Boat test for the 2006 Kadey-Krogen Krogen 44 with boat pictures, boat specifications, and boat test results. Includes pricing, videos, engine test reviews, and ratings for the 2006 Kadey-Krogen Krogen 44.

I discovered three things while sea trialing the 44 in 20 to 30 feet of water near Thomas Shoal Lighthouse, a few miles southeast of the Annapolis Coast Guard station. The first was pure nuts and bolts: Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, the 44's even more solid and seamlessly built than the 42, with Knytex mats, pricey vinylester resins, a one-piece PVC-foam-cored superstructure (with a one-piece boat deck/flying bridge/pilothouse molding on top), teak decks secured with epoxy instead of screws, and a hull-to-deck joint fastened with gutsy polyurethane adhesive. I could literally feel the heft and muscularity of the 44 as she rambled through the waves.

The second was real-world-cruising-related: Operating the 44 was an absolute joy. Visibility was excellent from both the upper and lower helms, Hynautic hydraulic steering was smooth, tracking was arrow-straight, instruments were instantly readable, and the rolling motion of the unstabilized boat was both easy and seakindly. Some vessels are tiring to operate long-term, even with stabilizers. The 44's relaxin'!

And the third? Due to scheduling and other concerns, the test of our 44 was a bit hurried and, as a result, perhaps somewhat flawed. Because the Eatons graciously made their lives and their boat fit a workable agenda for PMY, they did not have time to have her bottom cleaned, a detail that likely shaved a knot or so off our speeds and significantly affected the range calculations Krogen touts: 4,450 nautical miles at 6 knots, 3,000 nautical miles at 7 knots, 1,900 nautical miles at 8 knots, and 1,250 nautical miles at 9 knots. Nevertheless, even a brief perusal of the data shown here is pretty darn convincing—with fuel costs skyrocketing, the synergistic combination of a modern, low-horsepower powerplant like the John Deere 6068TFM with an old-school, full-displacement hull form like the Krogen 44's is likely to play an increasingly important role in yachting's future. In fact, based on my recent experiences onboard, I'm betting the traditionally styled, contemporarily constructed 44 will eventually outsell the venerable 42 and then just keep right on chuggin' along.

Kadey-Krogen Yachts
(772) 286-0171

PAGES:

1

2