Kurt Krogen, son of cofounder Jim Krogen, now runs
the business. Kurt’s brother, Jimmy Krogen is a naval architect
and took over the design work for Kadey-Krogen Yachts.
The younger Krogens have set about revamping the Kadey-Krogen
line of full displacement trawlers. Known as long-distance
cruisers with abundant live-aboard room and a gentle motion is
seas, these strong seaworthy vessels in the past were somewhat
crude appearing, admits Kurt Krogen. Kurt however, was proud to
show just how far the Kadey-Krogen Yachts have come with their new
flagship, the Krogen 58.
The first of their next generation of yachts, the 58 raises
the bar in terms of finish, quality and comfort for Kadey-Krogen.
Stepping on board the 58, I felt as if I were on a small ship, the
boat is rock solid with tall railings, watertight welded doors and
sturdy hardware, obviously capable of transoceanic voyages.
In terms of design, the 58 makes maximum use of its space
with large companionways, spacious compartments and enormous
storage areas everywhere. Part of this is accomplished by
offsetting the cabin to port. The downside is that the port side
of the 58 is somewhat “slab-sided” in appearance. However, Krogen
did a good job of incorporating design details to provide the
illusion of depth to the port side.
Drawing upon their years of experience in building long-range
trawlers, the Krogens have built-in redundant systems throughout
the boat to ensure safety at sea. Though it can be ordered with a
single diesel engine, Kurt Krogen tries to sell customers on the
benefits of twin John Deere diesel engines. He says it reduces
draft by a foot, increases maneuverability and provides
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redundant power without the
complications of the more common, but at times ineffective,
auxiliary wing engine.
Even with twin engines, the 58 has a range of 3,300 miles at
seven knots, and 1,300 miles at 10 knots. Additionally, the 58
will sit upright if the tide runs out due to the twin keel design
that protects the propellers. The Krogen 58 should have a minimum
of roll in heavy seas, with the wide 18-foot, 1 inch beam and
available stabilizers.
The reverse raked windows of the pilothouse are not only
salty looking, but they provide great visibility from the helm.
The pilothouse is bright and spacious with room for guests and for
serious navigation, with large chart drawers and space for
electronics.
The raised settee aft of the helm seat has a full view
forward and converts into a double berth to permit the watch
stander’s relief to be nearby. The pilothouse as well as the rest
of the boat is finished in finely crafted cherry wood and white
trim. For docking, a starboard-mounted wing station lets the
captain have full command of the proceedings.
Exiting the pilothouse through the watertight Dutch doors,
the flybridge deck and helm are reached by way of steps instead of
a ladder like on some other boats. Here the skipper has a
360-degree view. A companion helm chair and an L-shaped lounge
let’s the crew join him there in pleasant weather. In fact the
skipper could have a party as the boat deck extends all the way
to the stern.
For cruising, a 1,000-pound capacity davit can store a tender
on deck.
In the simple and comfortable main salon, the Krogen 58
offers large windows and excellent ventilation. The adjoining
galley features full size appliances and a convenient Dutch door
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and access to the galley.
Rather than cram four staterooms into the 58, Krogen wisely settled
for three spacious cabins. The master stateroom at the bow
features a queen-size island bed and 6-foot, 10-inch headroom that
lends to the spacious feeling. A full-size overhead hatch is
easily accessible in the event of an emergency. The master bath
has a shower, Corian countertop and a Vacuflush head.
The starboard guest stateroom is available with queen bed or
twin berths. It has access to a private head and has lots of
storage and amenities. Opposite to port, the third cabin can be
ordered as a guest stateroom or office.
Below deck, watertight doors secure the engine room. The
engine room is large and allows access for service to both sides
of the engines and all components. Extensive use of sound
insulation and vibration proofing keeps the cabin exceptionally
quiet.
Overall, the Kadey-Krogen 58 is a rugged vessel
designed to be capable, comfortable, and reliable with an
excellent level of fit and finish. About the only thing I could
find wrong was a misspelled electronics panel and a hatch that
needed some lubrication, both of which can be easily resolved.
For more information, contact Kadey-Krogen Yachts at
1-800-247-1230, or visit the website at
www.kadeykrogen.com.
Marshall Brodie writes
about boats for Wheels & Waves. He can be reached by email at
mbboating@yahoo.com. |
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