Inside Wildflower: A Kadey Krogen 48 Whaleback Trawler Interior Tour

People ask about our boat all the time. On the dock, at the marina, and in the comments here on the blog. And honestly, I understand why. Wildflower is not your average boat.

She’s a 48-foot Kadey Krogen Whaleback trawler, one of only 29 of this model ever built, and for the past five years, she has been our second home. We’ve put in the hours and the projects to make her feel that way, too. Renovated galley, updated stateroom, and new pilot house doors and windows throughout.

Today I’m taking you on a full interior tour, room by room, with before-and-after peeks at the spaces that changed the most. If you love a good transformation story, or you’re just curious what life aboard a trawler actually looks like, pull up a seat. This one’s for you.

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How We Found Wildflower

Before Wildflower, we had a 40-foot cabin cruiser and spent plenty of long weekends exploring the San Juan Islands. It was a good boat.

But with three dogs, a full summer on the water, and a few too many bumped elbows later, we looked at each other mid-cruise and said: “It’s time for a bigger boat”.

We started searching for something with more living space, mostly on one level. My knees and feet aren’t always cooperative when going up steep stairs, and after a long day underway, nobody wants to navigate a ladder to get to bed.

That’s when we found the Kadey Krogen Whaleback. The layout made immediate sense. All of the living space is on a single level, with only the steep stairs up to the pilot house that we contend with.

We spotted one for sale during a San Juan Islands trip, got so excited we cut our vacation short, and cruised straight to the Seattle marina to see her in person.

She had potential. But she wasn’t loved and had many projects ahead of her.

Only 29 Whalebacks were ever built. This was the only one for sale in the Pacific Northwest. We walked away once, when the work felt like too much. But she stayed on our minds. A few months later, she was still on the market. We made an offer. It was accepted.

Five years of renovations later, we have zero regrets. This boat was meant to be ours.

Why We Named Her Wildflower

Once she was ours, we needed a name. You might assume we called her Wildflower because of my love for gardens and blooms, and you wouldn’t be entirely wrong. But the real story starts with one of our favorite singers, Tom Petty.

“Wildflowers” has always been one of my favorite songs. There’s a verse that felt like it was written for exactly this moment:

“You belong among the wildflowers.
You belong on a boat out at sea.
You belong with your love on your arm.
You belong somewhere you feel free.” —Tom Petty

Freedom, nature, the sea, and home. It fit perfectly. It still does.

The Interior Tour: Before, During, and After

When we bought Wildflower, she was structurally sound and seaworthy, but she didn’t feel like us. The galley was dated and closed off. The layout felt heavier than it needed to be. The overall vibe was closer to “functional” than “comfortable second home.”

Over five years, we worked through it space by space. Here’s how each one came together.

The Galley: The Biggest Transformation

This is where we started, and it’s still the space I’m most proud of. The galley went from the most dated space on the boat to one of my favorite spots aboard.

Before

The original galley felt disconnected from the rest of the living space. A raised bar between the kitchen and the dining nook blocked the line of sight to the salon, making everything feel smaller and more divided than it needed to be.

The appliances had seen better decades.

What We Changed

We cut the bar down to counter height to open up the space, and removed a non-structural support pole that had been dividing the area.

Out came the old countertops and appliances. In came a vision.

Countertop shopping was genuinely fun.

We chose a quartz slab strong enough for the marine environment and beautiful enough to feel like home.

Getting the new range on board was considerably less fun. It took three people to haul it in.

The subway tile backsplash was installed using flexible thin-set mortar that moves with the boat without cracking.

The cabinetry was adjusted to fit larger appliances.

Sea rails were added along the countertop edge so nothing slides off in rough water.

Tip: If you’re renovating a boat galley, don’t underestimate the importance of sea rails. They look like a small detail until you’re in choppy waters and watching your glass of iced tea head for the floor.

The Finished Galley

Bright, open, and functional with all the charm of a little coastal cottage kitchen, just with considerably better views.

The Salon: Our Main Living Space

The salon is where we spend most of our time when we’re not underway: reading, watching the water, having friends over for cocktails, watching a movie, or just sitting quietly with the dogs.

We wanted it to feel like a retreat after a long day on the water. Comfortable enough to really sink into. Styled enough to feel like us.

One of our favorite additions is a Pottery Barn storage ottoman that does double duty, with extra seating when guests are aboard, and hidden storage for cocktail glasses, platters, and the spare dishes we use when entertaining.

We updated the lighting throughout and brought in coastal-inspired touches: soft textures, natural tones, and just enough nautical nods.

The Dining Nook: Where Most of the Living Happens

I spend more time in this nook than anywhere else on the boat. Laptop open, iced latte in hand, and the best water view through the windows. It’s the kind of spot that makes you forget there’s anywhere else you’re supposed to be.

The built-in sectional beneath it hides an extraordinary amount of storage. It’s basically a treasure chest in disguise.

The wood table folds out to make room for dinner with friends or a long cribbage game.

And the ceiling! I always point out the ceiling. It’s a design element Kadey Krogen no longer includes in new builds, which makes it one of those details that make Wildflower feel genuinely special rather than just old.

The double doors from the dining nook lead straight out to the cockpit, which Kadey Krogen owners like to call the back porch. Before we lowered the galley counter, you couldn’t even see those doors from the kitchen.

That single change transformed how the entire space flows.

The Main Stateroom: Where the Boat Becomes a Home

After a full day on the water, the stateroom needs to be a place to recharge. That was the goal here: genuinely restful and comfortable enough that you don’t miss your bed at home.

We updated the lighting throughout to make the space feel brighter and more intentional. The bedding is layered in soft coastal tones. You know I couldn’t resist blue and white in here.

Bedding Sources

We also upgraded to a marine-friendly mattress with two-inch honeycomb support underneath, which helps air circulate and prevents mildew buildup. This is a boat life tip you don’t learn until you need it.

The Guest Stateroom

Having a dedicated guest stateroom was one of the things we most wanted when we were shopping for a larger boat. It means friends can actually come along for the longer trips, and they don’t have to sleep on a fold-out cushion to do it.

The guest stateroom is small and cozy, yet comfortable, with enough storage to unpack for a longer stay. It’s the room that makes people say yes when you invite them on board.

The Head (That’s Boat-Speak for Bathroom)

Wildflower has two heads: one off the main stateroom, and one accessible from the guest stateroom and salon.

If you’ve ever spent time on a smaller boat with a single shared bathroom, you’ll understand immediately why this matters.

Both are compact by necessity (this is still a boat), but functional and well-organized. Marine bathrooms require a different kind of thinking than home bathrooms. After five years, we’ve got ours dialed in.

The Pilot House: Command Center and Best View on the Boat

The pilot house is where we navigate.

It’s where the dogs officially claim the settee as their cruising couch.

And where I’ve written more blog posts than I can count while watching the water roll by.

The views from up here are unmatched. Windows wrap all the way around.

We’ve watched sunsets over the San Juans, spotted seals and orcas, and navigated some of the most beautiful water in the Pacific Northwest from this spot.

It’s also the space that just went through a complete renovation: new double-pane windows, new pilot house doors, a helm chair, and updates throughout that have made it quieter, better insulated, and significantly more beautiful.

The original navigation equipment from the nineties came out and was replaced with Garmin chart plotters and updated sensors — a significant upgrade that changed how we navigate these waters. We also added Starlink and a long-range cellular antenna booster, giving us two ways to access the internet, both tied into Wildflower’s onboard WiFi network.

The pilot house also has a combo fridge/freezer tucked into the cabinetry, hidden under a hinged lid so the counter stays usable when you’re not reaching for something.

The sink works the same way. Keep the lid closed for extra prep space. Open it when you need it.

These are the only stairs on our boat, from the pilot house to the living space below.

The Cockpit: Our Favorite Outdoor Space Aboard

Through the double doors from the salon, you step out into the cockpit.

The cockpit is covered and enclosed with hard plastic windows that unzip and attach to the ceiling on nice days, so you get all the fresh sea air without sacrificing the shelter.

We have breakfast out here when it’s raining, afternoon appetizers in the sunshine, and more sunsets than I’ve managed to count.

Under the cockpit floor hatch is the lazarette, our marine version of a garage. Cleaning supplies, a pressure washer, crab pot buoys, and extra dock lines… everything that keeps the boat running that nobody needs to see.

I always bring fresh flowers out here. Everything looks better with blooms, and the cockpit is no exception.

Life Aboard With Dogs

Jax and Ollie have their own setup in the cockpit, too. We installed a doggy door so they could move freely between the salon and the back porch.

Yes, we cut a hole in the teak door, and no, we don’t regret it for a second. They also have their own doggy pad out here for potty purposes, whether we’re on anchor or underway.

Spending weeks at a time on the water with dogs is relaxing for all of us.

Tip: If you’re boating with dogs, Roche Harbor Resort in the San Juans has an off-leash dog park and sculpture trail, which is one of the best dog-friendly stops we’ve found in the Pacific Northwest.

Kadey Krogen Whaleback FAQ: What People Ask Most

Between comments on this post and conversations at the marina, a few questions always seem to come up. Here are the answers.

Is the Whaleback Stable in Rough Water?

We were told by the selling broker, a former Kadey Krogen factory Rep, that the 48-foot Krogen can lie over 85 degrees in the water and right itself, due to 5,000 pounds of steel ballast in the keel.

All 48-foot Kadey Krogens also have stabilizers. We haven’t been in truly rough conditions yet (my husband doesn’t consider 8-ft. waves rough… I do not share his opinion), but the boat inspires confidence.

How Does the Whaleback Compare to the Kadey Krogen 48 North Sea?

The North Sea has walkarounds, also known as gunnells, which give it a more traditional profile. The Whaleback trades those for a significantly wider cabin. Ours approaches 17.5 feet across, which translates to a lot more living space.

We were nervous about docking without the walkarounds at first, but it’s never been a problem. For us, the extra interior space was the right trade.

Is the Galley Support Pole Structural?

Ours wasn’t. Our shipwright confirmed it before we removed it and recommended storing lighter items in the overhead cabinets as a precaution. That said, every boat is different. Have a professional evaluate yours before making any changes.

What’s It Like Boating With Dogs On a Trawler?

Honestly, it’s the best. Jax and Ollie are completely at home on the water: the pilot house settee, the cockpit, the kayaks.

We’ve built the boat around their comforts as much as our own, and they reward us by being the best crew imaginable.

Five Years In, and She Still Surprises Us

There are mornings on Wildflower when it’s hard to believe that this is just regular life.

Five years of projects, plans, and occasional “what did we get ourselves into” moments have turned a sturdy, rare, 30-year-old boat into a home that genuinely reflects who we are. Comfortable. A little cottage-y. Close to the sea. Full of things and the people we love.

If you have questions about anything you’ve seen here, the renovation choices, the layout, life on the water, leave a comment below. I love hearing from other boaters, and those future boaters as well.

And if Wildflower has you dreaming about the San Juan Islands, our Roche Harbor guide is a good place to start planning.

Until next time,

Happy Boating!