Kadey-Krogen Yachts
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Marine |
| Founded | 1977 by Art Kadey, Jim Krogen |
| Headquarters | Stuart, Florida |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Tom Button (president) Larry Polster (vice president) Tucker West (vice president) |
| Products | Recreational trawlers in the 39- to 64-foot (20 m) range |
Number of employees | 16 (2013) |
| Website | www |
Founded in 1977, Kadey-Krogen Yachts is one of the oldest manufacturers of long-range capable, recreational trawler yachts in the U.S.[1] Their vessels are closely linked in naval design to the historic fishing trawlers of the North Sea and have the capability to cross any ocean. Kadey-Krogen Yachts is a semi-custom builder and manufactures 10-15 yachts per year. Five models are currently offered, ranging in size from 44 to 58 feet (18 m) with new models on the drawing board.
Defining aspects of the Kadey-Krogen trawler yacht are a pure full displacement hull, a fine forward entry, a wineglass transom, a fully covered aft deck which functions as the back porch, and high quality interior joinery predominantly in teak or cherry with other selections available. Their design enables the yachts to make ocean passages in comfort and safety. Owners of Kadey-Krogen trawler yachts have reported crossing the Atlantic,[2] Pacific and Indian oceans, and the Mediterranean Sea.
Kadey-Krogen is headquartered in Stuart, Florida, with other offices in Annapolis and Seattle. Unlike the majority of boat manufacturers, the company does not use a dealership network, but instead works directly with customers. For the past 21 years the company's boats have been built at a dedicated yard in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Kadey-Krogens are sold direct through an in-house sales team.
Kadey-Krogen's yachts are often used as liveaboard vessels.[3] According to company estimates, up to 75-percent of owners are part- or full-time liveaboards. While most owners have or are in the process of retiring, many continue to work and utilize their last few years working to take small trip and get acquainted with their boat and the lifestyle.
History
In 1977, naval architect Jim Krogen and yacht broker Art Kadey met in a bar in Coconut Grove to design Kadey a live-aboard 42-foot trawler. Over a few rum punches, the origins of the first hull were sketched out in pencil on an unassuming piece of notebook paper.[4] Based upon this design, the two incorporated as Kadey-Krogen Yachts and began to produce the Krogen 42’. Over the past 36 years Kadey-Krogen Yachts has designed and built 14 different models ranging from 36’ – 58’. Six different models are available as “current production” with several others on the drawing board.
The company was founded in 1977 by Art Kadey and Jim Krogen. Art Kadey died in 1981 and Jim Krogen in December 1994. From 1995 until 2006 the company was owned by some of Jim’s children and their business partners. In 2006, ownership of the company was transferred to John Gear, Larry Polster, and Tom Button.
Hull form
All Kadey-Krogens are built using their exclusive Pure Full Displacement hull characterized by a moderate displacement-to-length ratio, a fine entry, and end-to-end symmetry including the signature “wineglass” transom. The Pure Full Displacement hull is differentiated from other hulls based upon two form fundamentals: longitudinal symmetry and displacement to length ratio (D/L). Longitudinal symmetry refers to the degree to which the stern shape matches the bow shape. A barge is highly symmetrical and seaworthy but does not have ideal longitudinal symmetry and therefore is not very sea kindly. A hull with good symmetry will have V-shaped sections and sharp waterlines at both ends.
There are four characteristics of a vessel with a symmetrical hull form.
- A fine entry which contributes to wave cutting ability and less pounding in head seas.
- A symmetrical form that has a fine stern tracks better in a following sea. Basic physics dictates that for every wave action force on the hull there is an equal and opposite reaction of force on the water. A V-shaped section aft will deflect a large portion of wave energy resulting in straighter tracking. A flatter hull shapes will direct nearly all of the wave force back vertically on the opposite side of the boat. Hull edges will dig in, much like a slalom water ski or snow ski, causing the boat to corkscrew through the water.
- The aft V-shaped sections also offer less resistance and drag than the broad waterlines of asymmetrical hulls which results in better fuel economy.
- Symmetrical forms roll less. The leverage (upward force) that wave action has on the flatter sections is greater than on a hull that is more tapered. The upward force on one side creates a downward force on the other side which is roll.
The displacement-to-length ratio (D/L) indicates whether a given displacement is carried over a long waterline length or a short one. It reflects the load the vessel has to carry on a per-foot of waterline basis. Lower ratios tend towards lean and slippery forms with fine ends, and higher ratios tend towards full-bodied and less efficient forms with blunter ends. A lighter load per foot of waterline length results in better fuel economy and range.
A vessel with a long waterline and low D/L (those in the 260-325 range) can be compared to a bank account earning compounded interest. Reducing D/L yields a more easily driven hull form thereby improving fuel economy and allowing for the use of smaller engines. The improved economy reduces the weight of fuel that must be carried for the desired range and the use of lower horsepower engines will reduce the weight of propulsion machinery. All this weight reduction now results in even greater fuel economy resulting in more weight savings resulting in even better economy, and so the benefits compound.
To ensure that strength is not compromised by this weight savings approach, Kadey-Krogen uses massive stem-to-stern fiberglass girders that are closely spaced for effective distribution of hull loads to bulkheads, and encapsulated mahogany girder inserts that allow equipment to be attached for maximum strength and reliability. Cast lead (as opposed to iron) ballast conforms to the keel contour and is concentrated low in the hull so less ballast material is required and weight is reduced. Deckhouse and hull topsides are of cored laminates for reduced weight, lower center of gravity, thermal insulation and strength. Critical areas are reinforced with an impact-resistant fiberglass mat containing Twaron, which is the same fiber used to give body armor "bullet-proof" capability. Twaron is an aramid fiber that is five times stronger than steel and up to 60% lighter than ballistic steel. Kadey-Krogen is the only builder of trawlers who provides this level of hull reinforcement.
Models
Kadey-Krogen models currently in production include:
Krogen 44' AE
- Based upon the success of the Krogen 48’ AE, the Krogen 44’ AE (Advanced Ergonomics) was launched as the successor to the Krogen 44' and has more than 50 ergonomic and technical changes. The Krogen 44’ AE has large saloon, full size refrigerator and designer range in the galley, a spacious pilothouse and flybridge, two cabins and is available with one or one and one-half heads.
Krogen 48’ AE
- The Krogen 48’ AE relied upon customer input from Krogen 48’ North Sea owners to create a new vessel whose underlying theme is ease of use and advanced ergonomics. The 48’ AE has two staterooms, with one being an office if desired and two heads. It also has a large saloon, full size refrigerator and designer range in the galley with spacious pilothouse and entertaining fly bridge.
Krogen 52’
- Building on the 10 year success of the Krogen 58’, the Krogen 52’ offers many of the same design elements with its raised pilothouse and spacious living areas, yet in keeping with the company’s adherence to architectural integrity, the Krogen 52’ is constructed with entirely new tooling. The Krogen 52’ is available in a variety of layouts with either the master stateroom forward or amidships. The Krogen 52’ also has large saloon, walk-in engine room (available as single or twin engine), gourmet galley with a designer appliances including a trash compactor and dishwasher as well as a door out to the starboard side deck. There is a spacious pilothouse (with room for two helm chairs) and a large flybridge/boat deck area.
Krogen 55’ Expedition
- The Krogen 55’ Expedition combines the benefits of 25% more interior room than comparably sized yachts with true twin-engine expedition capability and world class looks. With a beam of 18’ the 55’ is available in two or three stateroom layouts, has a galley that’s built more like a kitchen and a pilothouse with 360 degree views.
Krogen 58'
- The Krogen 58’ is the largest raised pilothouse design currently in production from Kadey-Krogen Yachts. She is available in a variety of layouts with either the master stateroom forward or amidships. The Krogen 58’ has a walk-in engine room (available as single or twin engine), gourmet galley with a designer appliances including a trash compactor and dishwasher as well as a door out to the starboard side deck. There is a spacious pilothouse (with room for two helm chairs) and a large flybridge/boat deck area.
Range
| KKY Trawler Model | Range |
|---|---|
| 44' AE | 3000 nm at 7 knots |
| 48' AE | 3020 nm at 7 knots |
| 52' | 3000 nm at 7.3 knots |
| 55' Expedition | 3300 nm at 7.5 knots |
| 58' | 3300 nm at 7.6 knots |
References
- ^ "The Legacy of Kadey-Krogen Yachts," PassageMaker Magazine, December 2002
- ^ "Canadian Ambassadors," PassageMaker Magazine, July/August 2010
- ^ "Creeping Happily Along the Waterways," Miami Herald, October 2007
- ^ "Kadey-Krogen Trawlers: 30 Years in Business in Stuart," Treasure Coast News, October 2007