The <strong>Krogen</strong> <strong>44</strong>Above left: The clean and bright guest/day head. Above right: The desk and Pullman berth of<strong>the</strong> den/guest cabin. I would opt to replace <strong>the</strong> Pullman berth with several l<strong>on</strong>g shelves for <strong>the</strong>ship’s office. There can never be enough practical storage space <strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong>e’s cru<str<strong>on</strong>g>is</str<strong>on</strong>g>ing home!The view from <strong>the</strong> inside helm <str<strong>on</strong>g>is</str<strong>on</strong>g> outstandingforward and to each side. Two rectangular, 16-inchwideports are <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> aft bulkhead for a degree ofv<str<strong>on</strong>g>is</str<strong>on</strong>g>ibility astern. The 26-inch teak wheel <str<strong>on</strong>g>is</str<strong>on</strong>g> ano<strong>the</strong>r<strong>Kadey</strong>-<strong>Krogen</strong> traditi<strong>on</strong>.N<strong>on</strong>e of <strong>the</strong> pilothouse windows open (so <strong>the</strong>yd<strong>on</strong>’t leak, ei<strong>the</strong>r), except <strong>the</strong> two aft ports, but <strong>the</strong>dogged Dutch pilothouse doors open out to <strong>the</strong> sidedecks. If you like <strong>the</strong> look and feel of a <strong>Kadey</strong>-<strong>Krogen</strong> pilothouse, you’ll love <strong>the</strong> <strong>on</strong>e <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong><strong>Krogen</strong> <strong>44</strong>. It inspires c<strong>on</strong>fidence.Forward Accommodati<strong>on</strong>sFour steps down from <strong>the</strong> salo<strong>on</strong> bring us to alayout that’s perfect for a couple. Immediately <strong>on</strong><strong>the</strong> port side <str<strong>on</strong>g>is</str<strong>on</strong>g> 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 <strong>the</strong> Corian counter in <strong>the</strong> galley.Across from <strong>the</strong> large head <str<strong>on</strong>g>is</str<strong>on</strong>g> what Kurt calls <strong>the</strong>den, a space evolved over <strong>the</strong> years to serve as <strong>the</strong>ship’s office, reading room, and occasi<strong>on</strong>al guestcabin. An L-shaped setteepulls out to become adouble berth, and a swingdownPullman berth over<strong>the</strong> desk transforms <strong>the</strong>office into a grandchildren’sfantasy nookand bunk room.Given <strong>the</strong> fact that most<strong>Krogen</strong> owners are retiredcouples who aren’t lookingfor regular and frequentcompany, th<str<strong>on</strong>g>is</str<strong>on</strong>g> den c<strong>on</strong>cepthas much to recommendit. I think it <str<strong>on</strong>g>is</str<strong>on</strong>g> a moreeffective use of space thana sec<strong>on</strong>d dedicatedstateroom. In fact, I’d nix<strong>the</strong> berth over <strong>the</strong> deskand add more shelves forbooks, printer, and cru<str<strong>on</strong>g>is</str<strong>on</strong>g>ingguides. The den does havelarge, fiddled shelves anddrawers and lockers,however, and <strong>the</strong>re <str<strong>on</strong>g>is</str<strong>on</strong>g> alsoan engine-room accessdoor, complete withinspecti<strong>on</strong> port and outside light switch.Moving forward to <strong>the</strong> bow area al<strong>on</strong>g <strong>the</strong>25-inch-wide compani<strong>on</strong>way, I found a stackedAsko washer and dryer just forward of <strong>the</strong> gues<strong>the</strong>ad <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> port side. From <strong>the</strong>re, steps lead upinto <strong>the</strong> master stateroom.When <strong>Kadey</strong>-<strong>Krogen</strong> eventually offered an <str<strong>on</strong>g>is</str<strong>on</strong>g>landqueen berth in <strong>the</strong> master stateroom <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Krogen</strong>42, instead of a head in <strong>the</strong> bow and a custom bedfitted against <strong>the</strong> starboard side of <strong>the</strong> hull, <strong>the</strong>company and its customers never went back. So itwas no real debate <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> layout of <strong>the</strong> master in<strong>the</strong> new <strong>44</strong>.The <str<strong>on</strong>g>is</str<strong>on</strong>g>land queen <str<strong>on</strong>g>is</str<strong>on</strong>g> central in <strong>the</strong> stateroom; <strong>the</strong>headboard <str<strong>on</strong>g>is</str<strong>on</strong>g> a solid bulkhead (<strong>the</strong> coll<str<strong>on</strong>g>is</str<strong>on</strong>g>i<strong>on</strong> bulkhead,in fact). Under <strong>the</strong> mattress <str<strong>on</strong>g>is</str<strong>on</strong>g> a cavern of storage, plussix deep drawers for clothing. Th<str<strong>on</strong>g>is</str<strong>on</strong>g> stateroom offersh<str<strong>on</strong>g>is</str<strong>on</strong>g> and her hanging lockers, four 14-inch openingports and a large overhead hatch, all of which helpmake <strong>the</strong> cabin bright and inviting. And <strong>the</strong>woodwork <str<strong>on</strong>g>is</str<strong>on</strong>g> lovely: Kurt told me <strong>the</strong> yard uses solidteak for all doors, and <strong>the</strong> <strong>on</strong>ly veneer <str<strong>on</strong>g>is</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> bulkheads,which are carefully matched to look c<strong>on</strong>tinuous.Several sole hatches open into separate bilges foraccess to <strong>the</strong> 228-gall<strong>on</strong> stainless-steel water tank,Reprinted with perm<str<strong>on</strong>g>is</str<strong>on</strong>g>si<strong>on</strong>. Copyright 2005 © Trader Publ<str<strong>on</strong>g>is</str<strong>on</strong>g>hing Company (888.487.2953) http://www.passagemaker.com
Above: Larry Polster drives <strong>the</strong> boat from a well-equipped andnicely designed pilothouse helm. Notice all <strong>the</strong> space behind<strong>the</strong> Stidd chair for moving around, and <strong>the</strong> rugged aluminumDutch door out to <strong>the</strong> foredeck. Right: The settee in <strong>the</strong>pilothouse <str<strong>on</strong>g>is</str<strong>on</strong>g> great for watching <strong>the</strong> world go by. There’sstorage underneath, and space between th<str<strong>on</strong>g>is</str<strong>on</strong>g> settee and helmchair, both major benefits of <strong>the</strong> added LOA.Sealand waste pump, and air c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>ingequipment. It <str<strong>on</strong>g>is</str<strong>on</strong>g> all very well thought out. It <str<strong>on</strong>g>is</str<strong>on</strong>g> just<strong>the</strong> thing for folks living aboard for extended periods.The Holy PlaceFrom any access point into <strong>the</strong> engine room, Ifound 45 inches of headroom in <strong>the</strong> engine spaceunder <strong>the</strong> salo<strong>on</strong>. Giving <strong>the</strong> boat <strong>the</strong> standingheadroom enjoyed <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Krogen</strong> 39 would haverequired ra<str<strong>on</strong>g>is</str<strong>on</strong>g>ing <strong>the</strong> profile of <strong>the</strong> boat, somethingKurt was loath to do. But as I spent time sitting in<strong>the</strong> space, <strong>the</strong> lack of clutter makes moving aroundless of a chore than it might seem at first.The single John Deere 6068TFM <str<strong>on</strong>g>is</str<strong>on</strong>g> in <strong>the</strong> middleof <strong>the</strong> engine room, with 30 inches of passable spacebetween <strong>the</strong> engine and <strong>the</strong> two aluminum 5052-Reprinted with perm<str<strong>on</strong>g>is</str<strong>on</strong>g>si<strong>on</strong>. Copyright 2005 © Trader Publ<str<strong>on</strong>g>is</str<strong>on</strong>g>hing Company (888.487.2953) http://www.passagemaker.com