Kadey-Krogen 42 for Sale, an Honest Owner's Guide

The trawler that launched Kadey-Krogen

Every Kadey-Krogen for sale today traces its lineage to one boat. In 1977 Art Kadey, a yacht broker, and Jim Krogen, a naval architect, formed Kadey-Krogen Yachts and began producing the Krogen 42. It was the company's first model, and its success gave the brand a reputation for full displacement trawlers built for long term living aboard.

Over the following decades Kadey-Krogen designed and built 14 different models from 36 to 58 feet, and its owners crossed the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. The company reported that around 75 percent of its owners used their boats as full or part time liveaboards, a statistic that started with the 42.

If you are searching for a Kadey-Krogen 42 for sale, you are looking at boats that are now between roughly three and five decades old. That age shapes everything about how to buy one.

Jim Krogen's full displacement hull

The 42 is a true full displacement trawler with a round bilge and a full keel that protects the propeller and rudder. Unlike semi-displacement trawlers such as the Grand Banks 42, it is not designed to go faster than hull speed. It cruises at 6.5 to 7.5 knots and does so on very little fuel.

A 15 foot beam gives the boat more interior volume than its length suggests and contributes to initial stability. The trade-off of a round bilge is roll, which is why stabilizers or paravanes matter on this hull.

The protected running gear is a significant advantage on the ICW and in the Bahamas, where groundings are common. A boat that touches bottom on its keel is far less likely to damage the prop and shaft.

Single engine economy and range

A single 135 hp Lehman diesel was standard, and only five of the 206 boats left the factory with twin engines, though many have since been repowered. At 7 to 7.5 knots a Lehman powered 42 burns roughly 2 gallons per hour, which is remarkably economical for a 42-foot liveaboard.

The standard tanks held 700 gallons of fuel and 360 gallons of water. Soundings quotes a range of more than 2,000 miles at 8 knots and about 5,000 miles at 6 knots, though you should confirm the tanks on the boat you are inspecting, since many have been replaced. That economy is a key reason the model is still sought after.

Single engine boats need a get-home plan. Ask whether the boat has a wing engine, a hydraulic get-home drive, or at least spare parts and a well equipped tool kit. A bow thruster is close to essential for docking a single screw trawler.

Krogen 42 problems to know about

Searches for Krogen 42 problems usually come down to the same issues that affect most Taiwanese trawlers of the era. None is unique to the Krogen, and none is a deal breaker if priced correctly.

First, fuel tanks. Many older trawlers used black iron tanks that corrode over time. Replacement is a major job and can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Ask whether tanks have been replaced and get documentation.

Second, the teak. Thousands of screws hold the deck planks down, and each one is a potential path for water into the core below once the bungs and seams dry out. A surveyor with a moisture meter and a phenolic hammer will find the soft areas in an hour.

Third, the glazing. Aluminum or teak framed windows on boats of this age weep, and the evidence shows up as dark stains on the joinery beneath them and sagging headliner panels. Rebedding is tedious but not expensive; replacing rotted framing behind the stains is another matter.

Fourth, wiring and systems. Original wiring and panels are now decades old. Many boats have been partially updated, but a qualified marine electrician should review the system.

• Black iron fuel tank corrosion
• Teak deck leaks and wet core
• Window and hatch leaks
• Aging wiring and electrical panels
• Engine age and parts supply on original power

Taming the roll

A round bilge full displacement hull rolls in beam seas, and the Krogen 42 is no exception. Many boats have been fitted with hydraulic fin stabilizers, while some use paravanes, the traditional fishing boat solution that needs no hydraulics. Both work, and each has advocates.

Fins are easier to use and better for coastal cruising. Paravanes are simpler and more reliable on long passages but require deploying poles and birds. At anchor, flopper stoppers are a common addition.

Living aboard the 42

The 42's interior is built for living aboard, with two staterooms, two heads, a pilothouse and a saloon with galley. The wide beam allows a roomy saloon and good storage throughout. Teak joinery is typical of Taiwanese builds of the era.

Check heating and air conditioning, refrigeration and water systems carefully, as these are often original or partially updated. A watermaker and solar panels are common upgrades for cruisers.

Great Loop, Bahamas and coastal cruising

The Krogen 42 is a good fit for the Great Loop with its moderate draft, frugal fuel burn and protected running gear. Measure the draft and air draft of the specific boat, because the Chicago fixed bridge sets a 19 foot 1 inch limit and depth on parts of the Loop is limited.

The 42 is also a natural Bahamas and ICW boat. Owners have taken Krogens on long ocean passages, but a 42 of this age needs serious preparation before any crossing. Most buyers will use it for coastal cruising and liveaboard life.

Buying from an owner or through a broker

Plenty of buyers search for a Kadey-Krogen 42 for sale by owner, hoping to save the commission. It can work, and the Krogen world has always been close knit, with boats passing between people who met at rendezvous or on owner forums. But a private sale shifts every piece of due diligence onto you.

If you buy privately, use a documented escrow or closing agent, run a Coast Guard abstract of title and lien search, and confirm that the hull identification number on the transom matches the paperwork. Hire your own surveyor, not one recommended by the seller, and make the offer subject to survey, sea trial and an engine survey with oil analysis.

A broker who knows Krogens earns the fee on boats like this by knowing which hulls have had tanks replaced, which have recurring deck problems, and what similar boats actually sold for rather than what they listed for. On a 40 or 45 year old trawler, that knowledge can be worth more than the commission.

Builder support and the owner community

Kadey-Krogen was headquartered in Stuart, Florida, with boats built in Taiwan, and its brokerage and owner events supported the resale market for decades. In 2026 the company's website went offline, and in July Power & Motoryacht reported that Kadey-Krogen would file for Chapter 7 liquidation. Buyers should confirm the current situation and should not rely on factory support for a boat of this age in any case.

The owner community, independent yards and specialist surveyors familiar with Krogens remain the best resources. Join owner forums before you buy and ask about specific hull numbers.