KROGEN EXPRESS RENDEZVOUS: SCROLL CALL 2009

In early April, owners of Krogen Express yachts assembled at The Harbourage in Stuart, Florida for the company’s first ever rendezvous. Yacht Club members Ed and Willy Welter graciously provided logistical support “on the ground” while company owners John and Betsie Tegtmeyer organized the event. Dubbed Scroll Call 2009 in commemoration of their well recognized logo, the event was attended by KE52’ owners from as far away as Holland.

For the Tegtmeyers, the event represented the culmination of years of hard work and a real source of pride. Said John, “Seeing the all these KEs in one place is just amazing! We could not have hoped to be involved with a better group of owners and this gathering wouldn’t have been possible without their enthusiastic support and participation.”

As expected, the opportunity to get to know other proud Krogen Express owners was the highlight. Names, numbers, and addresses were exchanged and plans made to coordinate close encounters during future adventures.

Of course, comparing notes on upgrades and specific personal enhancements dominated the conversation. “How do you like the hardtop?” “How much experience have you had with your stabilizers?” “I love your second bookcase.” All in all, the feedback was that, if anything, more time could have been allocated to the boat hop, “Scroll Stroll” activity.

No proper assemblage of experienced boaters would be complete without ample opportunity to break bread. A pot luck dinner, accompanied by “docktails,” was the first order of business and it was clear that the galleys of the KE52’ provide a very capable platform for preparing scrumptious fare.

The marina’s location directly across the St. Lucie River from historic downtown Stuart afforded the opportunity to drop the tenders into the water. Destination – the Riverwalk Café for lunch. The weather was kind, with temperatures around 70 and very little wind, so the half mile ride across was no problem for the 11’ Nauticas.

The restaurant is very convenient to the dinghy dock and the fare much to everyone’s liking, so this becomes an excellent choice for boaters. Appetites satisfied, half of the gang stayed in town to take advantage of the varied shopping opportunities while the rest (mostly men, imagine that) floated back to the marina for a rousing discussion on Yanmar engine maintenance with Matt Norling from Helseth Marine. What a loss for the ladies!

A buffet dinner the following night at the yacht club’s fine dining room, hosted by Krogen Express, included a surprise visit by Kurt Krogen and ended with wonderful, flaming Baked Alaska. Wow! After dessert, Captains Chris and Alyse Caldwell captivated the crowd with fascinating tales of cruising Florida’s Big Bend and west to New Orleans. It’s a safe bet that, as a result of their talk, this will become a more popular destination for KE52’s in the future.

The action concluded with a light, dockside breakfast on Day Three followed by the “big photo shoot.” The KE52’s alternately danced in formation and individually as KE53’ owner Douglas Klassen ably captured their fine forms from chase boats and bridges. As they pressed the throttles of their big Yanmars forward upon departure, the predominant question asked was, “When can we sign up for the next one?”

For more photographs of Scroll Call 2009 along with information on Krogen Express Yachts, visit www.krogenexpress.com. To arrange your personal showing, call 1.866.4KROGEN or send an email to info@krogenexpress.com.

Exploring Alaska In A Krogen Express

Judy and Bill Sturgis put their beautiful Krogen Express to use in a way that many of us only
dream about - exploring the pristine, breathtaking waters of Alaska. Judy grew up on Vancouver Island and has been cruising the Pacific Northwest virtually her whole life. According to Judy, they bought their Krogen Express, "Free Spirit," because she "is just the right size for me to captain with an all girl crew when my husband is not available" and "a perfect boat for the Inside Passage."

Respect and admiration for the abundant wildlife in Alaska is a big part of what motivates Bill and Judy. When not aboard Free Spirit, Judy loves fly fishing any number of the many remote rivers for magnificent trout, steelhead, or salmon. It's not unusual for them to be sharing their fishing grounds with bear, moose, wolves, beavers, eagles, and many more. And when cruising, encounters with any variety of whale, Humpbacks, Blues, or Orcas (Killer Whales), is not uncommon. It's easy to understand why the Sturgis family keeps their Krogen Express up in Alaska and returns for adventures summer after summer. Hope I can join them next year!

Click here to see more breathtaking Alaska pictures.

Krogen Express Moves Production to New Yard

The Krogen Express team is excited to share the following press release about our move to a brand new yard in Taiwan. This is great for us given the enthusiasm of the production crew and the benefits of working in a brand new, sparkling clean facility!

November 11, 2008

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC (USA): Krogen Express Yachts, LLC, marketers of fine motoryachts, announced today that production has been moved to a new, state of the art facility in the Ping Tung district of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. John Tegtmeyer, President, together with Kevin Huang, President of Li-Shin Yacht Builders Co., LTD., indicated that construction has begun on the first Krogen Express 52’ to be built at the new yard.

According to Mr. Tegtmeyer, the purpose built facility allows improved process control and better separation of the different phases of production. “We are pleased to be continuing our relationship with the Lin family at this new location,” Mr. Tegtmeyer says. “Asia Harbor Yacht Builders Co., LTD., the Lin’s original yard, has built every Krogen Express 52’ to date and we have been very pleased with the skill and craftsmanship of the team in constructing a high quality boat for us. While we have enjoyed working at Asia Harbor alongside Kadey-Krogen yachts, moving to the new operation allows for even better results going forward.” Adds Mr. Huang, "As the cornerstone for Li-Shin, Krogen Express Yachts, with its rich heritage and quality reputation, provides us with an excellent foundation. Many of the craftsmen who have been building Krogen Express yachts at Asia Harbor will be moving to Li-Shin. This talented workforce, along with our modern facility, ensures that we meet our goal of making each Krogen Express better than the last."

Mr. Tegtmeyer says, “Over the past seven years we have worked very closely with Mr. Lin, his son Jeff, and the many talented associates at Asia Harbor to develop an uncommon partnership based on a shared commitment to continuously raise the bar on quality. The result of these efforts has been significant improvement in both construction techniques and component selection. We are confident that, with Mr. Huang’s leadership and passion for craftsmanship, Krogen Express Yachts will continue to set the standard for our class of coastal cruisers. We look forward to working closely with the entire Li-Shin team to maintain and build on this relationship.”

For more information about Krogen Express Yachts, visit http://www.krogenexpress.com/ or call 866-4KROGEN.

Krogen Express Gets Yacht Controller

With the addition of our new Yacht Controller, docking the KE52' has become even easier and, in reasonable conditions, even the average yachtsmen should be able to single hand her. For those of you not familiar with this clever little device, Yacht Controller is a wireless remote that allows the captain to operate the transmissions and thrusters from anywhere on the boat. In the case of Daystar, our company show boat, this means that we can walk to the cockpit, gain unimpaired, close up views of the dock, and carefully maneuver the 52' fore and aft, port and starboard, and guide her carefully into her berth. Daystar is equipped with both bow (standard) and stern (optional) thrusters from Side Power, and her twin Yanmar diesels move her with authority.

John is shown here bringing Daystar in on his first try with the new Yacht Controller. His initial impressions are that the system is very easy to use and operates exactly as expected. We've had many prospects ask about a 3rd station for docking, but John says that we'll now be able to offer something much better because close quarters handling can be done from the very best vantage point, wherever that may be.

We're often asked about the availability of pod drive systems like IPS and Zeus, and while we can't offer joystick control, with twin engines and both bow and stern thrusters, maneuverability closely approximates those systems. Couple this with the Yacht Controller, which decouples the captain from the helm so he or she can move about the boat, and we think this is a very viable alternative that actually offers some real advantages over the pod drive.

Krogen Express Kruising Update - 2nd Installment

Krogen Express 52s are getting around! Wilhelmina just spent two glorious weeks exploring the Exumas, and Resolute, left, is making her way up the coast after a brief stay at Windmill Harbour on Hilton Head Island. While there, she had her brightwork freshened while her owners ventured ashore for a side trip or two. They did have an opportunity on both ends of their visit to break bread with John and Betsie. After linking up with a cruising companion from "across the pond," their trip has resumed and they've now made it up to Wrightsville Beach.

Meanwhile, Tiare continues her voyage north, where she's now well up into the Chesapeake. Here are the latest links to the photographic journal her owners have so generously agreed to share with us. Once you click the "Watch" button, be a little patient, as it may take a little while for the show to load up. And be sure to turn up your volume to enjoy the music.
http://photoshow.comcast.net/watch/gf5Zh5af
http://photoshow.comcast.net/watch/wX7mT4YI
http://photoshow.comcast.net/watch/XU9Wt4MW
http://photoshow.comcast.net/watch/uw2NS3SA

In June, John and Betsie will head for the Keys with family aboard Daystar. Stay tuned as we chronicle their adventures.

Up next, we finally share our impressions of our new Yacht Controller (just installed!), and photographic results of the 2-boat Krogen Express Photo Shoot.

Fair winds and smooth seas, and enjoy a wonderful Memorial Day.

Krogen Express Cruising Update

The annual Spring migration, when boat owners work their way north for the summer, is in full swing for 2008. This year, as in years past, several Krogen Express 52's are participating, albeit not entirely in prototypical fashion.

At the head of the pack is Scylla, a classic Flag Blue Krogen Express. Her Dutch owners, Hans and Thea, often host family and friends from Holland for extended stays on board. This particular adventure started in Fort Pierce, FL and initially took them south to the Keys with one of Hans' business partners on board. Later, Hans' sister joined them for several days of cruising.

Hans prefers a leisurely pace to fully enjoy his surroundings and take advantage of the miserly fuel consumption of the 52' at 9 or 10 knots. Hull speed on the KE52' is 9.6 knots, so if her captain is mindful of throttle position, he or she achieve almost 2 mpg's at nearly 10 knots. Only when schedule or conditions require does Hans cruise at the mid-to-upper-teen speeds that the KE's semi-dispacement hull efficiently delivers. Today, Hans and Thea arrived at Great Bridge, VA, where they'll have a few things addressed by the capable crew at Atlantic Yacht Basin.

Down the ICW a couple states to the south of Scylla is Tiare, another Flag Blue Krogen Express that arrived in Charleston yesterday. Peter and Louise began their voyage in their home port of Naples, first heading south to get around the Keys. In between they've enjoyed stops at Ocean Reef, Fort Pierce, St. Augustine, Fernandina Beach, and most recently, Hilton Head.

As an aspiring travel journalist, Peter has assembled a multi-media slide show chronicling their adventures, which he has graciously agreed to share. Click this link to enjoy Peter's fabulous photography, set to music, but be a little patient as it takes a little while to load.
http://photoshow.comcast.net/watch/Uf5Sw6at

Peter and Louise recently met up with the owners of the first Krogen Express 52', now known as Loose Stones. Bill and Jane had just returned from a little road trip to Charleston, where they had shuttled their trusty Suburban. Rumor has it that the cost to move the Suburban rivals that of the Krogen Express, if you don't count dock fees. Land travel is a little quicker however, but the scenery isn't quite as interesting.

You'll recognize Loose Stones from virtually any of the official photographs you've ever seen, as she was our original photo subject. Formerly Daystar, this Flag Blue Krogen Express has completed the Great Loop and is now on yet another voyage up the East Coast.

Resolute, a beautiful Whisper Gray Krogen Express 52, will be leaving Palm Beach this week to make the annual move to her summer home in Cape Porpoise, Maine. Owners Robert and Jill have some stops planned along the way, but as their ultimate objective is to get their KE back north, they'll be cruising at a bit quicker pace. They will arrive in Hilton Head by May 1, where Resolute will spend a couple of weeks while they take a side trip. Their flight plan is relatively open, allowing them the flexibility to enjoy whatever comes up. Our kind of cruising!

It's becoming a tradition for Krogen Express owners to incorporate a stop at Windmill Harbour on Hilton Head Island into their itinerary, and this season is no exception. Located behind a lock, the docks are very well protected, making this an ideal location to lay up for a night or a month. This also happens to be the home port of John and Betsie Tegtmeyer, principals of Krogen Express, as well as the beautiful South Carolina Yacht Club.

As a benefit we believe to be somewhat unique, Krogen Express captains and crew are treated to southern hospitality and extraordinary personal support from John and Betsie when they stop by. Whether it's a minor repair operation on a windlass, maintenance on the stunning teak brightwork, cleaning of hair strainers, or simply good conversation over a great meal, our owners seem to find spending time there worthwhile.

If you haven't been on the Krogen Express website lately, be sure to drop in soon. You'll enjoy a new interior tour video, the addition of both new and older magazine articles, and, if it's really been awhile, an all new look. This week we expect to have a new Yachtcontroller system installed on Daystar, the company showboat, and will be sure to share our impressions with you on the next post. Until then, we wish you fair winds and smooth seas.

Daystar (II) to Debut at Palm Beach Boat Show

Our newest Krogen Express 52', christened Daystar, will make her debut at the Palm Beach Boat Show next weekend. The show runs from Thursday, March 27th to Sunday, March 30th. You can find us in Slip 1051, which is on Ramp 10, the southernmost dock at the show. Click here for more show details.

Like her namesake, the very first Krogen Express 52', Daystar will serve as the company's showboat. Her Marine Blue canvas complements her stunning San Mateo Wheat hullsides and we couldn't be more pleased with the combination. In addition to her striking new hue, Daystar has superb Trac stabilizers and the latest Garmin electronics. She is also awaiting the installation of the Yachtcontroller wireless remote system, all firsts for Krogen Express.

Our experience with the new stabilizers is minimal at this point, but our early impressions are very, very positive. Most owners will find that with her hard chines aft, the 52' resists rolling motions so well that the tradeoffs associated with stabilizers won't be justified. But for those expecting to push the envelope and explore the deep blue on a very regular basis, with reduced regard for conditions, the investment might payoff well. Stay tuned to this blog site for more.

As her commissioning is just reaching completion, we haven't fully tested the Garmin electronics either. But her new GPS 5212 chartplotters, especially when augmented with the Vision card, has some terrific features. The Vision card enables, among other things, satellite imagery to display on land, which means that in our home port in Fort Pierce, the boat actually shows up floating in a marina instead of grounded high and dry as with other cartography we've used. The system also has the ability, once vessel water and air draft are entered, to accurately calculate a course to take us safely from our slip and right out the inlet. Very cool! We've also found her touch screen interface to be easy to use and intuitive.

Our new Yachtcontroller system will be installed on Wednesday in Palm Beach. The system will allow us to wirelessly control both transmissions as well as the stern and bow thrusters. This is a great alternative to an aft docking station, as it allows her captain the freedom to operate from anywhere on the boat. As a bonus, the new controller will also run the windlass remotely, which allows the anchor "handler" greater flexibility to move around the bow. We'll give you the whole skinny right here in a week or so.

If you're anywhere in the area, be sure to stop by and see us at the show. Betsie's been working hard to ensure that Daystar's decor complements her striking exterior and we think you'll love what she's done. We'll be happy to give you the grand tour, along with a demo of the great new Garmin electronics and Yachtcontroller system. With any luck at all, we won't need to engage the stabilizers at the show! Hope to see you there.