The Kadey-Krogen Group, builder of Krogen Yachts, Summit Motoryachts, and American Tug, adds industry veteran Earl Alfaro to their in-house team.
September, 2024, Stuart, Florida — The Kadey-Krogen Group, builder of the world class series of Krogen ocean-crossing trawlers, the performance cruising series Summit Motoryachts, and the coastal cruising brand American Tug, is proud to announce the hiring of Earl Alfaro as their new in-house naval architect.
A longtime industry veteran, Alfaro’s passion for boats dates to his childhood. “My obsession with boats started at a very early age,” he said. “We never owned a boat, but my dad started shopping for one when I was about 12 years old, and through that I learned a lot about boats. But it all really clicked when I took a trip to Pompano Beach, Florida, with my family when I was about 14 years old. I was exposed to all these boats I had read about in magazines but had never actually seen, I was surrounded by them, and I was thrilled. And one day, for whatever reason, I decided to stay in the hotel room, and I found the hotel stationery and sketched the boats I had seen on the water. So, I’d say at around 12 years old things were happening behind the scenes that led me to seek a full-time career as a naval architect.”
Over the years since he first put pen to paper, Alfaro spent over a decade as a project engineer for the legendary Tom Fexas Yacht Design and has served as a yacht designer for brands such as Palmer Johnson, Pursuit, and Grand Banks Yachts. But throughout that time, he’s kept in touch, and has worked with the Kadey-Krogen Group as a contractor.
“Back in the day, when I used to attend a lot of boat shows, I would see Kadey-Krogens routinely, and I was attracted to the traditional design, the intent of the design,” Alfaro said. “And then later during my years of working independently, I would stop by and see the team at the boat shows. We always remained connected to one degree or another. Last year, when Dave Glasgow was still part of the team, I started doing some contract work with Kadey-Krogen. So, when this opportunity became available, it seemed like a logical fit for me to come on board. With the development background and experience that I have, I’m excited to evolve the future product of the company while maintaining its core DNA, with respect to how these boats are designed relative to the customers who are seeking them out.”
Now, Alfaro is poised to take his years of experience to help the Kadey-Krogen Group in their next chapter. “It is an exciting time at the company,” Alfaro said. “I think there is a huge amount of opportunity to demonstrate to the marine industry not just where The Kadey-Krogen Group has been, but where it’s going. With the diversity of product offerings, from the faster planing hulls of Summit to the recent acquisition of American Tug, we’re now expanding to cover three markets, and I think that is very exciting. With all the knowledge that I’ve accumulated, these boats that I’m truly passionate about, and the experience I’ve gained over the last 10 years in terms of hull design and naval architecture, the opportunity to take all that and integrate it into the future product offering will be very exciting.”
For more information about The Kadey-Krogen Group, click here.
About The Kadey-Krogen Group
Today’s generation of Kadey-Krogen trawlers are the result of a 47-year heritage of innovation and more than 650 yachts built. Founded by Art Kadey and Jim Krogen in 1976, Kadey-Krogen Yachts currently builds Krogen brand yachts from 44 to 60 feet. In 2019, the company introduced the Summit Motoryachts series of performance cruising yachts, which combine the renowned build quality and attention to detail of all Kadey-Krogen yachts with the performance hull designed by renowned naval architect Michael Peters. In May of 2023, The Kadey-Krogen Group acquired American Tugs, the La Conner, Washington-based boatbuilder, with five models ranging from 36 to 48 feet. The Kadey-Krogen Group is headquartered in Stuart, Florida, with additional sales offices in Long Beach, Washington, Annapolis, Maryland, and Portsmouth, Rhode Island. For more information about the company and their latest projects, please visit kadeykrogen.com, summitmotoryachts.com, and americantugs.com.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Ford Bauer
The Kadey-Krogen Group
401-441-3765