Kadey-Krogen Yachts — At Home On Any Sea™

Back At It! Warwick T Fest

July 22nd, 2010

I’d like to preface this blog with an apology for how long it has been since I’ve posted anything. In my defense, I have been kind of down for the count as I’ve been contaminated with mononucleosis, affectionately known as mono. Seriously, I’ve been a borderline narcoleptic. I know some of you (D.A.- you know who you are) feel like that’s not a good excuse, but it is what it is. Finally starting to feel like myself again! I can go the whole day without needing any naps!

Without further ado…

Wednesday

Nothing like getting up at 0′dark thirty for an eight hour car ride. At 6:30 am Larry was outside my house in the Kadey-Krogen truck filled to the brim with easels, flags, banners, brochures and other miscellaneous boat show materials. I wasn’t sure I was even going to fit in the car. The only part of the drive that was a little unfavorable (aside from not listening to any music) was the torrential downpour through New York City. Even with the congestion around the Big Apple, we made it to Warwick around 3 pm.

Krogen 58' in Warwick.

Our demo Krogen 58′ and brand new Krogen 48′ North Sea were stern to stern at the front of the show. I briefly met and chatted with the elated new owners, Roberto and Maria Rosa. Before Larry and I were able to unload the car, the storm we had driven through had caught up with us. We took this time to make a run to West Marine and check into our hotel.

Gratitude as the storm came rolling in.

We went back to the marina at the tail-end of the storm to straighten things out with the detailers. Once we made our way over to the boats, I got the grand tour of Gratitude from Maria. She was the first three-stateroom Krogen I’ve been on. Maria was absolutely beaming. Though, considering they took delivery of her just three weeks ago, the excitement was understandable.

Because the Rosas love to entertain friends and family, their boat has been customized for their lifestyle. They opted for a U-shaped settee in the saloon as opposed to the standard L-shaped settee. This settee can also be used as a larger-than-king-sized bed. They also have a fold out table in the pilothouse so that the settee can convert to a double bed. Other customizations include the large flat screen television that pops up on the portside of the saloon, drawers instead of cabinets in the galley and a double-bin pull-out trash receptacle so that they can recycle.

U-shaped settee (sans wide angle lens).

Then it was off to pick Laura Kanzer, our newest addition to the sales staff and my new partner in crime, up from the airport. The five of us went to a little Italian place in downtown Warwick for dinner. Listening to Roberto and Maria’s account of seeing Gratitude approach the dock for the first time was nothing short of moving. Roberto had a smile from ear-to-ear and Maria’s eyes welled up with tears. They were the epitome of unadulterated happiness. They are the first owners I’ve had this particular conversation with, and I loved listening to it as much as I love hearing about the adventures. It was very touching.

After dinner we had to run back to the boats to grab Larry’s backpack. On the way home I was in the middle of telling my story of how I talked my way out of a ticket with my mono excuse (who knew mono could be so versatile?) when Laura interjected, “We just passed this church! And this fire station! We were just here! Twice!” She was right. Larry had been so intently listening to my hilarious anecdote following the directions on the GPS he didn’t realize it had us going in circles. Literally! Larry got frustrated with the GPS- I decided it had a good sense of humor.

We finally made it back to the hotel and I found that I was absolutely exhausted. I had to have fallen asleep before my head even reached the pillow.

Thursday

The first day of Trawler Fest brought another early morning. We still had to finish unloading the car and set up the dock and both the boats. We finished just as the show was opening. Though it started off a little slow, once people started coming aboard the foot traffic didn’t stop. All the sales people were always engaged with a prospective customer throughout the day. Even I am able to maintain and perpetuate knowledgeable conversations at this point. When it gets to the finer details that I haven’t mastered yet, I defer to a sales person. I am the Goose to their Top Guns.

Greg and Jim relax before the show.

What I especially like about Trawler Fests is that most of the people that come are already educated on trawlers and are very interested in the product and lifestyle. It’s not just people coming to a show for something to do. Other shows are great too, of course, but something about this is a little different. A little more targeted.

Gratitude dressed up for the show.

Before we knew it, the show was wrapping up for the day and we were on our way to the PassageMaker cocktail hour before the dinner. Because I have mono, I am not allowed to drink alcohol and have dubbed this season to be my “Summer of Sobriety”. This, all in all, hasn’t been bad. I drank a few waters and chatted with some people that had been aboard earlier in the day. One gentleman was telling me his aspirations of doing the Great Loop and about his cattle ranch and sanitation businesses. The careers our owners and prospective owners have/had are very intriguing to me. I don’t know why, but I find it fascinating.

Kadey-Krogen banner perfectly illuminated near the buffet.

After the dinner, there was an intense trivia game and raffle. Unfortunately for our egos, we won neither, but had an absolute blast. Because of the longs days, early mornings and the mono, by the end of the evening I could hear my hotel room calling my name.

Friday

The next day was just as fruitful as the first. Many interested, educated people came aboard. From the look in their eyes I could tell some were imagining that these boats were theirs, what their life could be like. The overall excitement of people when they come on our boats never gets old. Whether it’s their first time or their hundredth, people’s eyes light up when they walk into the saloon.

Larry holding down the fort in the Krogen 58' saloon.

Early afternoon Steve D’Antonio, maritime consultant and PMM’s technical editor, held a seminar in the engine room of our Krogen 48’ North Sea, Gratitude. So many people showed up that he had to do it twice, back-to-back. They used the day-access hatch to the engine room, but because it was so hot we lifted out one of the floor hatches in the saloon to let the air circulate a little. Nothing like 10 sweaty men emerging from an engine room grinning like little kids walking out of a candy shop.

Wives listening intently to Steve D through the floor hatch.

That night PMM’s event was the Mardis Gras theme. I was disappointed with the decorations we had on our table because I am now a veteran to these events. I was determined to win the dress-up competition after two close calls in San Diego and Anacortes. I am not going to go into detail of my tactics, but I was able to finagle some more adornments.

PMM's Christine and I pose for a picture at the Mardis Gras dinner.

And boy was Roberto a good sport! It took a little guilt tripping by reason of my mono coaxing, but he let me dress him up. He actually won the King of Mardis Gras title and prize! He came back to the table laughing and said to Bill (their salesperson), “You told me about the Trawler Fests. I’ve been to all the boat shows. But you never once told me that I’d be dressing up and dancing in front of a crowd of people!” Congrats again!!

Pre-competition. More photos to come.

Roberto (right) dances to secure his spot as King of Mardis Gras.

This evening I even had a brief conversation with Dave Acton, owner of a Krogen 42’. He was the back-up for the Regata del Sol trip should my dad and I had not been able to go. He told me that after he read my blog on the trip he dropped to his knees and thanked God that he hadn’t been aboard. Talk about salt in an open wound!

Larry and Dave Acton chat before dinner.

As the event died down, so did my energy. Usually I’d be out “supporting the local economy” as Larry likes to say, but these days were wearing me out! Two successful days down, one to go.

Saturday

Before the rush on Saturday Jim was entertaining me with his sailing stories that took him around the world. He was actually a co-founder of the single-handed around the world race. He spent six weeks in Rio de Janeiro, six weeks in Cape Town and six weeks in Sydney. He had me in stitches with some of the scenarios he found himself in during that time.

KKY burgee on the bow of 5817

This was another day that seemed to fly by! I would lose track of sales people because they’d be off talking to prospective customers for up to an hour sometimes. We left the show with a plethora of information sheets filled out. It was refreshing that so many people are interested in receiving Waypoints newsletters and Navaid e-newsletters. And again, I was amused and encouraged by how many people were familiar with the blog and my presence in Waypoints.

Laura marks her territory with her business cards.

After we broke everything down and packed up the decorations in the 58’ for her passage back to Annapolis, we went to the PMM cocktail reception. There were some light hors d’ourves and endless cocktails (for the non-mono contaminated). Then came the best, most gratifying moment of the entire show. Gratitude won the People’s Choice Award for the entire Warwick Trawler Fest!! They won an engraved Tiffany’s crystal bowl and an engraved wooden cruising log, not to mention the validation of the personalization they added and general beauty of their brand new boat. Then came the ear-to-ear grin on Roberto’s face and Maria’s eyes welled up with tears again. They were truly grateful. Look for our picture in PMM!

The prizes the Rosas received for the People's Choice Award!

Overall it was another great show! Lots of interested people…. So interested we received a letter of intent on 5205, among other strong leads. Coming up we’ve got the Seattle Lake Union Boats Afloat Show, the Newport Boat Show, and the Baltimore Trawler Fest. I’m sure you’ll hear more from me before then. I’ve learned mono is no excuse to not blog…

Anacortes Trawler Fest Wrap-Up

May 26th, 2010

Wednesday

I was still half asleep when I met Larry at BWI for our 7am flight to Seattle. A few hours later we began our descent into the beautiful port city. The visibility was endless and we were greeted by the majestic, snow-capped, grand Mount Rainier. Sunny in Seattle? I know. It was a surprise to me too. John’s flight from Stuart arrived about an hour after ours and once he landed we hopped in the car and were en route to Anacortes.

Before the actual Trawler Fest began there were two days of PassageMaker University. PMU offers a variety of classes that people can sign up for, anywhere from engine repair to maintenance to a women’s boating school. Two pairs of Kadey-Krogen owners offered their Krogen 55′ Expedition and Krogen 48′ North Sea for the women’s handling course. This course was taught by Captain Carol Cuddyer and Captain Patti Moore, the owners of Sea Sense, The Women’s Sailing and Powerboating School. We were trying to time our arrival at the marina with when the classes ended and since we were a little early, we decided to play tourist and drive over to Deception Pass.

View of Deception Pass.

For those of you who don’t know, Deception Pass is a strait that separates Fidalgo Island (where Anacortes is located) from Whidbey Island. It also connects the Strait of Juan de Fuca with Skagit Bay, which is part of Puget Sound. It was beautiful. We got to the marina just as the womens’ classes were coming in to tie up. Perfect timing! And what a great job they did!

The women's class preparing to dock the Krogen 55' Expedition.

It was really beautiful while we were getting the boats situated for the show- for about an hour. Then the sun disappeared, the temperature dropped about twenty degrees and the wind picked up to 40-50mph. It was brutal! Even with the change in weather we were able to get our Krogen 58′ brokerage boat as well as the Krogen 55’ and Krogen 48’ into their designated spots and filled with the literature needed for the show the following day.

The brokerage Krogen 58', Good Medicine.

That evening Paul, John and I took the owners out for a nice Greek dinner. I had a great time getting to know them and hearing all about their lives and their experiences aboard their Kadey-Krogens. These people were a trip! A couple of glasses of wine, garlic prawns and a delicious lamb gyro later we headed back to the marina.

Larry was with the photographer, the renowned Billy Black, who was taking pictures aboard the Krogen 55’. Billy is one of the most patient and positive people I’ve met so far in this industry and is an absolute joy to work with. The icing on the cake is that his photos are consistently beautiful. Once we ran out of natural light (around 9:30 pm in the Pacific Northwest), we broke down Billy’s equipment and planned on finishing up the next day. Having been up since 4:45am Eastern Time, come 11pm Pacific Time I was absolutely exhausted!

Thursday

Feeling rejuvenated, I arose and was elated to find that the sun was peeking through the clouds and that the wind had all but stopped. Once I got to the marina and was finished scrambling around between the boats to make sure everything was immaculate, I was not so elated to learn that another bout of crazy weather was headed our way. The dark clouds rolled in, the winds increased and the skies opened up. And they weren’t just dropping raindrops. Marble-sized hail came plummeting from above.

Paul and I sought shelter on the Krogen 58’ which happened to be stern-to-stern with the Krogen 48’. There, in the back of the Krogen 48’, were John and Ron sitting in the teak chairs, reading the newspaper and chatting, paying no mind to the chunks of ice falling from the sky. Ahhh boating- and the beauty of a fully covered aft deck aboard a Kadey-Krogen!

John and Ron enjoying the comfort of the "back porch" in the hail storm.

The weather was a bit of a deterrent, as not many people ventured out. But, typical of the Pacific NW, the sun was back out by the end of the day so we were able to complete our photo shoot of the Krogen 55’ Expedition. We took some prospective owners out with us for the shoot. Billy Black was able to find a cheap helicopter (i.e. the hillside overlooking the water by the marina) where he was able to get some fabulous running shots. I even got to ‘model’ on the deck! I wanted to stand on the bow and yell “I’m king of the world!” with my arms out, but figured that would be a little cliché.

Practicing a pose on the bow of the Krogen 55'.

Once we got back to the marina, we still had to capture a couple more interior shots. Larry, Billy and I sent everyone along to the PassageMaker dinner. It was then that we learned that Billy truly is a full-service photog (excuse the slang, I like to abbrev). As I was preparing the saloon table, I looked up to see Billy hanging from the outside of the boat removing spots from the windows. Now that, my friends, is dedication. Just as we were finishing up the Krogen 55’ Expedition and about to move over to the pilothouse of the Krogen 48’, the owners and Dennis returned from the dinner.

Billy Black does it all!

I stayed with them and helped clean up the props, which just so happened to include drinking the bottle of red wine. A couple of bottles glasses of wine later the animated sea stories had me in tears from laughing so hard. A big draw of the boating lifestyle is the adventures and the stories, and the more I converse with owners and become enmeshed in the culture, the more I understand that.

After a very entertaining evening, the owners retreated to their respective boats and Larry, Dennis and I went to the Brown Lantern, a local watering hole, to meet up with some PassageMaker people. Doing our part to support the local economy, we were the last to leave.

Dennis and Larry having a riveting conversation.

Friday

Friday was a busier day. There were very few lulls, and many interested people. My favorite part of the show this particular day was when Paul asked a man if he could answer any questions. At first he said no, but then reconsidered and said, “Actually, why do you have the reputation for making all your customers so happy?” Paul’s response? “Because they become family.” I promise this conversation actually happened and is not a marketing ploy!

Our customer and brand loyalty is undeniable. And it’s because we work very hard to keep everyone happy by building quality, seaworthy trawler yachts and helping with whatever they need along the way of pursuing their dreams. Our crew is there every step of the way from CAD drawings to commissioning, and we enjoy every second of it.

That night PassageMaker’s dinner was held in a warehouse at the Port of Anacortes and was decorated in mass amounts of purple, green and gold for the Mardi Gras theme. One of the walls was a ginormous garage door that had been left open so we could look out over the water and see many of the surrounding islands. Dennis and I sat with some prospective owners at the dinner and had a great time getting acquainted with them.

View from the Port of Anacortes.

I spotted PassageMaker’s Technical Editor, Steve D’Antonio, who also happens to have his own marine consulting business. I initially met Steve through my dad because they had become friends through speaking at the annual Safety at Sea Seminar held at the Naval Academy. I invited Steve to sit with us and he graciously accepted. Being that Steve is a jack-of-all-marine-trades, a knowledgeable and very interesting conversation ensued.

It started because Steve is familiar with celestial navigation. We discussed the importance of being able to use and understand the ‘old-school’ systems such as a magnetic compass and charts and not rely solely on electronics. It’s another one of those things that any mariner should be prepared for when at sea. We also talked about other methods of safety such as a personal EPIRB. Steve, like that AMEX commercial, doesn’t leave home without it. In this day and age, there’s just no reason to not take advantage of such safety precautions.

The rest of the dinner included a dress-up contest and raffle. Another fun ending to another successful day.

Attendees smile for the camera!

Saturday

Saturday morning I woke up to some bad news. My maternal grandmother had been very sick, and when I called to check in on her my mom let me know that she had passed away. Being the understanding boss that he is, Larry gave me the time to figure out what I wanted to do. Initially I wanted to go home and be with family. I at least wanted to go to Seattle where I have a cousin. But making flight arrangements became too complex, and I couldn’t get a hold of my cousin so I opted to be around people and go to the show.

The Krogen 48' North Sea at the Cap Sante Marina.

It was a wise decision as it was a very busy day and all the new faces and conversations provided great distraction. The day flew by and before I knew it Larry and I were out to dinner with the same people we had sat with the night before. We agreed on seafood and went to Pier 61.

Being from Maryland, I am admittedly a crab cake snob. I had thought I made a compelling argument the night before about how crab cakes everywhere else were terrible and flat and filled with superfluous stuff (every Marylander knows you need the jumbo lump crab meat and some breading for it to stick together! And yes, I used the word superfluous). But, they were ordered anyway as an appetizer- and I’m pleased to report I was right. So the result is that when these prospective customers come to Annapolis for a sea trial of the Krogen 58’, we will share real crab cakes with them.

Anyway, the rest of the dinner was delicious and the conversation was very informative of how our boats are different from the competition and how our company is different from the competition. On a personal level, it feels great to know that I can answer a lot of those questions now. I have already learned a lot, with so much left to learn about our boats, our niche in the market and the industry as a whole. I’m soaking up all the information that I can and will continue to do so.

Life is good.

Overall, the Trawler Fest was very successful. We met several prospects, some warm and some scalding hot. It was also very exciting for me to learn just how many people are actually following my blog! Quite a few people were interested in my trip across the Gulf of Mexico and gave me positive feedback on my posts. It was very flattering! I even had a request for my autograph on the newest issue of Waypoints whose cover story is about my trip. It looks great by the way!

And there you have it! Until next time, fair winds and following seas.

Lessons Learned from Offshore Cruising: Regata del Sol Recap

May 4th, 2010

Long story short, I survived. Pique your interest? Good.

My dad and I arrived in St. Petersburg on Wednesday the 21^st and actually ended up departing that night. We were trying to avoid most of the ominous low pressure weather system that was looming in the Gulf. I must admit, it was a valiant effort, but we failed – miserably.

My dad displaying our starting point in St. Pete and destination of Isla Mujeres, Mexico across the Gulf and through the Yucatan Channel.

Here are a few things I learned:

1. Even being offshore in the middle of nowhere, the water can be flat and calm.

I was very surprised when I awoke for my watch at dawn Thursday morning to see that the Gulf looked like a lake. I kind of just assumed that as soon as you were a couple hundred miles offshore, that the water got really rough. However if winds, weather, and current are all in your favor, it makes for a beautiful, relaxing cruise.

Mesmerized by the beauty of the water. Look how calm it is!

2. Weather changes – quickly. And Mother Nature is relentless.

The meteorologist from the weather service Jack subscribes to let us know that the low pressure system was hitting us about 24 hours before it was supposed to. All day Friday there were constant 4-6 foot swells with the occasional 6-9 footer and a period of only four seconds between waves. The wind was blowing at 15-20 knots. It. Was. Rough. And did I mention that Bodacious is one of the few Krogen 39’s without active fin stabilizers?

We found some solace in the lee of Cuba but the heavy weather lasted for the remainder of our trip and actually got worse. Saturday the seas were a consistent 6-9 feet with an intermittent 12 footer! What really got me was aside from the wind, it was sunny and beautiful.

I know the water doesn't look particularly rough here. However, check out the straight line of the horizon versus the angle of the boat.

3. The patch is not an effective seasickness medication for me, but it has fun side effects.

So the intended illness wasn’t conquered, but it did dilate my pupils so that my vision was blurred. I was also in this weird stage between conciousness and unconciousness. When I was telling Jo about some of the strange dreams I was having and things I was seeing, she let me know that one of the side effects for the patch is hallucinations. Ah-ha! That made sense.

I had obliged my doctor and did a trial run of the patch sans side effects. However, when he was giving me instructions, the way I understood it was that if I was to start feeling really seasick to add another one. That was where I went wrong! I took one of the patches off and felt human again relatively quickly. When I took the other off after we finally arrived in Mexico it took the rest of the day for my sight to return to normal. Next time, I’m just going to stick with the Bonine so I don’t find myself compelled to converse with curtains!

Beautiful sunrise seen from the "back porch".

4. A fuel polisher is a worthwhile investment.

As I was attempting to get up and brave my watch Saturday morning, the engine quit. During the time we were floating adrift (and backwards and taking 10 foot seas to the beam in wind blowing 20-25 knots) in the Gulf, Jack was trying to figure out and then repair the mechanical issue. Turns out with all the motion from the swells, sediment had loosened in the fuel tanks, which then clogged the fuel lines, which then cut the engine.

You can imagine the relief and excitement that I experienced when I heard the engine come back to life. However, because of the current, winds, and risks of the engine failing again we slowed down to about 4.5 knots in an attempt to minimize the churning of the fuel. And our concerns were correct – the engine quit three more times before we finally made it to Mexico. Fortunately, Jack was starting to become an expert mechanic and had us up and running in fewer minutes each time the engine gave out. He can probably work as a NASCAR mechanic after that trip!

I have to interject here and say that the Brinkerhoff’s take phenomenal care of Bodacious. A fuel polisher is the only system that they do not already own, though they are probably considering it now!

Bodacious on her way to get her fuel tanks cleaned at a boat yard in Isla Mujeres.

5. I felt very safe in less than desirable conditions on the Kadey-Krogen.

Even though I was seasick, hallucinating, and legally blind, I never thought that we weren’t going to survive. In all seriousness, I knew that seas like this are exactly what Kadey-Krogens are designed and built for. We promote and emphasize their capability and seaworthiness because it’s the truth. While it was admittedly uncomfortable to be sloshing about in the middle of the Gulf, that boat was not going to sink and we were going to make it to Isla Mujeres once the fuel line issue was remedied. And that’s exactly what we did.

The official Regata welcome sign as you left the marina by foot.

6. Preparations are essential.

Had the absolute worst case scenario occurred, we still would have been just fine. On board the Brinkerhoff’s had a life raft, hydrostatic life jackets, an assortment of flares, fire extinguishers, jugs of fresh water, medical kits and an EPIRB.

For the scenario as it was, the Brinkerhoff’s were equipped with the mechanical knowledge of how to diagnose and fix the problem. They also had the tools necessary to get the job done. You never know what you will be facing, so all you can do is prepare for the unexpected. Take classes. Go to seminars. Buy the tools and safety equipment. Going to sea is definitely not something to take lightly and it is much better to be safe than sorry.

Boats lined up on the shore of Isla Mujeres.

7. Post-college, beer can still taste really good at 9 A.M.

When we finally pulled into port Sunday morning, about 18 hours after our estimated arrival time, there were quite a few dockhands at the marina helping us get tied up. My favorite dockhand tossed me a cooler of ice with a six pack of Sol beers. “Bienvenidos a Mexico!” After the journey we had, we graciously accepted these 12 oz. treasures. We toasted and had what was the best tasting beer we’ve ever had dance across our taste buds.

We made it! From left: Bill Band, myself, Jack Brinckerhoff, Jo Brinckerhoff.

The Brinkerhoff’s told my dad and me that not only was this their longest passage, it was the roughest they had experienced because of the duration and relentlessness of the rough seas. And here it was my first offshore voyage- what a welcome!! Despite everything that happened, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. Any of you Krogen owners want to take me somewhere with you?!

One offshore passage down! Where will this job take me next?

It’s a Go!

April 19th, 2010

I’ve been so busy with preparing everything for our Waypoints newsletter that I haven’t blogged about this…. My dad and I are officially making the trip to St. Petersburg for the Regata del Sol al Sol!! We will be crossing the Gulf with Jack and Jo Brinckerhoff aboard their 1999 Krogen 39′, Bodacious, to Isla Mujeres, Mexico. We depart Friday morning around 9 a.m. and will be cruising about 460 miles. If we maintain a speed of 7 knots, it will take about 70 hours.

Animated map of Isla Mujeres.

My dad and I arrive in St. Petersburg on Wednesday to do through final registration for the event with the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. That night we will be having dinner and drinks with the Brinckerhoffs on their boat, and we will be joined by KKY salesman Greg Sapp and his fiancee, Sally, who took part in the regatta two years ago.

Tonight I will be cruising around the inner harbor and into the Bay learning about navigation lights because, even I, will have my own three hour watch twice a day. I’m not sure exactly what this adventure has in store for us, but I can’t wait to find out.

My dad and me after he spoke at the Safety at Sea Seminar in Annapolis.

Wish me luck fair winds and following seas!!

Yacht Collection Sale

April 1st, 2010

I mentioned this event previously, but the more I learn about it, the more excited I get for it! As I said, what’s great about this event is not only is it local (if you’re in Annapolis) and free, but it’s simply being implemented to enrich and showcase the local boating community and companies.
The event will kick-off Friday, April 30 with a preview from 5:00pm – 7:00pm and will continue May 1 from 10:00am – 6:00pm and May 2 from 10:00am – 5:00pm. I also found out that two courtesy vehicles will be running between yacht clubs, downtown Annapolis and other various places to the Chesapeake Harbour Marina. Porsche of Annapolis and Jaguar Range Rover of Annapolis are being gracious enough to supply the vehicles and drivers! How fun is that?! No excuses – see you there!

Spring Has Sprung

March 30th, 2010

It’s so nice to be able to look outside and see the pastel pinks and bright yellows of dogwoods and forsythias blooming as well as tulips and daffodils blossoming- confirmation that our winter arctic tundra has all but ended. Finally! Spring means warmer temperatures where more people are outdoors having their faces kissed by the sun and relishing in the fact that t-shirts, shorts, bathing suits and flip-flops can be donned once again. This is an especially fantastic time of year for boats- including the people and the market.

Beautiful, bright colors! No white blanket of snow! Yay!

We’re about to start getting super busy over here at Kadey-Krogen. In April and into May we have most weekends booked with great events. April 9-10 we are having the Salmon Bay Open House in Seattle that will be worked by Dennis and Paul. The end of April brings the Regata del Sol, the Bay Bridge Boat Show and the Take the Wheel Workshop while May brings the Annapolis Yacht Collection Sale, Annapolis Spring Sails Event and the Anacortes TrawlerFest. Whew! And these are just the upcoming events! It doesn’t even include the commissioning we’ll be doing.

I’ve explained the Regata del Sol in a previous entry, and my fingers are still crossed that my dad and I will be able to go as crew aboard Bodacious with the Brinkerhoffs in the open water race from St. Petersburg, FL to Isla Mujeres, Mexico. We will know over the next couple of days whether or not this will come to fruition.

The Bay Bridge Boat Show will be from April 22-25 at the Bay Bridge Marina on Kent Island, MD. On display, Kadey-Krogen will have a Krogen 48′ Whaleback as well as a Krogen 44′.

Capella, the 48' WB that is for sale and will be at the Annapolis spring events.

The same Krogen 44′ mentioned above will be the Kadey-Krogen trawler that will be used in the Take the Wheel Workshop that’s being offered on Saturday, April 24 as part of the Bay Bridge Boat Show. This is a great opportunity to see how our boats handle in the water and just how easy they are to maneuver.

This here is Feisty Lady. She is a Krogen 44' and is also for sale and will be in the "Take the Wheel Workshop" and the other Annapolis events.

The evening of Friday, April 30 thru the weekend we will be involved in the Yacht Collection Sale in the Chesapeake Marina in Annapolis. What is so cool about this show is that it is local, free and is being implemented simply to benefit the boating community. We will have the same 44′ and 48′WB as the other shows and we will also have a brand new 58′! By the way, all of these boats are for sale! Just in time for spring and the ideal time to start cruising the Bay. Or the Atlantic. Or the world. Depends on what your dream is…

Finally, the third Annapolis based event takes place on May 8-9 at four different hubs around the area. It is the 7th Annual Spring Sails Event and while the main focus of the event are sailboats, we figured it’d be a good event to piggyback on to plant the seed of “the dark side” i.e. the trawler lifestyle that oh-so many sailors join once they decide to slow down a bit.

Just two weeks after that, I will be in Anacortes, WA along with Larry, John, Dennis and Paul for the third TrawlerFest this year. At this show we will have a brand new owned Krogen 48′ North Sea and Krogen 55′ Expedition as well as a brokerage Krogen 58′ that is for sale. I’m already very excited for this destination. Anacortes is located on Fildalgo Island which lies halfway between Seattle and Vancouver. It is the gateway to the San Juan Islands and looks just absolutely beautiful. If you are able, you should definitely attend- for the boats and the location.

Good Medicine is the Krogen 58' that is for sale and will be showcased at the Anacortes TrawlerFest.

As you can see, the spring is sure to be an active season for us Krogenites. We are more than ready! Hope to see you at some of these events!

San Diego TrawlerFest

March 10th, 2010

My first boat show was in Seattle and it was in the 50’s and raining, but it okay because it was January- in Seattle. My second boat show was in Miami and to my chagrin it was 50’s/60’s and raining. Any guesses on what the weather was in San Diego? Mid-50’s and raining! I’m starting to think I bring it with me. Anyway, as Paul (one of our salesmen from Seattle) said, “the rain qualifies the people who attend”. And it was true. Most everyone that came aboard had genuine interest in the trawler lifestyle and it was evident they had done their research on Kadey-Krogen- and they didn’t let the rain keep them inside!

Storm rolling through the sky at the Kona Kai Marina.

For a while there it was looking like we weren’t going to have a boat at this show and that we’d be setting up a booth in the tent like last year. A few weeks ago the couple that owns 4804WB graciously decided to lend us their boat so that we could show people the beauty and livability that is Kadey-Krogen. This particular boat is a 48′ Whaleback, meaning it has no side decks and the living space is all one level with the pilot house atop a spiral staircase. For those of you who are familiar with this layout, it may seem reminiscent of our Krogen 55′ Expedition, and it is, as it was the inspiration for the larger model.

The stern and starboard side of Ocean Friend.

This couple went from owning a Krogen 42′ to customizing their own 48′ Whaleback in 1995 and, since they retired five years ago, have been cruising between Mexico and Alaska, living the dream. Or should I say, “cruising the dream”? It has been amazing to me since I’ve started working with Kadey-Krogen, the brand loyalty that our customers have. There are countless owners that trade in their Krogen and move up to a larger Krogen because they want to stick with a company and boat they know, trust and love.

This particular Whaleback had its share of customizations and renovations. Customizations such as the floor-to-ceiling pantry, the bathtub which Jim Krogen dubbed as “not boaty” in the master head, the “as-wide-as-you-can-make-it” bed in the master stateroom and the grand saloon where two L-shaped settees sit caddy cornered across the 17 foot beam. The main renovations were in the galley and that included upgrading to a Viking Range (which now come on all the larger Krogens), other stainless steel appliances, stern/bow thrusters and up next is the addition of granite counters and a new washer/dryer.

On the last day, we had to extricate ourselves from our slip so that the boats next to us could depart. All we did was go across the little harbor and then came back in to dock and I was impressed with how simple they made the whole process seem. With the hydraulic stern and bow thrusters, the boat glided through the water while she tied lines on both the port and starboard sides so that he had his options when he came in- and it was a good thing, because while it appeared as though we’d be tying up on the starboard side, last minute he realized it would be easier on the port side and we were prepared! I was also in awe of how they have gotten their docking process down to a science. It was a very manageable feat for just two people.

Sun peeking through the clouds over the water as we docked the boat.

As far as the TrawlerFest went, San Diego was a pretty small venue. It consisted of 18 boats ranging from 21′ to 70′, a tent full of exhibitors and seminars with impressive and knowledgeable speakers. And as I mentioned earlier, what we lacked in quantity was made up for in quality. It seemed as though both Dennis and Paul were constantly engaged in serious conversation about the Kadey-Krogens which was both exciting and promising.

Friday night PassageMaker had a cocktail hour followed by a Mardis Gras themed dinner where dealers, manufacturers, brokers and customers all intermingled. Saturday night there was another cocktail hour this time followed by a dinner, trivia and a raffle. Between the good eatin’, having our table win the trivia game (check out PassageMaker magazine for our victory picture), and winning a subscription and hat from Ocean Navigator- I made out like a bandit!

Our table-mate, adorned with mardi gras paraphernalia, who was robbed of the Mardis Gras Queen title.

As the new faces become more familiar to me, the more respect and understanding I am gaining for the marine industry and everyone involved. It is a great field to be involved in and to call my profession, especially here at Kadey-Krogen. All in all, another fulfilling and exciting experience with the promise of many more ahead.

Donning a mardis gras mask and having lots of fun!

On the Road Again

March 3rd, 2010

Today I am wrapping things up here at the office as I am leaving in the morning for the San Diego Trawler Fest. The Trawler Fest event series are put on by PassageMaker Magazine. These events showcase the boats and the lifestyles of the cruising world. On their site they describe it as a place “you’ll find a boat show custom-tailored to your specific cruising vantage point, an educational opportunity that builds your skills as a mariner, and a party atmosphere that gives you a chance to share your boating interests with fellow cruisers and meet the editors and experts involved with the magazine and the program.” Sounds fun, huh?

There are five Trawler Fests this year: one already occured in late January in Fort Lauderdale; there’s San Diego this weekend; Anacortes, WA from May 20-22; Warwick, RI from July 15-17; and finally, one in Baltimore from September 24-26. I must admit the last one will be nice because all I’ll have to do is hop on the Water Taxi!

This weekend we will be showing a Krogen 48′ Whaleback and I’d like to thank the owners in advance for letting us do so. I will be working the event with Dennis and Paul from the Seattle sales office and am eager to experience my first Trawler Fest. Hope to see you should you be in the area!

The 48' Whaleback, Ocean Friend, in Glacier Bay, Alaska surrounded by humpback whales. This is the boat that will be at Trawler Fest!

Regata del Sol al Sol

February 26th, 2010

So, I’m pretty sure I have one of the best jobs ever. It is just so great that I am able to combine my passion for marketing with my love of boats and the water. I’m working with different marketing strategies and outlets, I’m literally working with what feels like an extension of best friends and family, I’m traveling to beautiful port cities on a regular basis- and it just got even better. Larry came into my office, sat down and said, “I need to talk to you about something”. It gave me a slight flashback to the days when I used to hear those words and I was about to be grounded. To my surprise, he had big plans for me… and my dad.

Every April for the past 41 years the Regata del Sol al Sol takes place. It is a sailboat race from St. Petersburg, Florida to Isla Mujeres, Mexico, an island which is about eight miles from Cancun. The regatta is organized by the St. Petersburg Yacht Club and the event is best described by one of our sales executives, Greg Sapp, as “part open sailing yacht race, part friendly cultural exchange mission, part annual festival, and part beach party”. Larry explained that owners, Jack and Jo Brinkerhoff, are planning to take their Krogen 39′, Bodacious, on the open water journey as one of the supply boats carrying different items for humanitarian aide (apparently this year they have an ambulance gurney? I know where I’m sleeping!). Part of the rules state that four people must be on board and between my job and my dad’s job as a Ship Pilot, naturally he thought we’d be perfect for the crew. Can my job get better??

My dad and I used to take what we dubbed “father daughter bonding trips” which my mother graciously supported and encouraged. We’ve gone scuba diving in the Bahamas, horseback riding and camping in the mountains of West Virginia, whitewater rafting down the Youghiogheny River in Pennsylvania among other places. We’re long overdue for another trip and this sounds very exciting!

My dad and me... ready for a new adventure!

There are a couple hindrances that may not let this pan out how we’d like, but I’ll be sure to keep you updated and my fingers crossed!

Happy Birthday to me!

February 18th, 2010

Remember how I said there was a familial element to working at Kadey-Krogen? Check out the beautiful bouquet of flowers that Larry, Jim and Greg from the Annapolis office gave me for my birthday today! Aren’t they sweet?!

The surprise I found on my desk after lunch.

Ok, back to work!