While waiting for Matt Gambrill of Calvert Marina Yachts to show me his new boat, I went walking around the covered docks at this Solomons, Maryland, facility to check out the boats – as all of us do in a new yard or marina.  In the first slip I saw a Krogen 42, easily distinguished by its strong bow shape.  I’ve long felt the K42 is a happy boat, as I imagine the bow as a big smile to the world that it is indeed a fine day to be out on the water.  The other boats in nearby slips seemed asleep, but the K42 just sat there smiling.

    Matt was right along, and he led me straight back to this boat – what I thought was a 42-footer was indeed the new 48 Classic.  Simply incredible – the proportions are so similar.

    Stepping aboard the boat through the midships stanchion gate, we proceeded aft.  Still thinking I was on a K42, I turned my shoulders and upper body sideways as I stepped down from the upper deck to the lower side deck.  As I took the first step, I realized I had plenty of room to walk normally – there was room for my shoulders and the rest of me.

    An anecdote if you will…I was in a restaurant a few years back, having a quick lunch on a rainy and windy day.  I was in a bit of a hurry, so I quickly paid the bill and made my way to the door.  I grabbed my trench coat off the coat rack, put it on – and all of a sudden my coat felt loose on me.  The coat was comfortable and roomy, and still familiar – if felt good.  The key to the Jaguar, however, told me something was awry…

    If you have ever been aboard a K42, let me tell you, this is exactly what you will feel.  It is really quite remarkable.  This boat feels like its seams have been let out a bit, providing plenty of real-world room for those aboard.  Rather than fit as much as possible into this design, Kadey-Krogen’s approach makes all space useable and user-friendly to the owners – taking advantage of the 48 feet.

    I knew I was going to enjoy this very much after that first step.

    The boat we toured was Hull #1 of the new Krogen 48 Classic.  The 48-footer is available in several layouts and topside profiles.  Hull #1 is a standard walk-around model with two staterooms.  As such, it is very similar in appearance to the Krogen 42, with sloping pilothouse windows.

    Another model, known as the North Sea 48, has a reverse-raked windshield in the pilothouse, but is otherwise the same.  Both models are available in standard walk-around (with side decks) or wide-body (which takes the salon out to the port side of the hull, eliminating the port side deck).  And the boat is available with either two or three staterooms.

    All told, there re eight possible versions of the Krogen 48, which makes the boat something of a semi-custom production boat.

      Even though we were aboard Hull #1, there was no evidence of prototype experimentation or changes-while-building.  The finish is definitely up to the Kadey-Krogen standard – glasswork, woodwork, mechanical and electrical installations, and general finish are excellent.  The use of teak is more contemporary than past boats, so the maintenance responsibilities of an all-teak yacht are avoided.  Exterior teak is limited to the cap rail and the aft deck.  Other exterior trim is stainless steel or fiberglass.

Side Decks and Access
    The width of the side decks range from 19”-24”, and since they are not interrupted by deck-mounted cleats or intake fill pipes, keeping them clean will be easy.  Many current buyers of cruising trawlers and motorboats opt for full-beam salon layouts – eliminating one or both side decks that are narrow and prone to cause bruises.

    The Krogen 48 might change some minds about this.  With the overhead boat deck (headroom averages 6’6”) giving plenty of coverage from rain or sun, it is a good place to watch the world pass by, while leaning against the waist-high cap rail.  Very protective and uncluttered.

    In addition to boarding through a stanchion gate opposite the pilothouse, there are two small coaming doors on either side of the boat near the stern.  They provide a 15-inch step up/down to a dock.  Having two methods of getting on or off the boat is an excellent feature because there are many different tide and dock variations – sometimes the dock is high, sometimes low.

    In addition to being just plain easier for us stiff folks, it’s also much easier and safer for children or pets.  Something to think about when you are looking at other boats at the shows.

    The lifeline stanchions are all 1.25” stainless, with wire used for intermediate lifelines.  Stanchions are 38”-40” high, and very well secured to the deck.  This is all very proper on a yacht with the long distance voyaging capability of the Krogen 48.

    There is a beefy rubrail (4 inches wide) along each side of the hull, extending from just forward of the pilothouse all the way aft to the stern.  Pilings!?!...Hah!  I laugh at you!!!

Foredeck
    The high bow of the Krogen 48 is almost ten feet above the water – accounting, no doubt, for the happy smiling impression. There is a solid bow platform to carry anchors, and a large electric Lofrans windlass is standard.  It might be a very good idea to add a washdown system for bringing in the anchor and rode, as mud and gunk will quickly run down this inclined deck.

    There are two 20” opening hatches on the foredeck, providing good ventilation and light for the master stateroom below.  Molded-in non-skid on the foredeck allows sure footing.

    Eleven feet back from the bow is a long bench for spectator seating while cruising along interesting shorelines.  The bench seats cover three deck lockers – all kinds of lines and gear can be stored right on deck for convenience.  Even with the upward angle of the bow, the view from this seating area is outstanding for boat-people-beach-waterfront sightseeing.  It’s also great for seeing a glacier up close and personal – with a thermos of hot chocolate, of course!

    Shorepower connection, along with phone/TV and direct water hookups are made to Marinco fittings on the face of the center seat locker.  On the boat we were on, a duplicate set of connections was located in the aft deck area, for use when docked stern-in.  Owners therefore avoid the mess of power cords and hoses running around the boat.  While almost all of us have figured out our own creative ways to handle the tangle, it’s best to avoid it in the first place.

    Three large rectangular windows are built-in to the front of the pilothouse, each with wipers.  All windows on the boat are US-made by Freeman Marine Equipment – noted for their weatherproof and durable ruggedness.  Hefty handholds on the side of the pilothouse allow secure moving about in a seaway.

Heading Aft
    Going aft, you find the steps down to the sidedecks are wide, and the path clear of fittings, covers, and hardware.  Even the midships cleats/hawsepipes are out of the way, so you can avoid the obligatory scrapes against such hardware – always a nuisance on cruising boats with the proper number and arrangement of line-handling cleats.

    The aft deck, or back porch, or patio (I can’t decide which) is where most people will be while at anchor or under way.  There is full protection from the overhead boat deck, keeping people, furniture, and everything else from the harmful effects of sun or rain. The deck measures approximately 7’ by 13.5’, so serious living, lounging, and entertaining can be accomplished in style.

    A door in the center of the transom gives easy access down to the swim platform on the transom.  Again, this is a good arrangement for children, pets, SCUBA gear, and handling groceries brought by the dinghy.

    A hatch in the center of the aft deck gives real-world access to the lazarette and steering gear.  The hatch measures 27” by 28”, and can swallow tons of cruising essentials and gear.  The hatch is hydraulically dampened to minimize banging up the boat or crew.  Good idea.

Boat Deck and Flybridge
    The ladder on the aft deck provides access to the top boat deck and flybridge.  The size of the boat deck is enormous, and there is plenty of room for a couple of 19-foot kayaks alongside the flybridge – the width of the boat deck averages 14.5 feet.

    The flybridge has duplicate engine and steering controls, and there are four large seat lockers for storing LPG tanks and anything else you still haven’t found a place for – all four lockers are at least 26” deep.  The mast (with its boom and rigging) is the normal place for mounting radar/antennas and is also used for small boat management.  The entire boat deck is surrounded by solid and high lifelines and stanchions.

Interior-Salon
    Entry into the salon is via a double door that connects the aft deck to the interior of the boat.  The Krogen 48 we visited did not have aft salon windows, which are available.

    The salon and galley arrangement on this boat is similar in size and proportion to the Krogen 42 Widebody, but of course the Krogen 48 also has both side decks – which the Krogen 42 Widebody doesn’t.

    Teak parquet flooring is used throughout the boat, and there is a mix of teak and ivory laminate used on bulkheads and other surfaces.  The result is a traditional yacht look and finish – along with a contemporary light and airy atmosphere.  The side windows are 30” by 60” and slide open.  Ventilation will be very good on this boat.

    There is a 6’6” settee on the port side with drawers underneath and end tables and small shelves built-in around it.  The L-shaped settee wraps around the starboard and aft sides of the salon, and allows comfortable seating for relaxing and entertaining.  The salon table can be unfolded to seat up to ten people for a special occasion – if you bring in some chairs from the aft deck.  The salon area is roughly 9’ long by 11’ wide, for those of you interested in dimensions.  Headroom is a minimum of 6’5” throughout.

    Unlike the Krogen 42, the round port in the galley really looks out, not just providing a view of the fashion plate.  While the port is off-center in the galley for exterior aesthetic balance, it does let you see the water and surroundings.

    Everyone knows most galleys have sinks, stoves, drawers, lockers, and all the components of an efficient kitchen.  Rather than take an inventory of number and size drawers, model stove or sink capacity, I took an altogether different tack – does it all work together?

    As the only cook in my crew, I know my way around the kitchen.  I thought I would visualize making a normal weekday dinner in the galley that lay before me.  Nothing fancy, just a normal meal.

    So I stood there alone in the galley of the Krogen 48, and visualized preparing and cooking a meal consisting of sautéed onions and shrimp, mixed with a creamy garlic herb sauce, served over penne pasta.  We would also have a fresh garden salad, French baguette, and perhaps a nice, buttery chardonnay, assuming I could locate a bottle aboard.

    The mental process took perhaps fifteen minutes, as I went through every single step I would take to assemble, clean, cook, serve and clean up this dinner for two.

    I found the shape of the galley helpful, and I didn’t need to move around much.  The drawers and lockers are right where you need them to be.  The counterspace between the stove and the sink is plenty large enough to chop the two onions I mentally removed from a hanging wire basket under one of the overhead cabinets.  The stove’s three burners all got used, and I found 8-inch diameter pots all fit together on the stove top.

    Surprisingly, even with all the different ingredients and varied work steps, as long as I cleaned up while I went through the steps, there was plenty of room.  The spices were within reach, and the area to the right of the sink was fine for preparing the salad while everything else was cooking.

    Since my crew always gets the munchies while I cook dinner – I was also able to make some simple hors d’oeurves and heat them in the microwave just to the left of me.

    The galley works well.  There is a pull-out garbage pail, right where I would use it.  There are plenty of smaller drawers to organize the galley tools – so I didn’t need to sort through one or two large drawers, looking for something buried.

    I would recommend a small fan attached to the underside of the overhead cabinets, off to one side of the stove, to ventilate the galley area.  It got hot standing there cooking…

Holy Place
    Access to the engine is via a hatch located adjacent to the galley.  A four-step ladder takes you down to the engine and machinery space, which has an average of 44” of headroom throughout.  Since the boat comes with a single diesel, there is a lot of room in this Holy Place to perform maintenance, check belts, hoses, and fluids – or just sit and admire the diesel and its systems.  Four dome lights illuminate the space with a light switch conveniently located alongside the hatch opening.

    The Krogen 48 comes standard with a naturally-aspirated Caterpillar 3208, and the engine sits at the center of attention, surrounded by its various support systems.  While three large panels can be removed from the salon floor for serious maintenance, there is enough room to sit and move around comfortably to perform service and check fluids in both engine and gearbox.  This would not be the case if there were two engines – it would be too crowded – especially as the Cat 3208 is a V-8 engine.

    It is easy to get to the back of the engine and the stuffing box, which is a traditional screw-type packing gland.

    The Krogen 48 is meant for long distance, and three steel fuel tanks carry enough diesel for serious cruising.  The two outboard tanks each hold 320 gallons, and the larger centerline tank holds 360 gallons.  All three tanks have visual sight gauges, and are connected to a fuel management system consisting of fuel transfer pump and bronze shut-off valves.  Dual Racor 900FG fuel filters are standard.

    A Northern Lights 12kW genset is located in a soundproof box at the end of the compartment, mounted on the centerline.  It can be reached without difficulty and there is plenty of nearby flat surface for placing tools and parts.

    Shelves are bonded to both sides of the hull, meant for storage or additional equipment installations.  Two copper ground straps run along the sides of the hull several inches above any normal bilge water, clearly visible, and all below-the-waterline fittings and machinery are grounded to these straps.  All flooring in the compartment is easily removable to give access to hull and keel members.

    There is a dedicated 8D battery for starting the engine, a separate 4D battery for the genset, and three 8D batteries for house service, with room for a fourth 8D in the battery box.

    An inverter/charger is standard.

    The engine raw water intake and strainer are near the foot of the access ladder, very accessible.  The strainer arrangement is unusual in that there is a ‘Y’ fitting on the intake side of the strainer.  One hose is from the raw water intake, the other includes a bronze valve (normally closed) attached to a hose leading to the deepest part of the bilge.  If there is a major problem with water coming into the boat, this valve is opened, the raw water intake closed – and the engine becomes a rather large bilge pump.  And it is all quite readily accessible.  Neat.

    This is a good idea, but a word of caution.  It is recommended that the normally-closed bronze valve be somehow fitted with a wire loop or something to keep it from being opened accidentally by a last step or two before going up the ladder.  Since the very nature of this setup requires it be near at hand, it is therefore very near at foot as well – and could be opened without someone knowing it.

    The diesel’s wet exhaust system exits the hull at the waterline, just below the swim platform.  The same is true for the genset.

Going Forward
    Stepping down a couple of steps from the galley and salon area, a wide passageway leads to head compartments and staterooms.  There is a minimum of 6’4” headroom all the way forward, and the passageway is 28” wide.  Something to appreciate when your arms are full.

    Beneath the passageway floor is a bilge “work area” for the water system.  I call it a work area because it is 29” deep, and there is enough room to get down and sit while maintaining the water pump, pressure tank, and valve assemblies for the two 250-gallon water tanks.

    The guest stateroom is on the starboard side, and contains a slide-out double berth, a pullman-style single berth, a vanity and 37”-wide hanging locker – and a desk suitable for a small office.  This stateroom is a good compromise for those wanting extra accommodations for guests, but also want an office setup that can be left intact while guests are aboard.  There are three opening ports.

    Across from the stateroom is a large head compartment.  The toilet is a Vacuflush unit, which is economical in its use of water, and quite civilized compared to marine heads of yore.  This head compartment also includes a separate shower with seat, tile floor, and light-colored laminate surfaces.

    Closing the door behind you while you are in this compartment reveals a GE Spacemaker washer/dryer unit.  The head is roomy, but I suspect it might get pretty crowded performing laundry chores – as the passageway door must be closed in order to load or operate the washer/dryer.  I suppose like all things on boats, we adapt and adjust.  There is storage room in the head for the various laundry supplies, as well as toiletries.

Master Stateroom
    Going forward to the bow, one small step up, you are in the master stateroom.  A queen-sized island berth greets you, with built-in chairs, cabinets, and shelves on both sides.  Two large opening ports are overhead, a welcome relief for evening anchorages – much more ventilation than an aft cabin.

    There are three hanging lockers in the master stateroom, supplying a combined 92” of hanging space.  There are six large drawers at the foot of the island berth.  Shelves and lockers are everywhere, and a dressing table (with seat, 5 drawers, and  flip-up access to accessories and make-up) is along one bulkhead – with a 53” by 38” mirror overtop.  Storage is abundant – in all shapes and sizes.  This is true throughout the Krogen 48.

    The master head compartment is large enough for anyone.  There is a wonderful shower compartment with a built-in seat and folding doors.  Very nice indeed.  There is a mirrored medicine cabinet over the sink, the Vacuflush toilet has its own little spot, and there is enough storage for full-time living aboard.

    Underneath the floor in the master stateroom is another bilge work area, this one devoted to the holding tank and related equipment.  The area is 40” deep, so it is possible to get down and sit comfortably while attending to the tanks, pumps and hoses of the holding tank/Vacuflush system.  This is also a good place to access the bow thruster, if one is installed.  The entire bow hull area is accessible from this location, and there is dome lighting and room for tools and parts.  Like I said, a bilge work area…

Pilothouse
    The Krogen 48 has a great pilothouse, no doubt about it.  Some people swear by other design layouts, but a raised pilothouse just gets me going – makes me want to wear a peacoat and smoke a pipe.  Sextant in hand, I can see myself navigating around the North Atlantic, trading sea stories and insults with Jack Hawkins.

    Well, all dreaming aside, the best place on this boat to just, well, be – is the pilothouse.  There are plenty of windows for visibility, all except the forward-facing windows open.  Headroom averages 6’7”, and there is a large teak wheel (almost 29” in diameter) right in the middle of a huge console of teak cabinetry.  Chartwork is accomplished on the port side, where there are three chart drawers, each measuring 32” by 25”.

    The aft end of the pilothouse is the location of a settee worthy of any captain and crew.  It slides out to become a double watch berth.  The adjustable table mounted in front of the settee can be used for entertaining, cribbage, or comparing tattoos with other old salts.

    Two opening ports in the aft end of the pilothouse allow visibility to the stern of the boat, increase ventilation, and provide handy access for passing drinks and sandwiches up to the flybridge.

    Engine controls and gauges, navigation lights, windlass master switch, genset controls and various pump switches are all located in the pilothouse console.  Lifting up the gauge panel you find easy access to hydraulic steering and engine control equipment.  While many of these controls are duplicated on the flybridge as well, the pilothouse is the control center of the Krogen 48.

Summary
    The Krogen 48 is a long distance cruising yacht that will appeal to those who understand and appreciate the characteristics of a full displacement, ballasted, single diesel trawler.  The boat cruises under ten knots, but will go a long way indeed.  At 7 knots, the Krogen 48 will go almost 2,600 nautical miles before requiring a fuel stop.

    The boat has a base price well under $600,000.  Even though the K48 is finished as one would expect for a yacht of this pedigree – it is clearly meant to be used on the water – in luxury and style, yes, but with economy of operation, seaworthiness, and real-world comfort aboard.

    It may not be the answer for those people who currently have limited time for cruising, but it will be a boat they seriously consider when they find the time to slow down.

    For people who are looking for a long distance passagemaker, the Krogen 48 (in any one of eight versions) may be just the boat for comfortable, safe, and quality cruising – at a speed that is enjoyable, in a boat that is luxurious while practical.  It is a boat for fulfilling dreams, not dreaming.

    Did I enjoy my time on the Krogen 48 Classic?  Absolutely.  Did I find anything wrong?  Well, frankly I did have something of a disappointment – I couldn’t find the keys to the Jaguar anywhere…

Reprinted with permission from PassageMaker magazine.