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

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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
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Page 4 and 5: The Krogen 44Few people in our nich
Page 6 and 7: The list of equipm
Page 8 and 9: The Krogen 44Moving ForwardSide dec
Page 12 and 13: The Krogen 44Above left: The clean
Page 14 and 15: The Krogen 44Main fuel filters and
Page 16: The Krogen 44All major systems and

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

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