Kadey-Krogen just keeps on growing. In the past 46 years, the company has built 640 full- displacement trawlers in Taiwan, creating a loyal group of owners who are interested in cruising both the coastal water and the oceans around the world. Recently, Kadey-Krogen expanded, starting a new series of Summit Motoryachts, with a 54 and a 62 performance cruiser designed by Michael Peters. Now, the Kadey-Group announced that it just bought American Tugs, based in LaConner, Washington, that makes five models from 36 to 48 feet.
Announcing the acquisition, Tucker West, president of the Kadey-Group, said, “They have a healthy backorder of boats, a great reputation in this market, and most importantly, a customer base that really loves their American Tugs.” West said that Kurt Dilworth, who was a co-founder of American Tugs in 1999 and is now the CEO, will stay in place; the boats will continue to be built in LaConner.
One of the most successful American Tugs is their 435, a two-stateroom, two-head, pilothouse cruiser that, like all American Tugs, is built to go everywhere from the Inside Passage to the coast of Mexico to the Great Loop, the Intracoastal Waterway and the Great Lakes. In short, just about anywhere you want to go.
I visited the LaConner factory and tested a new American Tugs several years ago, and I came away impressed. They are solid, well-built, user-friendly cruising boats that could serve as everything from comfortable liveaboards to long-range cruisers.
Indeed, the 435 (pictured here), powered by a single 550 Cummins, has a range of 3,200 nm at 5.9 knots; 834 nm at 8.9 knots, and 354 nm at its top speed of 17.3 knots. To me, that’s about perfect for a family or a couple’s cruising boat. It’s also easy to handle, with standard bow and stern thrusters.
The pilothouse makes cruising easy, with good sightlines all around, and doors opening to both side decks. There’s also a stairway to the upper deck, with a hydraulic crane and boom. The helm seat is centered, facing a large electronics console plus an overhead panel. An Ultraleather settee and table are aft, and there’s a chart cabinet, an ice-maker and six opening windows.
In the salon, a large, L-shaped settee and table are aft on the starboard side; a U-shaped galley, fully equipped for cruising, is to port, with a three-burner propane stove and oven, a fridge/freezer and convection microwave.
Below, the master stateroom is full-beam amidships, with a walkaround, queen-sized bed set athwartships, an en suite head and shower, and lots of storage space. The guest cabin is forward with a Pullman queen, an optional bunk above, and its own en suite head and shower.
Specs.: LOA: 43’7”’; Beam: 15’10”; Draft: 4’10”; Disp.: 29,200 lbs.; Fuel: 640 gals.; Water: 200 gals.; Power: 1×550-hp Cummins diesel. Read more: http://americanatugs.com http://Kadeykrogen.com
