steps lead upinto the master stateroom.When Kadey-Krogen eventually offered an <strong>is</strong>landqueen berth in the master stateroom on the Krogen42, instead of a head in the bow and a custom bedfitted against the starboard side of the hull, thecompany and its customers never went back. So itwas no real debate on the layout of the master inthe new 44.The <strong>is</strong>land queen <strong>is</strong> central in the stateroom; theheadboard <strong>is</strong> a solid bulkhead (the coll<strong>is</strong>ion bulkhead,in fact). Under the mattress <strong>is</strong> a cavern of storage, plussix deep drawers for clothing. Th<strong>is</strong> stateroom offersh<strong>is</strong> and her hanging lockers, four 14-inch openingports and a large overhead hatch, all of which helpmake the cabin bright and inviting. And thewoodwork <strong>is</strong> lovely: Kurt told me the yard uses solidteak for all doors, and the only veneer <strong>is</strong> on bulkheads,which are carefully matched to look continuous.Several sole hatches open into separate bilges foraccess to the 228-gallon stainless-steel water tank,Reprinted with perm<strong>is</strong>sion. Copyright 2005 © Trader Publ<strong>is</strong>hing Company (888.487.2953) http://www.passagemaker.com

Above: Larry Polster drives the boat from a well-equipped andnicely designed pilothouse helm. Notice all the space behindthe Stidd chair for moving around, and the rugged aluminumDutch door out to the foredeck. Right: The settee in thepilothouse <strong>is</strong> great for watching the world go by. There’sstorage underneath, and space between th<strong>is</strong> settee and helmchair, both major benefits of the added LOA.Sealand waste pump, and air conditioningequipment. It <strong>is</strong> all very well thought out. It <strong>is</strong> justthe thing for folks living aboard for extended periods.The Holy PlaceFrom any access point into the engine room, Ifound 45 inches of headroom in the engine spaceunder the saloon. Giving the boat the standingheadroom enjoyed on the Krogen 39 would haverequired ra<strong>is</strong>ing the profile of the boat, somethingKurt was loath to do. But as I spent time sitting inthe space, the lack of clutter makes moving aroundless of a chore than it might seem at first.The single John Deere 6068TFM <strong>is</strong> in the middleof the engine room, with 30 inches of passable spacebetween the engine and the two aluminum 5052-Reprinted with perm<strong>is</strong>sion. Copyright 2005 © Trader Publ<strong>is</strong>hing Company (888.487.2953) http://www.passagemaker.com

The Krogen 44Main fuel filters and valves just inside the engine-room access hatch are within easy reach.alloy fuel tanks (with sight gauges) that are locatedoutboard of the engine.The diesel <strong>is</strong> mated to a Twin D<strong>is</strong>c MG5061 3:1reduction gear, attached to a 2-inch Aquametpropeller shaft that runs through a dripless Tidesshaft seal to turn the four-blade, 28-inch-by-18-inchnibral propeller.Extensive sound-deadening insulation (fromSoundown) <strong>is</strong> used in the engine room to reducesound transm<strong>is</strong>sion into the living areas, and aCentex muffler <strong>is</strong> standard.Dual switchable Racor 75-900FG fuel filter/waterseparators with a vacuum gauge are located justinside the access door in the den. A smaller Racor500FG filter for the Northern lights genset <strong>is</strong>mounted on the port fuel tank.And now I must digress for a moment.Using the Racor FG series filters—for whateverreason—<strong>is</strong> just plain wrong. Even though I see themon most boats built in Taiwan, China, the UnitedStates, and Canada, it <strong>is</strong> the wrong filter, and theresimply <strong>is</strong> no reason to use it. The FG series filtersare designed for the on- and off-highway marketsand lack several important features that comestandard on Racor’s MA (Marine Application)Turbine series filters.A Racor 900MA unit <strong>is</strong>different in several respects. Ithas a stainless-steel heatdeflector shield around aclear bowl with a metal drainfitting, unlike the plastic drainon the FG. The bowl of theFG series <strong>is</strong> amber to providesome level of UV protection,which makes it much harderto see contaminates.Although UV protection maybe a useful feature on a truckor a farm tractor, it addsnothing in the engine roomof a trawler yacht.I just don’t get whybuilders do th<strong>is</strong>, as thedifference in cost <strong>is</strong> minimal.In any case, if a vessel soequipped were inspected bythe Coast Guard forcommercial operation, itwould fail. The FG series <strong>is</strong> not approved for marineapplications. Simply retrofitting a heat deflectorshield on an FG filter does not meet Coast Guardapproval either, according to PMM ’s technicaleditor, Steve D’Antonio.Another common practice <strong>is</strong> the use of copperfuel lines. Copper lines have several d<strong>is</strong>advantages,which we’ve d<strong>is</strong>cussed before, so I’m happy toreport that Larry Polster told me the company <strong>is</strong>indeed working on upgrading the fuel system to useTrident fire-rated fuel hose in the future.Improvements in technology, when properly appliedin boatbuilding, increase the vessel’s safety factor.Fire-rated fuel hose <strong>is</strong> a perfect example of a changewhose time has come.A 160-amp Balmar alternator, which can be usedto charge the boat’s four house batteries (<strong>Life</strong>lineAGM GPL-8L rated at 255Ah each), <strong>is</strong> mounted onthe Deere engine. The main starting battery <strong>is</strong>another AGM GPL-8L. A Heart Interfacecharger/inverter manages the system. One morething I’ll just mention: The master battery switchesare mounted in the engine room above each bank, adefinite safety no-no, and yet another commonbuilding practice. In the event of an engine-roomfire, it <strong>is</strong> critical to turn these switches off, yet it <strong>is</strong>The lifestyle of its owners <strong>is</strong> more aboutReprinted with perm<strong>is</strong>sion. Copyright 2005 © Trader Publ<strong>is</strong>hing Company (888.487.2953) http://www.passagemaker.com

Above: The Krogen 44 engine room, as seen from the den’saccess door, <strong>is</strong> uncluttered and open; everything <strong>is</strong> v<strong>is</strong>ibleand accessible. Right: The main engine-room access hatch <strong>is</strong>well supported when open and allows a civilized way tocheck fluids and perform other engine-room tasks. Severalother hatches in the saloon lift for full access to all machinery.often deadly to go into a burning engine room filledwith toxic fumes to do so.But again, Larry Polster told me that Tom Button,Kadey-Krogen’s VP of operations, <strong>is</strong> already workingon a more suitable location for these switches, out ofthe engine room. Th<strong>is</strong> brings up another importantingredient of th<strong>is</strong> story: Every minor comment I hadduring my time on the boat was duly noted andd<strong>is</strong>cussed with a great deal of enthusiasm. Kurt,Larry, and Tom are not kidding about pursuing ahigher-quality boat, and each appreciated honestobservations. It <strong>is</strong> most impressive—and not all thatcommon, in my experience.There <strong>is</strong> a freshwater washdown just behind theNorthern Lights genset, which can be matched tospecific owner requirements: 6kW, 8kW, 10kW, and12kW cover the bases of electrical needs.low-stress gunkholing than crossing oceans.Reprinted with perm<strong>is</strong>sion. Copyright 2005 © Trader Publ<strong>is</strong>hing Company (888.487.2953) http://www.passagemaker.com

The Krogen 44All major systems and maintenance points on theKrogen 44 engine room are out in the open, nothidden behind panels. And reaching down understringer and limber holes, I found no ugly seams ofragged fiberglass, but rather, sanded, resin-sealededges.Nearly 100 percent of today’s Krogens comeequipped with stabilizers, not so much for stability asfor reducing the d<strong>is</strong>comfort of rolling at sea. Althoughsome serious passages, including a transatlantic trip,have been made on these boats without activestabilizers, th<strong>is</strong> lifestyle <strong>is</strong> all about comfort.How It All Fits TogetherI had the opportunity go out in some sloppyoffshore weather with Larry on Number One and seefirsthand how the boat handles and what it feels liketo move about the 44-footer under way. At hercru<strong>is</strong>ing speed of 8.5 knots, the Deere set at 1850rpm, I measured 70dBA in the saloon (cockpit doorclosed), 66dBA in the pilothouse, 67dBA in themaster stateroom (with the door closed) and 99dBAin the engine room. These measurements weretaken with air conditioning and genset off.Walking the side decks, and even at the bow, Ifound the handholds and railings just at the rightplaces and and at the right height.Leaving St. Lucie Inlet, we entered the confusedseas of the offshore coast. The stabilizers kept theboat under control, and we simply handled the seaswith ease. Kadey-Krogen knows something aboutbuilding a good seaboat, even if most Krogenowners prefer quieter waters.The new Krogen 44 <strong>is</strong> the latest to join theKadey-Krogen fleet of full-d<strong>is</strong>placement cru<strong>is</strong>ingboats, which have proved to be comfortableliveaboard trawlers for a full generation of trawlerowners. With a higher level of quality now servingas the benchmark of the company, I bet we’llcontinue to see ongoing improvements that make agood boat even better.I think it <strong>is</strong> a happy, comfortable, well-built boat. Itdoes not try to be everything to everyone, but it’sperfect for those who fit its character. While mycurrent life remains a journey at higher-thand<strong>is</strong>placementspeeds, at some point I’ll have theluxury to slow down. And that <strong>is</strong> prec<strong>is</strong>ely where, inlife’s journey, Kadey-Krogen comes in.While th<strong>is</strong> new trawler <strong>is</strong> a refinement of a classic,in every way it <strong>is</strong> a hugely improved moderninterpretation of the late Jim Krogen’s own Krogen42, Huckleberry. H<strong>is</strong> son Kurt <strong>is</strong> the driving forcebehind th<strong>is</strong> latest creation, and I imagined a certaindestiny unfolding when I learned Kurt has reserved aslot in the building schedule for a 44 of h<strong>is</strong> own. Thatsays it all; the circle will soon be complete.Congratulations, Kadey-Krogen Yachts. You hitthe mark. And I hope to one day anchor in thosesame clear waters not far off your stern, Kurt, whenmy time has come—to wiggle my toes in the warmsands of parad<strong>is</strong>e.KADEY-KROGEN 44LOA 49' 0"LWL 40' 11"BEAM 15' 6"DRAFT 4' 7"DISPLACEMENT43,140 LBS.FUEL CAPACITY850 U.S. GAL.WATER CAPACITY300 U.S. GAL.BASE PRICE $645,000FOR MORE INFORMATION:290 N. DIXIE HWY., STUART, FLORIDA, 34994800.247.1230, 772.286.0171 KADEYKROGEN.COMReprinted with perm<strong>is</strong>sion. Copyright 2005 © Trader Publ<strong>is</strong>hing Company (888.487.2953) http://www.passagemaker.com