Kadey-Krogen 58'

The salon looking aft of the Kadey-Krogen 58' features clean lines and open space:
The ideal combination for comfortable surroundings.  By Bill Ando

Although Krogen boats have always been built to withstand the rigors of ocean passages they were conceived and presented as comfortable liveaboards.

Kurt Krogen, director of operations, is the conceptual mind behind the 58 footer.  His brother, Jim, is responsible for the design.  The hull design traces its lineage back to the displacement hull that their late father, a naval architect, drew after years of designing commercial vessels.  It’s a design that has built a loyal following.

Kurt Krogen says that many of their owners are repeat customers, as are hull number five’s owners.  “We’re proud of that,” he says.  “Several 48’s have done transatlantic passages but we don’t talk about it.”

Acknowledging the use to which owners have put the boats, Krogen says that the 58 brings with it a marketing change.  “We’re spending a lot of time saying the 58 can go around the world,” he explains.  The boat has a range of 2,450 miles at eight knots, increasing to 3,300 miles at seven knots.

The 58’s profile is undoubtedly Krogen, but beneath the quality Cook gelcoat there are other confidence building details that have been used on other models and are now being combined on the 58.

The solid fiberglass below the waterline at the bow and stern are reinforced with Kevlar.  As are the counter-faired twin keels, notched outwards to maximize water flow to the propellers.  They also provide a roll dampening affect.

Twin 154 hp John Deere 6068 TFM diesels were selected because, according to Krogen, the worldwide parts availability makes them the perfect engine aboard a boat that may likely go anywhere.

There are more visible features that indicate offshore usage is anticipated.  Forward sloping pilothouse windows, a common sight on voyaging yachts, are continued from the 48-foot North Sea model.  Freeman powder-coated, aluminum watertight doors are used in place of teak for all deck entrances.  They are Dutch-style at both galley and pilothouse entrances.

Forward stateroom offers comfort at its relaxed best.

Hominess and liveability, which Krogen says are hallmarks of Krogen boats, were maintained.  Taking advantage of the 18-foot beam, the salon is built to the gunwale on the port side.  This gives the interior the wide body treatment and locates the walk-around from the teak aft deck, along the starboard side to just forward of the galley door.

Cherry wood is used for the paneling, the parquet floors are combined with holly for the pilothouse sole.  The athwartship galley is open along the aft side to serve the salon and visually enhance the open feeling.

A few steps down the accommodations sleep six in three staterooms.  The owner’s stateroom takes up the forepeak with a queen-size island bed, ensuite head with shower and plenty of storage.  The other two cabins share a common head and shower.  The starboard guest cabin can be fitted with twin bunks or a queen-size berth.  The cabin to port is a den, featuring a writing desk and a settee that converts to a single berth.

A few steps up from the main deck the pilothouse has an L-shaped lounge strategically positioned behind the centerline captain’s chair.  There is plenty of space for the installation of any electronic gear.  Doorways on either side offer quick deck access.  There are two gates to ease boarding at low tide when tied up to a seawall or fixed dock.  The Portuguese bridge provides foredeck access, where there is plenty of space for line handling.  The wing station is drawn on the starboard corner.  “It’s a quick commute from the pilothouse to upper deck,” Krogen says.  Steps to the flybridge are located on the port side.  Helm controls and seating for two are protected behind what has been cleverly designed to look like a funnel.  There is lounging room between the helm and the 1,000-pound Nautical Structures crane on the aft deck where up to a 14-foot tender can be stored.

A consideration aboard any serious cruising yacht is machinery space access.  There absolutely must be working room to service the marine engines, generators, watermaker, et al.  Two access doors, one in the lazarette, the other, forward on the lower deck, provide access to the engine room.  Even with all the offshore use anticipated, it’s nice to know that the 58’s five-foot, three-inch draft allows for serious gunkholing.

Krogen prides itself on a great pilothouse:
Quite spacious, this one certainly lives up to its reputation.

Editor's Note: Hull number one of the new Krogen 58' was commissioned in January 2001 and is currently being cruised by its owners. This boat is the third Krogen the satisfied couple has owned. Hull number two was  enroute to the U.S., lashed down onto the deck of a freighter. Three day out of Japan, hurricane-force winds swept it off its blocks. The ill-fated Krogen was last seen floating at Latitude 35.57.9 North and Longitude 154.47.4 East. Hulls number three, four, and five are safe and sound.