Wednesday

The past two times I’ve flown into Seattle I’ve been extremely lucky to have clear days that allow for a beautiful view of snow-capped Mount Rainier and Mount Saint Helens. Not this time. It was stereotypical Pacific Northwest weather. Gray. Cloudy. Rain… everywhere. For those of you who don’t know, Anacortes is about a two hour drive north of Seattle and reknowned as the gateway to the gorgeous San Juan Islands. If nothing else, the rain makes for a lush environment. There were so many shades of green along my drive! Not to mention fire engine red tulips that looked like they were about 3 feet tall!

Anyway, this is the fourth year that Trawler Fest has been held in Anacortes. They had 66 boats this year as well as heavily attended PassageMaker University courses and seminars. When I arrived in the early afternoon, one of our brokerage Krogen 44′ and Krogen 48′ North Sea were being used in the Couple’s Cruising and Women’s Handling courses respectively. There wasn’t much to do in way of setting up since two of the were boats gone.  With the buckets of rain that were falling from the sky, it was just as well. It was actually nice to catch up with Dennis and Paul and to meet the newest salesman,  Bob.

The ladies of the Women's Handling course preparing to dock Krogen 48' North Sea, Rio Linda, in the torrential downpour.

Once the boats were back at the marina, we organied, did some setting up, and then headed up to the PassageMaker University cocktail hour and awards ceremony. I was having a little chat with their technical editor, Steve D’Antonio, and a couple that participated in his course when a nice man came up to me:

He's even nicer for getting low enough for us both to fit in the frame!

- “Your dad is a pilot on the Chesapeake?”

- “Yes.”

- “Does he know Bill Band?”

- “That’s my dad!!”

We were both stunned for a second. Now I thought for sure that I had my nametag on and he was just playing a joke, but I patted myself down and didn’t find it. He went on to tell me that he is a retired Puget Sound pilot and was in some sort of certification class with my dad in Maryland about 20 years ago. Apparently he came over for dinner with my parents, aunt and uncle (who was also a Bay pilot), and presumably me. They have since lost touch, but – alas – are now reconnected. Small world!!

Anyway, I also had a nice conversation with a woman that had been in the Women’s Handling course on the Krogen 48′ taught by SeaSense, The Women’s Sailing and Powerboating School. She couldn’t stop raving about it. The feel of the boat. The sound (or actually lack there of) of the boat. Being at the helm of the boat. The confidence gained. (Sidenote: for more on this check out this article from the Fall 2010 Waypoints.) Hearing people talk with the passion and excitement that she had, the enthusiasm is contagious. It was a nice way to start the show!

Dennis and Captain Carol posing for a picture after discussing how her course went during PMU.

Thursday

It was still a little cool, cloudy and rainy on Thursday, but gradually cleared as the day went on. We had four boats in the show. The two brokerage boats, the Krogen 55′ Expedition and the newest Krogen 44′  to date, Maria Elena, owned by Dennis and Marilyn Burnham.  We had the two Krogen 44′s stern-to the dock and adjacent to each other. It was strategic in that people could visually and physically experience the asymmetric widebody model and compare it with the walkaround model. What a difference 18″ of space makes! (I should have taken a picture…)

But here is our newest member of the sales team, Bob, in the cockpit of the Krogen 55' Expedition.

Also, this Trawler Fest there was a lot of anticipation of our new model, the Krogen 52′, which will be making her grand debut in Seattle this fall.

The Poster

The Model

And last but certainly not least, The Owner

Rich (owner of 5201) with Tom and Dennis look at pictures of the boat at our yard in Taiwan.

Rich came to the show while his wife was helping their son get situated in his new apartment in Texas. They have been Krogen 48′ North Sea owners for the past five years and found themselves ready to make the jump to a larger vessel. It might have had something to do with all the Alaskan and Pacific Northwest cruises with their two sons and two German Shepherds. Hard to say though.

After the show, Karen Button (yes, Tom’s wife), and I stayed at the marina to beautify the Krogen 44′ and the Krogen 55′ Expedition for a photo shoot for virtual tours. We had fun rearranging and redecorating, moving from room to room and hiding all the props and decorations that didn’t make the cut. It might have been so fun because there was a bottle of wine involved. Regardless, the photographer was very patient. I’m excited to see the proofs! And even more excited to see the actual virtual tour.

Dennis had to climb up the mast on Maria Elena to remove signal flags for the photo shoot. So athletic!

While on the bow of the Krogen 44′ waiting for the photographer to finish the shots of the saloon, I was taken by the view and had to snap a picture. Even though the weather isn’t ideal for me (most of the time), the area sure is pretty!

Blue skys and calm water with a hint of snow-capped mountain in the background. Ain't so bad!

Friday

Friday was another solid day. And it was beautiful! It averaged in the low 60′s and the sun was peeking out behind the clouds for most of the day. The flow of attendees was steady and they were all friendly, enlivened by the treat of nice weather. I spent most of my time on the owned Krogen 44′ and when Marilyn was done with the morning seminars she’d come spend time on her boat with me. She commented on how much she loved being there and talking to everyone. It was evident she was having a delightful time! There were a lot of things that I loved about their Krogen 44′, from the teak and spruce flooring, to the beige granite countertops, to their royal blue and aqua bedspread. But my favorite personal touch was the fishing poles.

A little dark, but the granddaughters' Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella fishing poles are next to for-real fishing poles.

How cute are those fishing poles?? Turns out, Dennis and Marilyn have four children and 13 grandkids! The two poles on board belong to their youngest granddaughters who are 2 and 3 years old. Just precious! They haven’t had everyone on board yet, but they have already had seven people overnight and were able to accomodate everyone comfortably.

The PassageMaker dinner had a pirate theme this year, and Karen and I were quick to take advantage of the table decorations. It was a great night! We had one of the most delicious catered meals I’ve ever consumed. We almost won the Quest game, which was really fun and a little dangerous. (It involves sprinting to the stage when you have the item in your hand they ask for.) Fortunately, I didn’t hurt my shin too badly when it slammed into a table leg!  They also raised a lot of money for a local great cause: Wrestling for Life which goes towards the fight against cancer.

Ahoy Matey!!

Saturday

The morning came quickly after a night on the town at the local watering hole, the Brown Lantern. And it was back to being gray and dreary. Despite the turn in weather, the show was still very well attended. A lot of new faces, and fortunately, a lot of returning faces that kept coming back for “just one more look”.  Any time I ventured to a different boat, the salesmen were always in deep conversation with an attendee and handing out literature. Exactly what I like to see!

A nice moment of sun, though the wind was quite brisk!

The show wrapped and was capped off with the PassageMaker cocktail hour. Well there wasn’t a table large enough to fit our entourage that consisted of Kadey-Krogen owners, a former Kadey-Krogen owner, and our staff. So we made our own table with one of the tent exhibit tables – we even found a makeshift table cloth. Ahh, comaraderie. Family.

Afterwards, all 13 of us made our way over to a delicious thai restaurant. Karen brought a table card game that was somewhat of an icebreaker game. The cards had questions like: “What makes you laugh?”, “If you could spend the day with any one person, who would it be and why?”, “If you could snap your fingers and have a new talent, what would it be?”. It was a fun way to get to know everyone better, especially the owners I was meeting for the first time. And FYI, that place takes their star/spice level very seriously. I was sweating!

At the end of the meal, we surprised Marilyn and Dennis with a cake for their 48th wedding anniversary that Dennis completely forgot about. They have a great marriage and relationship, and it was an honor to join in on the celebration with them and to try and make it as special as possible.

Unfortunately, this is the best picture that I got. But you get the idea. The cake says, "48 and counting...."

The brokerage Krogen 44′ and Krogen 48′ North Sea were set to go back to Seattle the following day and we had quite a few people that were so interested they were invited for the trip back. So, Dennis took 6 extra people on the Krogen 44′ and Paul took 4 extra on the Krogen 48′. We made a quick run to the grocery store after dinner for breakfast and lunch items for the passage. Dennis and Paul were both excited, though not quite as excited as those I talked to that were joining for the ride.  Sea trialing the boat is obviously very important when deciding on purchasing a boat, not to mention fun!

Overall, it was another great show. The next two shows we have coming up are the Seattle Boats Afloat from September 14 – 18 and the Newport Boat Show from September 15 – 18. Please come see us!! If you can’t wait until the fall, you can always call or email to schedule an appointment with one of our sales representatives. Enjoy your summers and your cruising!!!

WEDNESDAY

I awoke early in the morning to big, fluffy puffs of snow falling from the sky. I was concerned about my flight to Fort Lauderdale for Trawler Fest, but hoped it was early enough that I’d still get out on time. No such luck. Apparently, the de-icing fluid only works with one kind of precipitation. Since there was rain, snow and ice pellets – we weren’t going anywhere. So, I sat on the tarmac for two and a half hours.

Not upset to be headed to Fort Lauderdale!!

The Krogen 48’ AE was already in use with the women’s navigational course through PassageMaker University and the Krogen 55’ Expedition and Krogen 44’ wouldn’t be at the marina until later in the day. Fortunately my delay was more of an annoyance than it was a disruption to getting ready for the show.

When I finally touched down, I couldn’t wait to stretch my legs and get off the plane. I was on my way to meet Larry (who had to wait for me for an hour and a half) and halfway there I realized my computer bag was still stowed away in the overhead compartment! Once I retrieved my goods we made our way to baggage claim and hopped in a cab to the Bahia Mar Resort and Yachting Center. The weather was much better than Baltimore’s, though a little chilly and breezy for south Florida.

The Krogen 48′ AE was just delivered a few weeks ago to Florida, so obviously this was my first time seeing her. I know I’m biased, but this boat was absolutely stunning. She’s warm and inviting and also looks like she’s ready to take on the world. And the floors!! Most of our boats have parque flooring, but this boat was built with teak and spruce flooring. Larry admitted that he was a little concerned it would look like a bowling alley, but upon seeing it we were all in awe. SO pretty!

Our fleet of Krogens beautified for the show.

Eventually Captain Ian Burry arrived with the Krogen 55′ and Gregg Gandy arrived with the Krogen 44′. Once we got our boats set up and decorated for the show the following morning a group of us went off to eat at Larry’s most favorite restaurant in all the land – The Pramanti Brothers, a chain out of Pittsburgh. I was reluctant to go because I am a little bitter with that city (GO PACKERS!!) but it was a delicious meal.

Pretty sure this skipped my arteries and went straight to clogging my aorta. But very tasty!

I fended off the food coma as long as possible and made it out for a drink with some of the PMM crew, but had to retire early. I was a sleepy girl!

THURSDAY

I woke up bright and early to go for a long run. (Did you see the picture of my burger above?? Yea.) The sunrise was beautiful! And it put me in a great mood for the first day of the show.

View as I ran along A1A by the beach. Great start to a great day!!

I didn’t get to attend the Fort Lauderdale Trawler Fest last year because I was in Seattle helping with the show out there. It is wild how much I’ve learned about Kadey-Krogen over the past year. I was bouncing from boat to boat, but if the sales team were all busy I found myself walking people through the boats. I actually surprised myself with how many questions I was able to answer. Not to mention these shows are a boost to my ego. So many people follow the blog (and demanded I update more often. I will do better, I promise!).

John awaiting the masses in the cockpit of the Krogen 44' at the beginning of the show.

Jim literally had the trip from hell getting to Fort Lauderdale. After two canceled flights on Wednesday and a lost bag he showed up Thursday morning looking like this:

Fortunately, Larry had an extra shirt for him to borrow...

There was a visible ebb and flow of people because of the well attended seminars as well as lunch and coffee breaks. We were busy throughout the whole day and had few extended lulls. It was a great first day to the show.

That evening we had Victoria Allman on board preparing light fare for a VIP happy hour we decided to hold. Victoria is a yacht chef and has cruised around the world working as a private chef. It’s also how she met her husband who is a captain and they now make a wonderful team.

Victoria preparing food in the galley of the Krogen 55' Expedition.

She made turkish lamb kebobs, spanish camponata, crab and avocado cucumbers and myriad other delicious hors d’ouevres. Throw in red and white wine, some brewskis and potential future owners and you’ve got yourself a party! It was a lot of fun. We had about 25 people on board and still could have fit more!

It’s always great to meet new people and learn their stories and their interests. There was one couple I struck up a conversation with where the husband was head-over-heels for the Krogen 48′ AE. So much so, that I offered to walk him through again. His reaction was reminiscent of a child who’s being told he’s going on a trip to Disney World. I hadn’t seen such excitement in a while! He and his wife both took their time walking through and admiring the woodwork, the pilothouse, the office, the flybridge. They loved it all and were very appreciative to have a private tour.

Laura and I relaxing after the happy hour.

After the happy hour I went out and had a low-key evening with my brother, who happens to live in the area, and opted to keep the night pretty tame. You and I both know that doesn’t happen often. When I woke up the next morning I had this picture from Christine, the managing editor at PassageMaker:

The boss man showing off his watch, proving how late he stayed out. You and I both know that doesn't happen very often either...

FRIDAY

This was another busy day. The morning was a little slow as the weather was pretty frigid, even to a hardened Marylander. As the day warmed up more and more people emerged and made their way to the show.

Various shoes. Sandals, sneakers and boots similar to what I wear in the snow in Baltimore!

I met a nice couple from Milwaukee that I had emailed with a bit before their arrival. It was fun to meet the person behind the email address! And he knew everything about Kadey-Krogen. I was very impressed with his knowledge – he surpassed me! They loved all the boats, but seemed to be most attracted to the Krogen 48′ – and, of course, needed enough room for their pets.

Jim discussing the advantages of a widebody vessel to attendees on the Krogen 48' AE.

I was jumping from boat to boat so often that when someone would ask me a question about the boat, I’d have to look around and figure out which boat I was on so that I answered correctly! It’s always interesting to take a step back and look around. There are attendees in their own world that don’t want to be bothered and want to check things out by themselves. There are some that are completely awe-struck and walk through gently touching the walls and counters and storage areas. There are some that have a lot of questions and get instantly hooked once they start speaking to a sales person. Lots of people were interested in learning more about the Krogen 52′.

The delicious spread Victoria prepared for the second happy hour.

After the show we had another happy hour where Victoria Allman graced us with her presence and prepared fabulous hors d’ouevres. She again commented on how much she loved the galley. Definitely a huge compliment coming from a woman that worked in many ‘a galley. We had a couple more people than the night before, though we had enough food, drink and room for even more. I coaxed Victoria to display a few of her cookbooks and to our delight – sold most of them!

Larry tending bar.

After the happy hour, Larry and I snuck into PMM’s dinner for the tail end of the pirate-themed event. Hopefully, I’ll be able to experience the next one in Anacortes in May. It looked like everyone was having a blast! From there we hit the town and ended up in the Riverwalk area of the city. Without getting too into detail, Fort Lauderdale is definitely a fun city….

SATURDAY

For some unknown reason, I was a little slow getting out of bed Saturday morning. I was reinvigorated upon showering and then walking outside where the sun was kissing my face. I’ve found that I much prefer sunshine to snow. I think I might ask to transfer to the Stuart office….

Basking in the sun. It felt incredible!

There were lots of people on the docks as well as on our boats throughout the day. Jim called me over at one point to talk to some people that were asking about stabilizers. Cue  my experience cruising across the Gulf from Florida to Mexico. That’s always a fun story to recount. Everyone – especially Jim – gets a kick out of it.

Laura and Jim pose (awkwardly) on the Krogen 55' Expedition.

The day seemed to fly by. Since we didn’t have anything planned for the evening, we decided to go to the PassageMaker cocktail hour. After about thirty minutes the award ceremony started and guess what. “What?!” you say?? The brand new Krogen 48′ AE won the People’s Choice Award!! See, I’m not the only one that thinks she’s absolutely stunning!

Larry, Laura, Bill and I accepting the award from PMM's John Wooldridge.

That marks the third consecutive Trawler Fest we’ve won the honor of the People’s Choice Award. In Warwick, it was the Krogen 48′ North Sea. In Baltimore, it was the Krogen 55′. And now this! Three in a row and eight overall for the company. I think that speaks for itself.

Anyway, the show was great.  A good mix of existing potential customers, new leads and, as always, lots of fun! I’m looking forward to exhibiting in the Miami International Boat Show in two weeks! We’ll have both the Krogen 48′ AE and the Krogen 55′ Expedition on display. If you missed us this time around or would like to come see us again- we’d love to have you!

Friday

I arrived at the boats a little after 8am with fresh flowers and snacks for the sales staff (Yes, Bill. I will buy more junk food next time!) After unpacking, decorating, placing all literature on all the boats and a sales meeting, we were ready for the show! Usually, the first hour or so tends to be a little slow. Not in Baltimore. 10am felt like the running of the bulls! A mass of people came down the ramp and along the docks and before I knew it, the sales team and I were all engaged in conversation. The only significant lull we had in the day was during lunch (where I heard the office staff at the Rusty Scupper had to start taking orders and working the floor because they were so slammed).

Beautiful flower arrangement in cockpit of the Krogen 55'.

I enjoy watching the sales people interact with the people on board. Some are very informational with an unbelievable wealth of knowledge about the boats, the brand, the niche in the market and the same for every other trawler that was there. Some are more understated but equally knowledgable. Some are flat-out warm and friendly, but still maintain a business composure. And some make unsuspecting quips that ultimately reel the person into a frank and educational discussion. They are all very smart, and all so very different.

Greg talking to attendees of the Trawler Fest.

Overall Friday was a good day. Lots of traffic, and each of the sales team met up with some existing customers as well as garnered a few new leads. After all the talking and educating and nonstop traffic (all good things!), the 5pm PassageMaker cocktail hour was welcome. The drinks were followed by the Kadey-Krogen sponsored dinner which was then followed by the ever-popular Mardi Gras festivities.

Laura sitting with owners Maria Rosa (left) and Bunnie Eccleston (right).

If you’ve been following my blog, you know how competitive I get with the Mardi Gras dress-up contest. I’m pleased to announce that we won yet again! Thank you Laura for being such a good sport!

Laura dancing with Krogen 44' owner, Tom, during the contest.

Per usual after the event, the PMM crew and several of the other exhibitors and I went out for a night on the town. While Baltimore is my stomping grounds, it’s not too often I go out on the other side of the city. We made our way over to the Tiki Barge, which is a pool and bar set up at the end of a nearby marina. Being as it’s right on the water, someone had the brilliant idea of setting up water guns, much like those seen in the boothes at state fairs, to spray passing boats – and after a few too many drink or two – spray each other. I happened to engage in some friendly fire with another exhibitor.

Ahhh, the irony!

I went home excited to change into dry clothes and rest up for the second day of the show.

Saturday

The morning was similar to the previous morning. Lots of people coming on board right at 10 with very few lulls. My dad, a Chesapeake Bay Pilot, actually spoke at one of the seminars in the morning. He’s been attending Trawler Fests well before I even knew what a trawler was! After lunch he and my mom made their way over to the marina. He was already familiar with the Krogen 39′ from when we crossed the Gulf of Mexico, so it was nice that he and my mom were able to see the rest of the models that we build. I liked that such a seasoned mariner was impressed with and in awe of our boats.

My parents leaning over the waist-high rail and talking to a friend.

It actually got so busy on Saturday that we had to block of the finger pier with the easels and have Larry be a makeshift bouncer. It’s nice to be popular. And the flurry of excitement as new people board is energizing. The afternoon seemed to fly by!

Lots of people on board!

Saturday night the dinner was complemented with live music performed by The Back Pages Band. I sat with my parents and several of their friends and shot the breeze about the maritime industry. It’s fun to talk to all the people that are involved in different niches of the market than I am. The dinner was again sponsored by Kadey-Krogen and followed with an auction where the money was donated to The Children’s Guild, a local nonprofit assisting children and adolescents with behavioral, emotional and mental disorders. As one of the items was being auctioned off, I happened to be caught up in a very animated story I was telling my mother. One flick of the wrist to emphasize part of my anecdote, and all of a sudden I had the $1000 bid! Fortunately, the item sold for a couple hundred more than that. So, in the end, it worked out for both the nonprofit and my bank account.

My parents and I at the Trawler Fest dinner. (With a Kadey-Krogen sponsorship table card in the foreground.)

I went out with “the crew” for a night cap at Little Havana. It was a little bittersweet because it was the last Trawler Fest of the year and it won’t be until January that everyone will be reunited again!

Sunday

Since I had to work and would be missing the Ravens home opener against the Browns, I was sure to wear my big purple earrings and my purple chucks to the show. It was amusing to watch all the people in their Ravens’ jerseys wandering the docks before the game. It made me proud!

Larry and Bill chatting in cockpit of the Krogen 58'.

Friday and Saturday had both been sweltering, humid days. People were coming on board with visible sweat marks on their clothes and sweat dripping down their faces. Sunday was cold and rainy. People were bundled up and layered. For whatever reason, I ended up spending most of my day on the Krogen 55′ and I was enjoying watching jaws drop as people came aboard. I heard the words “stunning”, “incredible”, “gorgeous” and “unbelievable” more than once. She truly is a vessel you need to see to believe. A little foreshadowing took place when a younger couple boarded with their small twin boys and one of the twins took off around the saloon yelling, “This is the winner! This is the winner!”  And right he was! We are very excited that a Kadey-Krogen won the People’s Choice Award for the second show in a row!

Larry and John accepting the People's Choice Award on the Krogen 55'.

Another successful show for the season. We met many new prospective customers and the company gained two Letters of Intent for the new Krogen 52′ as well as the People’s Choice Award for the Krogen 55′!

Next up we have the Krogen Rendezvous in Solomon’s from October 7th – 10th. This is quickly followed by the Annapolis Powerboat Show October 14th-17th. And then just a few days later we are officially planning a Treasure the Chesapeake Cruise tentatively scheduled from October 20th-23rd. We’ve got quite a bit going on over the next few weeks. I hope to see you for some of it!

Our PR guru, Natalie Friton, and I on the Krogen 58' swim platform. Thanks, Natalie, for referring me to Kadey-Krogen!!

Tuesday

Before the show started Larry and I were responsible for getting both the Krogen 58′ and the Krogen 55′ Expedition from Annapolis to Baltimore. (The others, a Krogen 48′ North Sea and a Krogen 44′, were to be brought up by their respective owners.) Because the Krogen 58′ was being used in the Building Cruising Confidence as a Couple course with Chris and Alyse Caldwell in PassageMaker University, she had to be there on Tuesday while the Krogen 55′ didn’t have to be there until Thursday, the day before the show started. Yes, it really is part of my job to give up half a day in the office to cruise a Kadey-Krogen yacht “for work”. It was sunny, calm and beautiful. We met up with the owner of the Krogen 44′ at the Inner Harbor Marina, since his boat was being used for the Women’s Single Engine course taught by SeaSense, The Women’s Sailing and Powerboating School, and drove back down to Annapolis.

Headed towards the Bay Bridge.

The Krogen 58′ has been our demo boat for a few months now and I’m starting to get a feel for her. Larry allowed me to take the Captain’s chair while he navigated. At one point he even looked out the window of the pilothouse and exclaimed, “You’re going in a straight line!”. While Larry self-admittedly is big on the “backhanded compliments”, I was a little surprised I was doing so well too. I mean, she’s a BIG boat! But not too difficult to handle. As I realized that I could maneuver her, my innate instinct to relax on the water set in. It was a beautiful, uneventful cruise up.

That's me! Captain Band.

Thursday

The trip went just as smooth two days later when we were bringing up the Krogen 55′ Expedition. This time we had autopilot, so it was another calming trip up the Bay. We followed the same course and had the same conditions. Another glorious day out of the office. The Krogen 55′ has a bit of a different feel to her. Mostly because I was able to concentrate less and enjoy the view from the 360 degree pilothouse windows. I also had Larry in the “first mate” chair next to me. Other than that, it was the same relaxing cruise to Baltimore.

Enjoying a beautiful day on the Bay!

The Baltimore Inner Harbor Waterfront is a spectacular view. Whenever my dad has new people on his boat and wants to do a short cruise, he leaves his marina and the “dog and pony show” commences. Needless to say, I’ve been fortunate to see the harbor countless times from this perspective, but it never gets old.

View from the wing station of the Krogen 55'. Isn't it pretty?

As we approached the marina, I wondered what it was going to be like docking a boat without side decks. (For those of you who don’t already know, our Expedition series is sans side decks with a beautiful, spacious full-beam interior. It really feels like you’re stepping into someone’s home -  a home that just happens to have the ability to travel around the world. More on this model in the next blog.)  As the line handler, I am pleased to say that it was very easy to get to where I needed to be from the stern, to midships, to bow. Another successful docking!

Approaching the Baltimore Inner Harbor Marina just below the Rusty Scupper restaurant.

Larry and I grabbed a quick lunch with John Gear at the Rusty Scupper and began setting up. This took most of the rest of the afternoon and as I was about to start wrapping things up Laura and I were invited to dinner by one of our current owners with whom I email relatively frequently. They were interested in getting to know us better, as well as acquire more information on the Krogen 52′.  Mind you, I had not eaten at the Rusty Scupper in about 13 years, and there I was twice in one day. Fortunately it’s delicious food! Laura, the couple and I had a great meal! Great drink, great food, but most importantly great company. It’s quite an experience to get to know virtual strangers so intimately as you discuss their dreams of their future. It’s interesting to walk along with them on such a personal path. After dinner it was off to bed- I had an early morning the next day finishing getting set up!

More to come…

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!

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!