A full 18-foot beam gives the Krogen 58' an exceedingly comfortable, seaworthy ride. The vessel has 96,830 pounds of  displacement, including 7,000 pounds of encapsulated lead ballast. Krogen’s seagoing heritage is evident throughout this raised pilothouse, three stateroom, two-head layout.

PowerSource is pleased to feature an interview with Kurt Krogen, president of Kadey-Krogen Yachts, Inc. of Stuart, Fla. The long-range, full-displacement cruisers built by this company are known for their classic styling, quality craftsmanship, and utter seaworthiness. Kadey-Krogen was one of the first trawler yacht manufacturers in recent years to power its vessels with John Deere marine engines. Krogen shares with us his goals for the company and the yacht industry’s growing fondness for John Deere power.

PowerSource: Your late father, James S. Krogen, and Art Kadey left quite a legacy as the gifted naval architects and marine engineers who developed the Kadey-Krogen line of yachts. In fact, their creations seemed to have inspired somewhat of a cult-like following. Why, enthusiasts can even buy a handmade scale model of one. Krogen: Yes, my father and Art Kadey’s engineering and architectural expertise really gave this company a unique position in the market and foundation in which to build new models. We want to continue that Krogen tradition. We continually strive to make product improvements and build on the foundation that Art Kadey and my

father established.
PowerSource: Many of your father’s style elements are still very evident in the current line of Kadey-Krogens, including the Krogen 39' and your most recent model, the Krogen 58'. However, you’re incorporating a lot of technological advancements into your most recent models.
Krogen: The Kadey-Krogen of 15 years ago is not the Kadey-Krogen of today. We’ve been through significant revamping in the last few years. We have updated everything, from stem to stern in terms of materials and equipment. We were also one of the first yacht manufacturers to step up and specify your engine. In fact, our plan is to integrate the John Deere engine as a standard component into our full product line.
PowerSource: Tell us about your latest introductions.
Krogen: The 58' is the result of years of development. Everything about this vessel is first class, from the tooling and execution to every component on her, including the John Deere engine that powers it. The 58' brings Kadey-Krogen yachts to a whole new level. We’re also about ready to test market a new Krogen 44', which comes with a

154-hp John Deere engine.
PowerSource: Do you think John Deere marine engines are being well received?
Krogen: Absolutely. In the past couple of years, John Deere marine engines have gained acceptance faster than anything I’ve seen in the market.
PowerSource: So word is getting around?
Krogen: We’re just hearing positive things. A previous owner of a Krogen 54' retrofitted his Krogen with a John Deere engine. He’s getting more power, fuel efficiency, and quietness than ever before He’s just raving about it. John Deere offers a nice selection of engines from an engineering standpoint. Obviously, we are looking for slower turning, long-range, continuous duty engines for our heavy-displacement trawlers. You produce what we’re looking for.
PowerSource:What characteristics do you look for in a power source?
Krogen: Quietness and, of course, fuel efficiency and reliability. People really want to get the range. Our hull forms are already efficient, but when

combined with a really efficient engine, you can almost make fuel.
PowerSource: Can you give me an example of the fuel economy and range that you’re getting from a John Deere engine?
Krogen: Yes. The Krogen 39' uses less than 2 gallons of fuel per hour. Cruising around 7 knots, that vessel has a range of about 3,000 miles.

PowerSource: With the exception of the Krogen 58', your yachts are all single screws. Is there now a trend for a single-engine vessel?
Krogen: Twenty years ago, the majority of buyers did not appreciate the benefits of a single screw, full-displacement vessel, so they were a difficult sell. Today’s yacht owners tend to have a better understanding of engines and hull forms. Marine engines are so reliable today. If an engine fails, it’s usually the result of bad fuel, which would in most cases affect both engines. Redundancy, maneuverability, and more speed are the typical benefits of a twin screw, but in most cases, you give up fuel economy and quietness. Most of our customers enjoy a more sedate type of cruising. They enjoy the journey as much as getting to the destination, and they understand to get out of the full-displacement mode, into the 12 to 14-knot cruising speeds, there can be a significant impact on comfort, range, and stability. I would not say there is a trend one way or the other, but perhaps a growing awareness of the advantages and disadvantages of single versus twin and their appropriate applications.
PowerSource: You mentioned that you appreciate a quiet engine. Do the John Deere engines meet your expectations?
Krogen: Yes they do. The goal of much of our design and construction is to make the vessels quiet. It’s nice to have a quiet, smooth engine to begin with. In fact, independent tests have indicated that our Krogen 58' is amongst the quietest in the industry.

PowerSource: Aesthetics are so important, especially to the yacht owner.
Krogen: Yes, even the engine has to look good. Buyers want a shiny, new-looking engine, and not all new engines look new. The John Deere marine diesel is a beautifully finished engine. We buy them from Cascade Diesel Engine Company in Seattle.
PowerSource: Yes, with Cascade Diesel, you’re in good hands. They really understand the industry.
Krogen: They’re a big help to us. They

provide a lot of engine information to us and are a support to our builder in Taiwan. They were very involved during the designing and engineering of the Krogen 58'.
    Engines: John Deere PowerTech 4045TFM — 105-hp @ 2,300 rpm, 4-cylinder, 4.5 L, turbocharged marine diesel; PowerTech 6068TFM — 154-hp @ 2,300 rpm, 6-cylinder, 6.8 L, turbocharged marine diesel. Distributor: Cascade Diesel Engine Company, Seattle, Wash., (206) 764-3850.