Krogen Express, the Fast Trawler That Is Not a Kadey-Krogen

A shared surname, two separate businesses

The most common mistake buyers make with this brand is assuming it belongs to Kadey-Krogen. It does not. The two share a family name and a design lineage, and Soundings has gone out of its way to explain that they are independent firms. In 2026 the difference became practical: Power and Motoryacht reported over the summer that Kadey-Krogen would seek Chapter 7 liquidation, while Krogen Express carried on taking orders for 2027 boats.

The company exists because Kurt Krogen, whose father Jim Krogen designed the Kadey-Krogen trawlers, wanted something sleeker. His reference point was the graceful commuter yachts of 1920s Manhattan. Father and son drew the boat together, a new company was set up to build it, and the first model, a 49-footer, appeared in 1996. A 53 with a longer cockpit followed.

Owners who became builders

In 2001 the business changed hands. John and Betsie Tegtmeyer had cruised on a Kadey-Krogen 42 and then on a Krogen Express 49, so they bought the company as experienced customers rather than investors. With Kurt Krogen they reworked the design into the KE52, introduced in 2002 on new tooling, which replaced both earlier models. Since then the company has concentrated on steady refinement of that single boat, logging more than 150 changes since the first hull.

Construction is contracted to a yard in Taiwan that has built Krogen designs for decades, while the Florida office handles sales and owner support. The company promotes lifetime concierge support for owners, a selling point that stands out given the troubles at its namesake.

Where the KE52 fits the fast-trawler idea

Our Krogen Express 52 review covers the boat in depth. In short, it was conceived for owners who want trawler economy most days and real speed when weather or a long crossing demands it, a split personality made possible by a slim entry blending into a flatter, hard-chined stern. The model page gives test speeds and fuel burn, engine options over the years, the interior layout, the price of a new 2027 boat and running costs. PassageMaker counted roughly 27 built by 2026.

Resale, rivals and what to check

Owners tend to hold on to these boats, so used 49s, 53s and 52s surface only now and then, and each sale is priced on its own merits. Because the company is still active and the builder supports existing hulls, buying an older boat does not mean losing factory knowledge, and owners also rely on Yanmar and Cummins dealers and East Coast yards. Shoppers usually cross-shop the Fleming 55, Grand Banks 60, Marlow Explorer 58E and Kadey-Krogen 52.

Inspection priorities on any Krogen Express:

• Moisture in the cored topsides, deck and superstructure
• Engine hours, particularly on boats habitually run fast
• The exact engine model fitted, since packages changed over the years
• Stabilizer, thruster and steering systems
• Leaks around windows and hatches
• The hull number, which tells you which refinements a boat received